Surreal little Belgium

[Moros]

You know that small little country Belgium and it's rather silly population who like to take a spin with logic and reality? Some might even know that flick Man bites dog or C'est arrivé près de chez vous in French. Currently we seem to be filming our new take on the never ending ending stroy. Well that government lacking country, with an kinda powerless ceremonic king who at the moment is the only one making political decisions, is delivering fine surreal television as well:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010603387.html

Perhaps we should have sticked with France, the Netherlands, or whatever country that has a government and more than two working rifles. Sigh. Or is there someone willing to help me to lock some of those politicians up in some kind of small room, as long as it takes for them to make a deal?

[Fragony]

It's getting kinda silly, Belgium is a bit of a failed state. The Netherlands will happily adopt Flanders without questioning it's independence. Even better reunite but Flemish are kinda proud, being proud about Belgium geez allmighty

[Tellos Athenaios]

If Flanders seceded the last thing they'd be looking for is to become part of the Netherlands. And while in the long term there might not be any pressing reasons why the Netherlands should object to a re-union of some sort if Flanders were to approach them; in the short term such a reorganisation is one big nightmare nobody wants.

[Beskar]

Would be easier if they simply made Benelux more official and a republic at that.

[Brenus]

A Secession? Ooops… Problems: Sharing the money, the debts, the Army, Embassies to open, pension to resolve and of course minorities right in the mixed area… Remind me something… Ah, yes, Yugoslavia…
So, who will be the bad guys NATO will bomb? Not difficult as NATO HQ is in Brussels, they should know where is the Chinese Embassy…

So France will get the French Speakers Territories? Centuries of English Policy will be gone? Waterloo was fought in vain? If the Wallon are becoming independent alongside a Flamish (Republic?) this new country would have no access to the sea… I can predict a problem in sharing the navy…

[Fragony]

If Flanders seceded the last thing they'd be looking for is to become part of the Netherlands. And while in the long term there might not be any pressing reasons why the Netherlands should object to a re-union of some sort if Flanders were to approach them; in the short term such a reorganisation is one big nightmare nobody wants.

It's possible if we are the ones giving in, simply disband the Netherlands and become part of Greater-Flanders, capitol goes to Antwerpen or Leuven. np. Both harbours in our control, we would actually have a reason to make Antwerp competative by deepening de Schelde, best for all of us. Flanders is just as strong as the Netherlands if they cut of some dead weight, screw these arrogant walloons they can knock the EU's door for some change

[Fisherking]

Sure! A Republic of Flanders. Then you could sell the two royal families on eBay!

Congo and Indonesia might put in bids, don't you think?

[Fragony]

The royal families are a problem yeah, but Beatrix van Amsberg Lippe-Biesterfelt is old, and that fat :daisy: of a retarded son and his golddigging juntawhore and their 3 little hatchlings, nobody takes them seriously, Maxima Zorrigueta is only in for the money and the crownprince is an idiot. In Belgium the royals are detested even more.

[InsaneApache]

More importantly who gets to keep making the beer?

[Furunculus]

belgium is approaching failed-state status, albeit in that nice and benign western european way, and it is quite funny that the principle of the nation state as home to a single demos is being so adequately demonstrated at the heart of the EU.

if flanders wished to join netherlands i would cheer them on, but in reality they are a very europhile bunch and may see no need to be part of a larger union when they are so heavily invested in the EU.

as for wallonia, that isn't really a viable entity on its own in the absence of flanders tax-coin to pay their social welfare tab, and they know it, so i imagine a sudden revelation about their french heritage would be in order.

[Louis VI the Fat]

As a genius comic once said, they seem determined to turn the whole of Belgium into one big living Hal. :idea2:


Took me ages to figure it out. It only makes sense if one speaks French and English, and if one is aware of the Flemish-nationalist plots to curb the rights of Francophones in Bruxelles-Hal-Vilvorde. :balloon2:

[The Stranger]

Would be easier if they simply made Benelux more official and a republic at that.

no one wants luxembourg... and no one wants wallonia... and no one wants friesland...

[Tellos Athenaios]

we are the ones giving in, simply disband the Netherlands and become part of Greater-Flanders, capitol goes to Antwerpen or Leuven. np.

And you think that likely, do you? There's no pressing reason to dissolve the Netherlands, plenty of internal politicking to keep us entertained so the subject is not even raised in serious debate.

To me the fundamental issue is that Belgium is kept alive by an artificial political merry-go-round to distribute power evenly between Flanders and Walonia. That works if both are roughly equals, but Walonia really isn't equal to Flanders. It is significantly smaller in terms of population, and in terms of economic output it simply can't keep up either. Finally the real pain point is that Walonia is unwilling to reform, so as it is the region is not even fit to supply cheap labour in Flanders despite ostensibly being educated to speak a modicum of Dutch: immigrants do that job better and more enthusiastically.

