Things change or evolve and TV antenna disturbances and microfone and camara wires on stage gave way to top technology and robotisation, but the sense of gathering in front of the TV for a live broadcast of sing-a-long songs, simultaneously with millions of households, is still part of the present thrill.
The semi-political shadowing which surround the contest is equally part of the tradition and the less appealing performances allow for internal TV room debate on why Israel hosts this years event, where Europe borders Asia in the east, the origin of (new) country names, why certain generally geographically larger countries are automatically qualified over the rest and googling on the rules as to what would happen next year should Australia win. Popular diversity at its finest.
But above all, it is a night of pure entertainment where we can practice our sense of nationalism in an indeed entertaining manner. Three nationalities in the family do allow to mitigate any risk of serious embarrasment towards the end of the night, although that too is part of the competion (but we did win in the end this year...and two years ago ..).
Nationalism, flag, country .... the representation of a nation with borders, portraying its own present culture and sense of sovereignty are all such a delight if it can be weighted and measured equally against others in an healthy fashion.
Something to be treasured, nurtured and passed on to future generations, to always be there.
This would imply defending it, when threathened. And I would add at any cost.
With the risk of sounding like an old Eurovison song, if all nations would be sovereign and diversity celebrated, peace will prevail and I do believe it must be in this sequence and not the other way around, as EU institutions claim to portray, more so ahead of EU Parliamentary elections.
European territory, including the EU, has never been further away from a threat of outright warfare as we came to experience or learn about it up to well into the 20th century. Whether this state of peace can be credited to the work of politicians or be attributable to the natural evolution of free populations no longer willing to take up arms and uniforms and shoot their way into neighbouring countries is fortunately a non-issue today.
However, any hint from present EU instiutional politicians that voting for conservative or far right political parties would be an act of stupidity which could reverse that status, I regard as fake news, to say the least.
History has taught us there are many ways to unify sovereign states and in today's world there are many - arguably too many - methods for country leaders, businesses or civic movements to maintain constant and open communciation on cross border issues that are deemed to be of invidual or common interest.
Populating Brussels and Strassbourg with EU politicians piling up papers and pencelling tax bills to pay for this self fulfilling prophecy is proving not to be the most pragmatic or sustainable path, any longer.
I can appreciate that in 1979 there was purpose in relocating civil servants into one spot to accelarate debate and resolve for the benefit of European cohesion. Like any project, there must be an end date somewhere along the line, however and democracy dictates that power vests with the electorate.
It is time for 751 MEP's and all the surrounding staff to return home to continue working for their flag and country, physically and financially closer to the populations they asked to vote for them. Then, we will al be happy to pay our fair share for time and communcation expenses to keep a constant open line towards their colleagues in other Member States, in similar vein as we do to promote the otherwise international relations countries seek and maintain, be it in public or private office.
We the taxpayers will even throw in a couple of EU face to face gatherings every year, with no questions asked, but not the other way around.
Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to, no, no ,no, no ....
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