# Worst flag ever (Possible EU flag) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916 "2002-05-08T16:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/1 "2002-05-08T16:07:58Z")
Man, I can hardly stand to look at it. What do you think? [Flag](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_583273.html?menu=news.latestheadlines) ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/2 "2002-05-08T16:11:45Z")
Okay, that’s pretty horrid. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/3 "2002-05-08T16:13:30Z")
That’s hideous! I kinda like the current one, [with the 12 stars](http://www.icm.csic.es/bio/old1/midas/images/EU%20Flag.gif). ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/4 "2002-05-08T16:16:19Z")
Why would they do this? Are they intentionally trying to make us dizzy? That’s it, isn’t it? Make the US dizzy and they can creep in and take over the world… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/5 "2002-05-08T16:17:52Z")
Non-story. The Commission has denied commissioning a new flag. Apparently it was suggested but never approved: [http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm\_583559.html](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_583559.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/6 "2002-05-08T16:21:49Z")
I know, the current one looks distinguished and regal. This one looks like … looks like … a Mexican throw rug that an American tourist might by in Nogales. And what’s more amazing is that this isn’t the result of a committee but one supposedly sane man. Be forewarned Lucas is _still_ calling his movie “Attack of the Clones.” Is ananova respectable? They haven’t recalled the story on the BBC yet. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/7 "2002-05-08T16:37:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > **Why would they do this? Are they intentionally trying to make us dizzy?** **Dizzy?** Just imagine that thing flapping in the breeze. **Seasick** is more like it :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/8 "2002-05-08T16:38:05Z")
That parti-colored bar-code flag might make for interesting bunting or a backdrop for speeches, etc., but absolutely does not work as a flag. It’s too busy. Reduce that bar-code flag to a small size and place it on a letter-head. The individual stripes would lose integrity at a small size, and it would look like grayish rubbish. Plus, how does this flag look in black-and-white? The existing EU flag is uncluttered, reporduces well in many sizes, and can be rendered well in b/w or grayscale. Also, if more nations enter the EU, more stars can easily be inserted into the circular formation on the EU flag. How would the bar-code flag handle that? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/9 "2002-05-08T17:26:10Z")
Goodlordalmightygawd!!! European Yuckion is more like it. What’s the point of having a union if you are going to divide the flag into the individual components (okay, major redundancy there , but you know what I mean)? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/10 "2002-05-08T20:57:23Z")
Don’t go crazy folks, **Crusoe** ’s retraction story was a link _from the same site_. Was the print too small? Were you just blinded by Meneer Koolhaas’s efforts? I agree that a flag that looks like it’s already burning is an eyesore we can do without, but relax - it isn’t going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/11 "2002-05-08T21:09:28Z")
Granted, it’s been done before, but: Howzabout just keeping the basic design the same, and… \*adding more stars to represent new member states[/]? ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/12 "2002-05-08T21:09:38Z")
Granted, it’s been done before, but: Howzabout just keeping the basic design the same, and… _adding more stars to represent new member states_? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/13 "2002-05-08T21:35:27Z")
> [@](#): > > The gold stars on the present blue flag were never intended to depict the number of member states - otherwise the flag would have been rendered obsolete in 1995 when three new countries joined to make the current 15-nation EU. > > Instead the stars, forming an exact circle, are placed in the positions of the hours on the face of a clock. They “represent the union of the peoples of Europe”, according to the Commission. I’m glad they’re not changing. Too many flags spoil the broth! ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/14 "2002-05-08T22:47:41Z")
**everton** - huh? Ananova always blurts out speculation, then reigns it in with actual facts. I’ll take the later story with a bit more seriousness! Ananova = formerly Press Association (PA). Fairly respectable news source. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/15 "2002-05-08T23:01:18Z")
**everton** - huh? Ananova always blurts out speculation, then reigns it in with actual facts. I’ll take the later story with a bit more seriousness! Ananova = formerly Press Association (PA). Fairly respectable news source. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/16 "2002-05-08T23:21:03Z")
**Crusoe** - that’s a nasty stutter you’ve got there mate ;). ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/17 "2002-05-09T01:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OxyMoron \* > \*\*Granted, it’s been done before, but: > > Howzabout just keeping the basic design the same, and… > _adding more stars to represent new member states_? \*\* Even though _originally_, the number of stars was meant to represent the number of member states, it actually never really DID. I know, sounds weird. [Leave it to the French and Germans to duke this sort of thing out.](http://www.fotw.ca/flags/eun.html#stars) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/18 "2002-05-09T01:18:02Z")
Huh. > [@](#): > > France would not agree to 14 stars as that number would acknowledge the absorption of Saarland into Germany. The French stood up to the Germans? Who woulda thunk it? [sub]Yes, I know I’m a bad man for making jokes about the French. But c’mon! It’s the French! And they stared down the Germans! I gotta give 'em props for that.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/19 "2002-05-09T02:13:44Z")
Actually I just very quickly scanned the ananova story. I read the [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1974000/1974721.stm) article but posted the link I did cause it had the flag by itself. Which still states > [@](#): > > The logo - designed in response to a request by European Commission president Romano Prodi to find ways of rebranding the EU - represents Europe’s “diversity and unity”, according to Mr Koolhaas. > > **Star about-turn** > > EU officials are currently examining the design, which if approved could soon be flying from flagpoles across the continent - as well as featuring on EU signs, stationery and even car number plates. Either way it’s still an awful idea from what seems an otherwise sane man. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916/20 "2002-05-09T02:15:39Z")
_BIG sigh_ The BBC is the source of the quote above. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-flag-ever-possible-eu-flag/107916.md?page=2)