But note that nothing here is some kind of “drive” for independence or union. No “one people/language, one country”, simply an allergic reaction to compromises to each other and a lack of structural reform in Walonia to propel its economy into the 21st century. In other words: those far reaching scenario's about an independent Flanders or a Netherlands-Flanders union are little more than show to drive a point home in Walonia.

[Tellos Athenaios]

as for wallonia, that isn't really a viable entity on its own in the absence of flanders tax-coin to pay their social welfare tab, and they know it, so i imagine a sudden revelation about their french heritage would be in order.

I expect Louis and the other Frenchies are better qualified to answer here (they'd be somewhat familiar with the French sentiments towards Belgium in general and Walonia in particular). Still, I very much doubt that France would actually want to adopt Walonia if Belgium were to be split.

Also, I doubt that Walonia would actually want to join with France. Right now 4.5 million who collectively do not earn their keep can pretend to be equal to about 6 million people who collectively earn their keep and then some to pay for the others. When Walonia joins with France they'll be the new Nord-Pas-de-Calais. A triple loss scenario: even less money, even less willingness of other regions to chip in, and far, far less political influence on the national level. They'd rather learn Dutch and take up jobs in Flanders. ~;)

[Peasant Phill]

Again for those not in the know. Belgium is a construction born from a monster alliance (true name). A joint venture by 2 different cultures for 2 different reasons under a royal family chosen for pragmatic reasons. BUT IT WORKS/WORKED more or less for more then 175 years now. We Belgians call ourselves surrealists and proud ourselves with our surreal art, our surreal humor and our surreal political solutions. Some criticize our construction others admire it but the truth is Belgium has endured relatively peaceful where other similar challenged countries fell apart with or without violence.

The Belgian political crisis is the result of a right/conservative wave going across the European political landscape. Belgium will not fall but will be remodeled in perhaps the most surreal way possible.

[Hosakawa Tito]

More importantly who gets to keep making the beer?

Ya read my mind, IA. What about the beer & chocolates?

[Peasant Phill]

Ya read my mind, IA. What about the beer & chocolates?

Will somebody please think about the beer and chocolates.

[Louis VI the Fat]

French sentiments towards Belgium in general and Walonia in particular). Still, I very much doubt that France would actually want to adopt Walonia if Belgium were to be split.
If Belgium were to split up, Flanders would become independent and Wallonia would be occupied immediately...erm...be intimidated into joining...erm...join of its own free accord...erm... would be liberated into France.

France would not pass up the opportunity to get a bit bigger. France has a will to power. Plus it helps to even out the balance with Germany.

Brussels is the great big problem. It is what keeps Belgium together. The only solution I see is to give Brussels some sort of special status, a free city, or a 'Brussels DC' - a European district. Other than that, Belgium will have to stay intact unless either side is willing to give up Brussels.


Wallonia isn't all that scared to see Flanders go. It will immediately join an even bigger source of subsidies, the limitless funds of the French state, with equally generous social provisions. Wallonia is far less depenedent on Flanders in this respect than is sometimes assumed.
The thing is that there is not really such thing as a Walloon nation. The project of Flanders is Flanders, the project of Wallonia has always been Belgium. There is no Wallonia outside of the existence of Belgium. And - this has ired the Flemings those past two centuries - it is even dificult to conceive of a Belgium outside of Wallonia. Belgium started out as a francophone nation, with some local minority languages, Latin in the south and the even smaller Germanic ones in the north. The francophones have made Belgium, made it independent, had the continent's first industrialisation, made Belgium fabulously wealthy, gave it an identity. It did not occur to the Walloons that those handful of rural peasants with their incomprehensible tongues would one day turn their minority a vast majority, would then agitate against Belgium. Call it the revenge of the priests over the liberals and socialists: the Walloons may have driven God out of the heads of urbanised Belgium, but the priests controlled the wombs of the peasantry.

Wallonia has never gotten over this shock, moreso because it roughly coincided with de-industrialisation and massive immigration. Wallonia has a cultural identity problem.

Their is an upside to that. It is impossible for Flanders to join the Netherlands - Flemish identity is Flemish, the project of Flemish nationalism has been Flanders. Whereas Wallonia can easily join France. The identity of Wallonia is mostly just that of 'francophone part of a larger state'. Walloon nationalism is very crudely developed. A Walloon is always 'a Belgian', whereas a Fleming is always 'a Fleming'. Oddly, the majority population (Flanders) still behaves in the manner of a minority, has retained the reflexes of a threatened minority part. For example, in Spain the Catalan (minority) will always say he is 'a Catalan', whereas a Castillian (majority) will always say he is 'Spanish'.

