European Union
Further information: Flag of EuropeSince the circle of twelve stars was chosen as the flag of the European Union, it has been suggested that the motif was chosen, deliberately or subconsciously, as a representation of, or reference to, Mary, something which could be potentially offensive to the significant Protestant, Muslim, atheist, and Jewish populations of the EU. The European Union has always denied this; many other flags show similar circles of stars. All the same, flag designer Arsène Heitz has acknowledged that the Book of Revelation, which, in turn, is the source for the mentioned twelve-star halo of the Virgin Mary, did help to inspire him.
Read more about this topic: Circle Of Stars
Famous quotes containing the words european and/or union:
“European society has always been divided into classes in a way that American society never has been. A European writer considers himself to be part of an old and honorable tradition—of intellectual activity, of letters—and his choice of a vocation does not cause him any uneasy wonder as to whether or not it will cost him all his friends. But this tradition does not exist in America.”
—James Baldwin (1924–1987)
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—John Paxton (1911–1985)