Bald Eagle seems to have misunderstood my argument: I never said that the EU kept peace since 1945. We both know that ist was the fear of the bomb in the last instance.
What I mean is that the EU should be preferred as an instrument to keep peace now and further on. This especially on the background of the Eastern European countries (our former enemies beyond the Iron Curtain) willing to join.
I know that growing together in Europe will be a long process; it can't be done par ordre de mufti at a moment. We all are bound by strong ties to our home, our language, our flag. I'm a dedicated German, but more a Hessian, and most a Friedberger, since this former Imperial Town was immediately subject only to the emperor till 1802.
Nevertheless I'm thinking European, too. During my studies I travelled a lot of European and Arabic countries, even visited the States and Mexico several times. What I found were people not much different from me, loving their spouses, parents and children like me; comrades in the Boy Scouts and Fire Departments working for the common good of their communities like me; working hard to make a living like me, and since we're mudcatters here: loving to sing an make music like me. Mutual respect for the differences will keep the peace always and everywhere.
To think European is not so difficult for the Central Europeans conscious of history: Many of our ancestors lived in Charlemagne's empire despite of different languages with one currency. Out of a mark of silver he had minted 240 pennies, 12 to a shilling (does this ring a bell in Ye Olde England, with its German kings?)valid in the entire Empire from the Fulda river to the Atlantic. Let's try it again.

Wilfried