[Louis VI the Fat]

For 130 out of its 180 years of existence, Wallonia has been wealthier and more advanced than Flanders. This period the Flemings describe as 'Walloon oppression' - because the wealthy Walloons kept the poor Flemings down by being wealthier and stronger. The fifty years that Flanders has been wealthier the Flemings describe as 'Walloon oppression' - because the poor Walloons keep the wealthy Flemings down by being poorer and weaker.



~~o~~o~~<<oOo>>~~o~~o~~


Mind that Belgium consists of more than Walloonia and Flanders. Most importantly, Brussels is a separate entity. Brussels is ninety percent francophone, home to nearly a quarter of all Belgian francophones. Brussels is by far the richest, most vibrant part of Belgium's economy, a European economic powerhouse, the richest per capita in Europe, without equal in Flanders. But Brussels is often not part of Walloon statistics!

Talented, cosmopolitan, urban francophones employed in creative industries are not counted in Walloon statistics - their glamorous capital of Brussels, the centre of Europe, is not included. But the bankrupt sillion industriel is, the unemployed in the provincial towns are. This can create some very skewed statistics.

[Moros]

Err... no?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Err... no? :huh:



'Err... no?' means which of the follwing five options:

A - You are talking bollox Louis
B - Err...doesn't it?
B - These options need to be split into two sets
3 - I wasn't talking to you, I had just done my bit to alleviate international fears for our beers by consuming an ungodly amount of it then coming here to show it

[Fragony]

Option X butt I would get banned if I did

@TA see no reason why we couldn't merge. OK they hate our guts,but stil a good idea

[Beskar]

Option X butt I would get banned if I did

@TA see no reason why we couldn't merge. OK they hate our guts,but stil a good idea

Yeah, Andres wouldn't appreciate it if you exposed your butt in the Belgium thread.

[Moros]

:huh:



'Err... no?' means which of the follwing five options:

A - You are talking bollox Louis
B - Err...doesn't it?
B - These options need to be split into two sets
3 - I wasn't talking to you, I had just done my bit to alleviate international fears for our beers by consuming an ungodly amount of it then coming here to show it

Sorry but your posts came over as a very very cartoony take on things.

On the merging of Flanders with the Netherlands. Well I have to dissappoint you Frags, but in the polls almost every Fleming answered along the lines of 'No, nay, never'! Though some of the most radical nationalists often would like an anschluss with the Netherlands or with both the Netherlands and Germany. Most would never want that. Also culturally we are very different. Even though we use mostly the same words and almost the same grammar (verb order is sometimes different over here), you have completely different way of communicating anyway. While we often find the dutch way (very open and direct) of talking and communicating entertaining and sometimes even preferable, we're just to rapidly offended or assume sarcasm in your words. My sister had this Dutch teacher in communication the other day. And while she without doubt knew her theory, she couldn't put it to practice with Belgium, because she just offended and angered everyone without knowing. Also tv demonstrated how much we're different. Dutch tv is so hyperactive compared to ours and you guys don't seem to be able to stop talking for a second. The complete way of life, take food, is just different. If you go to a Belgium town you don't know and you enter a restaurant most of the time it will be decent. In the Netherlands you really need to know where you go. And please stop getting your food out of a wall!

Anyway I just hope some of these politicians come to their senses before we become like Portugal or Spain or something. Or even worse Greece or Ireland. Talks of a new temporary government or something like that are popping up, I guess at least that's something... Sigh.

[Hax]

On the merging of Flanders with the Netherlands. Well I have to dissappoint you Frags, but in the polls almost every Fleming answered along the lines of 'No, nay, never'! Though some of the most radical nationalists often would like an anschluss with the Netherlands or with both the Netherlands and Germany. Most would never want that. Also culturally we are very different. Even though we use mostly the same words and almost the same grammar (verb order is sometimes different over here), you have completely different way of communicating anyway. While we often find the dutch way (very open and direct) of talking and communicating entertaining and sometimes even preferable, we're just to rapidly offended or assume sarcasm in your words. My sister had this Dutch teacher in communication the other day. And while she without doubt knew her theory, she couldn't put it to practice with Belgium, because she just offended and angered everyone without knowing. Also tv demonstrated how much we're different. Dutch tv is so hyperactive compared to ours and you guys don't seem to be able to stop talking for a second. The complete way of life, take food, is just different. If you go to a Belgium town you don't know and you enter a restaurant most of the time it will be decent. In the Netherlands you really need to know where you go. And please stop getting your food out of a wall!

I am going to move to Flanders. It sounds awesome.

