Feature photo: EU Service Medals
While cleaning out I found the medals shown above, which I can no longer assign after all these years. It made me ponder a bit while looking at it, and that’s how this blog post came about.
Such medals and decorations are all the more important for a person, the more one believes that one deserves them. But there are two things you shouldn't do, namely, firstly, think about the large numbers of such state symbols that are actually produced, and secondly, look at who else has been given the same medal or decoration.
It is definitely an asset for the respective issuer of such state symbols, because they serve to represent themselves and convey their values, but above all they save the respective state or country a lot of money, because these medals and decorations reward merits that one hardly have to pay in monetary terms, or at least very expensively.
That's why I'm very surprised that so far nobody has obviously come up with the idea and donated a COVID-19 medal. I'm probably still a little behind the times, because those responsible in our countries have probably managed to make it clear to the potential recipients of such decorations that clapping together and serenading in the evening are much better and even cheaper than distributing small ones attached to ribbons pieces of metal à la an Oderflut medal; not to mention better pay or rewards.
There is still great potential in the distribution of medals and decorations, which we in Europe have not yet fully exploited. This potential could be leveraged during the current global COVID-19 crisis and lead to a new blossoming.
Starting with the United Nations, through the Council of Europe and the European Union — we would already have three there — all 27 EU member states and the countries, departments or regions could each donate their own medals. A reasonably well-connected person would then receive a number of such awards, and at future party conferences or festivals the participants would strut around like Soviet generals once did. In any case, a lot of people would be looking forward to the next COVID-19 outbreak or other pandemic as they would then have an opportunity to fill in the gaps that still exist on the chest swollen with pride.
In the purest German tradition, one could also counteract the associated "equality" by introducing different levels of this honorary badge and awarding the respective Federal Minister of Health with the COVID-19 medal with oak leaves, swords and diamonds when they take office. The other ministers, politicians or officials then receive graded versions of this, depending on their respective non-participation. They could then give each other the respective awards in the tried and tested manner and would also get their money's worth depending on the degree of networking.
And to anyone who now thinks that it can no longer be topped, I refer to the possibility of raising further achievements of real socialism and e.g. B. to appoint the prime ministers as heroes of the Federal Republic of Germany after the crisis has been overcome.
If we process all of this correctly in the media, the coming crises will be child's play and all of Europe will look forward to new waves of COVID-19.
If you, as a collector of militaria, like the medals shown above and have aroused your interest, please contact me; I can't bestow these medals, but I can sell them.
"When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned."
Herbert Hoover, in the New York Times (August 9, 1964)