[HoreTore]

Brussel is too important to Europe to allow the petty bickering of Wallons and Flems(?) to disrupt its works.

Therefore, I suggest that the population of Belgium is to be relocated to Sibiria, and then repopulate the land with cooperative Europeans instead.

[rory_20_uk]

Brussel is too important to Europe to allow the petty bickering of Wallons and Flems(?) to disrupt its works.

Therefore, I suggest that the population of Belgium is to be relocated to Sibiria, and then repopulate the land with cooperative Europeans instead.

Aaah, proper Stalinist ideals live on in the hearts and minds of Europhiles... ~;)

~:smoking:

[Moros]

I am going to move to Flanders. It sounds awesome.
You can continue 'Sinologie' at Leuven after all! :laugh4:

Edit: Also with Flanders joining the Netherlands nothing would change. We'd still have this group of fellas who act strange and are poorer than us. And we (apparantly) can't stand people with less money than us. Now a reunited Republic of Limburg, now that's a plan!

Waar in't bronsgroen eikenhout, 't nachtegaaltje zingt...

[Peasant Phill]

Belgium started out as a francophone nation, with some local minority languages, Latin in the south and the even smaller Germanic ones in the north. The francophones have made Belgium, made it independent, had the continent's first industrialisation, made Belgium fabulously wealthy, gave it an identity. It did not occur to the Walloons that those handful of rural peasants with their incomprehensible tongues would one day turn their minority a vast majority, would then agitate against Belgium. Call it the revenge of the priests over the liberals and socialists: the Walloons may have driven God out of the heads of urbanised Belgium, but the priests controlled the wombs of the peasantry.

Wallonia has never gotten over this shock, moreso because it roughly coincided with de-industrialisation and massive immigration. Wallonia has a cultural identity problem.


Weren't those handful of peasants always the majority and the francophones a more powerful minority?
From the beginning the Froncophones were hareder in their resistance against Dutch rule. The Flemmings only engaged in the revolt when Willem kept ignoring their demands (the 12W's: Wij willen Willem weg, wil Willem wijzer worden wij willen Willem Weer We want Willem gone, If Willem becomes wiser we want Willem back.). That's what, in my opinion, gave the francophones a morale hold over the dutch speakers (and the resulting posts in the new government). On one side the riches that came with the mining and on the other French as the language of the revolution. From then on French was promoted to people who wanted to partake in a life higher than 'peasant'-life.

Sure, priests were heavily involved in the rediscovering of the Flemish identity but I doubt that the influence was but on the political stage the influence of the church was similar on both sides of the language border.

[Fragony]

Wth you on about restaurants Moros, the Netherlands is a much safer place for a random pick, restaurants are much better here than in Belgium. Shops aren't though, I would love to have that. The rudeness, we don't notice it about ourselves it's not intentional, but I know how it comes across, a world sensitivety training could be a good idea but I kinda like how we do things here, if you got a problem with something nobody will mind if you shove it straight in their face, our way of good manners, being overly polite is suspect to us. Belgian aren't all that different when it comes to that, just more subtle

Still, it's the economy stupid, much better of with us. Flanders would become the powerhouse it should be. Grow up.

[Andres]

We're almost there! The World Champions' title is in our grasp. Only 3 weeks to go and we'll be World Champions in Government Formation!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnqkPjoqrUY

:cheerleader: :barrel: :cheerleader:

Come on guys, I know you can do it! You have the support of the whole nation!!

Knowing Belgium, this WILL be celebrated somewhere :laugh4:

[Vladimir]

Wait, so Belgium went without a government longer than Iraq? Italy?

[drone]

The politicians better hurry up and get their act together. If this goes on much longer, Belgians might realize they don't actually need a government, and they will be out on the street.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Belgians currently protest that they do need a government. It is you who should ship your Tea Party across the ocean to study the Belgian formula for “as little government as possible”.

[drone]

Only if you promise to keep them. :kiss:

[Tellos Athenaios]

You mean as a kind of interactive “overcome your fears” programme: no guns but more government than they ever imagined possible?

[Louis VI the Fat]

ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THE FLEMINGS TO ADMIT THEY ARE WRONG

[gaelic cowboy]

Why don't they just have another election maybe some one might have enough then for a minority government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_government)

[Moros]

Because both camps who are not getting a dal are the ones who'd be winning next elections with even bigger amount of votes. Also we already had an extra voting, sorta.

[Andres]

Why don't they just have another election maybe some one might have enough then for a minority government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_government)

Well, maybe we will, but please, not before February 17th. I WANT THAT WORLD RECORD! Stupid Di Rupo is trying to ruin it by proposing a government of national unity. With 9 parties instead of 7. Indeed, if you can't come to an agreement with 7 different political parties, then you'll most likely come to an agreement with 9 different parties.

:logic:

Will we make it? Will Belgium become world champion in government formation? Let's hope so! This should be celebrated! Maybe I should start getting drunk this week-end already, to prepare for the real celebrations.

[Furunculus]

ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THE FLEMINGS TO ADMIT THEY ARE WRONG

are they wrong?

[Andres]

are they wrong?

No, we're right ~;p

And Louis is heavily biased, since he only reads Le Soir aka the written Belgian equivalent of Radio Mille Collines.

[_Tristan_]

Let's make Wallonie part of France and be done with it...:2thumbsup:

[Furunculus]

agreed, it would be an excellent demonstration of the continueing relevance of the nation-state, and amusingly, one from the very heart of the supranational european project.

[Fisherking]

Let's make Wallonie part of France and be done with it...:2thumbsup:


Ah yes, French ambition.

Maybe you could swap it for Alsace-Lorraine

:laugh4:

[Andres]

Let's make Wallonie part of France and be done with it...:2thumbsup:

Ah, so we have to keep and pay for Brussels? Agreed, but only if France also takes over 50 % of Belgians' debt then.

:angel:

[HoreTore]

I still stand by my earlier proposal to forcibly relocate the population to Siberia and repopulate the area with cooperative europeans.

Let's face it, the belgians are dead wood right now, and the rest of us needs some lebensraum.

[Andres]

I still stand by my earlier proposal to forcibly relocate the population to Siberia and repopulate the area with cooperative europeans.

Let's face it, the belgians are dead wood right now, and the rest of us needs some lebensraum.

No more Belgian beer for you :stare: Enjoy your pint of dishwater Heineken :snobby:

[HoreTore]

Never tasted belgian beer, I stick with Aass (http://www.aass.no/) beer...

[Furunculus]

The Economist's Charlamage on Belgium:

http://www.economist.com/node/18008272?story_id=18008272

"Why Belgium’s unending linguistic disputes matter to Europe"

[Fisherking]

Belgium was a British idea. I don’t think we can give them to the UK though.

Tell them to fix the problem or they go back to Spain maybe then they will find a way to work together.

[Andres]

What problem?

We don't have a new federal government for months and the country still works. Nothing changed in our every day lives.

Besides, we have:

- a federal government of running affairs;
- a Flemish Government
- a Government of the French Community
- a government of the German-speaking community
- a government of the Walloon Region
- a government of the Brussels Capital Region

Plenty of governments, so what is all this nonsense about us not having a government? WE HAVE SIX GOVERNMENTS!

There is no crisis, we're just busy breaking the world record of government formation, so stop this talk about crisis, you evil speculators in Belgian government debt :mean:

[Furunculus]

Belgium was a British idea. I don’t think we can give them to the UK though.

Tell them to fix the problem or they go back to Spain maybe then they will find a way to work together.

well, we'll be happy to have flanders back if they want us..........?

[Fisherking]

What problem?

We don't have a new federal government for months and the country still works. Nothing changed in our every day lives.



I will admit that having a government in turmoil usually is not altogether bad for the people.

After all they aren’t forcing new laws, taxes, or regulations on you from a federal level.

So long as the lower governments are getting paid and providing services it should make for a splendid show.
:laugh4:

[Tellos Athenaios]

No more Belgian beer for you :stare: Enjoy your pint of dishwater Heineken :snobby:

Dishwater is too kind a description for Heineken. Slootwater is nearer to the mark. To think there are people who think beer is somehow supposed to taste like that. Maybe Belgium should send out missionaries once again to educate the world on beer, chocolate, good humour and government free polities. :yes:

[Vladimir]

Dishwater is too kind a description for Heineken. Slootwater is nearer to the mark. To think there are people who think beer is somehow supposed to taste like that. Maybe Belgium should send out missionaries once again to educate the world on beer, chocolate, good humour and government free polities. :yes:

This thread is so quaint. :heart: I have to find a U.S. government job there.

[Fragony]

Dishwater is too kind a description for Heineken. Slootwater is nearer to the mark. To think there are people who think beer is somehow supposed to taste like that. Maybe Belgium should send out missionaries once again to educate the world on beer, chocolate, good humour and government free polities. :yes:

It's of no use, at blind tests the Femish prefered Heineken. Heineken isn't a bad beer at all, but gimme Brand or Hertog Jan anyway

[Andres]

Support our heroic politicians in their attempt to break the mythical world record for the longest coalition talks.



This calls for a celebration! Let's count the days together !



We're having a big party - Thursday 17 February 2011 - Ghent, St.-Jacobs



The world title is within reach for European record-holder Belgium. Already having broken its own 194 day national record for the longest coalition talks, the European record was beaten too, on the date of 7 January 2011. The world record, currently held by the present Iraqi government (249 days), is getting in sight. To get there, the Belgians will need to continue negotiations beyond the 17th of February.



Support this frivolous campaign, which is unrelated to any political, ideological, or philosophical inclination.



:laugh4:

Linky. (http://www.belgiewereldkampioen.be/belgiewereldkampioen/Belgie_Wereldkampioen_17_02_2011.html)

[Furunculus]

joined.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Surreal Belgium, part III.


Did you know that if you line up Belgian beer bottles correctly, then photograph them, you will see them in 3D?

But not in ordinary 3D! No siree! The bottles show up in 3D-runk. The Belgian Gods have made it so that you see the bottles exactly as you saw them when you drank them.... http://matousmileys.free.fr/anbet2.gif






http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/285131306_fc242b2ba2_z.jpg?zz=1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3dimka/285131306/#/photos/3dimka/285131306/lightbox/

[Vladimir]

Oh look! The Belgian answer to Heineken.

Nothing in a green bottle is worth drinking. :no:

[HoreTore]

Nothing in a green bottle is worth drinking. :no:

Absolute truth.

Beer either comes in a barrel or a brown bottle. Nothing else.

Lighter bottles lets sunlight ruin the beer, while cans gives a different taste as well as foam it up.

[Greyblades]

What about cans?

[Fragony]

Only Heineken export is bottled in green, isn't the same beer

http://www.vander-wal.nl/shop/images/products/Heineken/Heineken/9861_Heineken%20Bier%20Fles%2024x30cl.jpg

^-- normal one

It isn't the best, but it's a fine beer

[HoreTore]

What about cans?

As I said, the metal can screws up the taste and the tiny hole makes way too much foam. Undrinkable.

[Greyblades]

You did? Ugh I'm slipping.

[HoreTore]

You did? Ugh I'm slipping.

Been drinking?~;)

[Greyblades]

No staying up late, the blasted gameroom spat out another conquer the world as countries game and I just had to spend all night reading through the threads.

[HoreTore]

No staying up late, the blasted gameroom spat out another conquer the world as countries game and I just had to spend all night reading through the threads.

That's what they all say down at the AA....

[edyzmedieval]

I just find it hilarious that the part with the French name is Dutch-speaking (Flanders) and the part with the Dutch name is French-speaking (Walloon). :grin:

Soap opera Belgium.

[Husar]

How is Flanders a french name?

[Subotan]

What about Hoegaarden?

[Andres]

How is Flanders a french name?


For the very same reason that a lion is a much more beautiful color than a laundromat.

[Fisherking]

We all know it is “Frank Reich” anyway so why worry about it? :laugh4:

[Fragony]

What about Hoegaarden?

It's kinda nice. Not great, but nice. It's ok for a few days a yearr. Like Belgium really

[edyzmedieval]

How is Flanders a french name?

It's definitely more French than Walloon.

[Subotan]

It's kinda nice. Not great, but nice. It's ok for a few days a yearr. Like Belgium really
Ouch :yes:

[Husar]

For the very same reason that a lion is a much more beautiful color than a laundromat.

But a lion looks like sand... :inquisitive:

[Greyblades]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/african-lion-closeup.jpg
http://brotherpeacemaker.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/laundromat.jpg

Yep, it definitely looks better than a laundromat.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Speaking of which...

What is the new national motto of Belgium?
'Le lion fait la farce...' :idea2:



nvm :shame:

[Fragony]

What is the new national motto of Belgium?

Which part?

[Vladimir]

Speaking of which...

What is the new national motto of Belgium?
'Le lion fait la farce...' :idea2:



nvm :shame:

All I got is something about a lion farting on my face.

[Fragony]

All I got is something about a lion farting on my face.

Thought I had weird dates

[Sarmatian]

Lighter bottles lets sunlight ruin the beer, .

Heard that argument many times, and no one could notice the difference between beer from dark and light bottle. Urban myth...

[Brenus]

Louis, c'est l'onion qui fait la farce.:embarassed:
And don't write what you think. No need to be rude

[Fragony]

Heard that argument many times, and no one could notice the difference between beer from dark and light bottle. Urban myth...

But you are Eastern European so yesterdays dinner was the last thing you saw before passing out

[Subotan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceg6NQKHd70&feature=related

[Furunculus]

genuis Subotan, pure genius!:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

[Sarmatian]

But you are Eastern European so yesterdays dinner was the last thing you saw before passing out

:thinking2: Is there a stereotype I'm not aware of?

Southern European actually, that where most of Serbia lies, but if you wanna pinpoint my exact location, I'm currently in central Europe, about 2.5 km away from central/southern Europe border :book:. Not that there's anything wrong with eastern Europeans, of course...

[Fisherking]

:thinking2: Is there a stereotype I'm not aware of?

Southern European actually, that where most of Serbia lies, but if you wanna pinpoint my exact location, I'm currently in central Europe, about 2.5 km away from central/southern Europe border :book:. Not that there's anything wrong with eastern Europeans, of course...

Maybe it is some Dutch joke no one gets?

[Subotan]

genuis Subotan, pure genius!:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:
No problem!

[Fragony]

:thinking2: Is there a stereotype I'm not aware of?

Of course not, it isn't like they all get roadkilled when walking drunk on the road if they don't get alcohol poisoning first or overdose on amphitamins. Just many. Not all. No stereotype.

[Moros]

Heard that argument many times, and no one could notice the difference between beer from dark and light bottle. Urban myth...

Actually it is true. Unless the brewery uses the relatively new and hightech tetrahop.

[Andres]

We made it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdCrZfTkG1c

:cheerleader:

I'd like to thank our heroic politicians for this wonderful achievement! A job well done!

~:cheers:

LEVE BELGIE! VIVE LA BELGIQUE!

To reward themselves for their achievements, Belgian members of the federal parliament gave themselves a salary raise of 3.000,00 €, on top of the yearly indexation. Very well deserved, I'd say.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Honestly: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBXp1aLaiyKXzpKG43jFANSePxlg?docId=da27331cdff64f548fc7d922daa82f9c

Say it ain't so guys!

[Furunculus]

since they are obviously over-governed given that the country continues to function without a federal government, you think there dire financial peril might be an opportunity to divest themselves of so much wasted money?

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/12/14/436366/the-corroding-core/

[Louis VI the Fat]

~:cheers: :cheerleader: ~:cheers: :cheerleader: ~:cheers::cheerleader: ~:cheers::cheerleader: ~:cheers:

VIVE LA BELGIQUE! LEVE BELGIE!
L'UNION FAIT LA FARCE!!!




Belgium reaches one year without a full government

As Belgium marks one year without a government, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called the political impasse "extremely pitiful".

The former Belgian prime minister told the De Standaard newspaper that the country would need a full government soon to decide on economic policy. Member states are required to put long-term economic planning past the EU.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yves Leterme has said three more months might be needed to form a governing coalition. Mr Leterme succeeded Mr Van Rompuy as prime minister in November 2009, but resigned in April 2010 after his government collapsed. He stayed on as caretaker until early elections in June. The separatist New Flemish Alliance (NVA) emerged as the largest single grouping. The French and Flemish Socialists together won more seats overall.
NVA leader Bart De Wever has been unable to form a coalition administration since, far outstripping the world record recently set by Iraq

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13199653

[Louis VI the Fat]

:belgium: :cheerleader: :france: ~:cheers: :belgium: ~:cheers::france::cheerleader::belgium:


https://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4554/rassemblementwalloniefr.jpg

[Rhyfelwyr]

What's that pic there all about Louis?

I was under the impression that the Wallonians were less concerned with their own roots than the Flemish were, and thus were happier with the idea of Belgium. I never knew there was any real talk of uniting them with France. Is there?

[Skullheadhq]

'Sinologie'

:laugh4:

[drone]

Nobody over here gets news of Belgium, so how is life without a federal government? I thinks it funny that the reason Van Rompuy uses to push towards a government is EU paperwork. :laugh4:

[Peasant Phill]

Nobody over here gets news of Belgium, so how is life without a federal government? I thinks it funny that the reason Van Rompuy uses to push towards a government is EU paperwork. :laugh4:

It may be my imperfect grasp of the English language but is Van Rompuy doing?

[drone]

The former Belgian prime minister told the De Standaard newspaper that the country would need a full government soon to decide on economic policy. Member states are required to put long-term economic planning past the EU.
Maybe not, but that what this sounds like.

[Andres]

Nobody over here gets news of Belgium, so how is life without a federal government?

Not so different than life with a federal government, really. Makes one wonder what the heck we need a government for :thinking:

[Louis VI the Fat]

What's that pic there all about Louis?

I was under the impression that the Wallonians were less concerned with their own roots than the Flemish were, and thus were happier with the idea of Belgium. I never knew there was any real talk of uniting them with France. Is there?The picture is a demonstration by the RWF, a group that strives to unite Wallonia and Bruxelles with France. The group, the ideology, is not that big - yet. But at some point Wallonia will have to decide, whether it wants to remain orientated towards Belgium, towards independence, or towards eventual union with France.


The project of Wallonia has always been Belgium. The project of Flanders is Flanders.

With the dismantling of the Belgian state Wallonia is forced to choose a direction. If Belgium evaporates, then what? Flanders is a nation, Wallonia is not. Therefore, it is commonly assumed that a Belgian split will result in an independent Flanders and a union of Wallonia with France. The unsolvable Brussels is what keeps Belgium together. Neither side wants to give it up.


The goal of France has always been to support a francophone Belgium, a French mini-me. Sadly the insolent Flemish will have none of it anymore, just out of some childish spite for being called inferior peasants for 150 years. :yes:

Failing francophone overlordship over Belgium, a Belgium orientated towards Paris, to me the goal of Paris now ought to be Plan B: to hold off for as long as possible the dreaded day that France, and no longer Flanders, will have to bear the cost for the bankrupt post-industrial Wallonia wasteland.
Not that I'm not holding my breath, for it is entirely against all French political instinct to reject adding four million people and a new region - if only because it will make Berlin sweat at the prospect of parity will further ease the eternal French fear of being a junior partner in the Berlin-Paris axis, the more pressing with every year that Germany emancipates from war guilt.






Europe must know that if Wallonia and Brussels share a common destiny with France, they clearly remain open to intensive forms of cooperation with all the other nations of Europe, including the Flemish nation.
Belgium has never been a true nation. It is virtually no longer a State. The various dysfunctions and recurrent crises of the authorities in place bear witness to the well-nigh congenital impotence of a state apparatus undermined by Flemish nationalism.

Flanders regularly call into question the most solemn agreements and renegotiates to its advantage compromises already reached. Generally speaking, Flanders considers that reform of the State is never a done deal.

In point of fact Flanders, which is a nation, already has in its possession the constituent elements of a State. In its drive to become "een Vlaamse Staat in Europa" (a Flemish State in Europe), is de facto preparing its independence. One day, it will become evident that there is no room for two States (Flanders and Belgium) within a single territory. That is why it is behoven upon the Walloons and the inhabitants of Brussels to prepare their future, which will not be the result of further bipartisan negotiations decided on and laid down by Flanders. Beyond all else, Wallonia must rediscover and revitalise its true national identity, which is French.

Such a prior national foundation is not ethnic nationalism linked to blood and land, but rather a voluntary signing-up to an overall political and cultural project, that project is quite simply the French republican ideas of democracy in liberty and equality.
http://rwf.be/pages/Manifeste_anglais.html

[Louis VI the Fat]

Not so different than life with a federal government, really. Makes one wonder what the heck we need a government for :thinking:Well, for all intent and purposes, Belgium does have a functioning government. It is still in power. It is just not legitimised by last year's election result. This will be a problem when controversial decisions must be made. Or when Belgium is asked to fulfill its international obligations.


Edit: (Yes, I realise that 'international obligation' is a swear word in today's populist Europe, provoking the same allergic response in today's culture as does 'behaving in public', 'no littering', 'no cutting in lines')

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Not so different than life with a federal government, really. Makes one wonder what the heck we need a government for :thinking:

Welcome to US-style libertarianism.

[gaelic cowboy]

Why does Belgium exist?? I get Flanders or Basque nationalism etc etc but was Belgium not just some made up nation due to a peace treaty with UK or summit just like Uruguay.

[Andres]

Why does Belgium exist??

It doesn't.

Evidence. (http://zapatopi.net/belgium/)

[gaelic cowboy]

It doesn't.

Evidence. (http://zapatopi.net/belgium/)


Now it all makes sense :yes: the Lizard Aliens and the NWO who are keeping free energy under wraps created Belgium to destroy the world

[Kralizec]

If this "divorce" does take place, how likely is it that Wallonia would join France? It's not something that I would advice, I heard through the grapevine that Wallonia is something of a gold digger. It would be beneficial to Flanders though, since that would end their alimony obligations. I doubt that Flanders and the Netherlands would join. Flemish people are nice, but they're just not our type.


Such a prior national foundation is not ethnic nationalism linked to blood and land, but rather a voluntary signing-up to an overall political and cultural project, that project is quite simply the French republican ideas of democracy in liberty and equality.

If that means the Flemish get the royal family, Wallonia should be forced to pay for child support.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Welcome to US-style libertarianism.

They still have about 5 different governments carrying on as usual, though.

[Louis VI the Fat]

If that means the Flemish get the royal family, Wallonia should be forced to pay for child support.You're back! :jumping:


A split of Belgium means the end of the Belgian First Welfare Receiving Family. Flanders won't have 'em. France would love to have them, but considering we want them for a popular entertainment show on the Place de la Concorde, the family itself might be a bit reluctant.

Not that it matters. Belgium simply had the poor timing to become independent during the Restauration period in the 19th century. So the powers that be demanded Belgium become a hereditary monarchy. Therefore they put an ad in Europe's newspapers, 'Newly independent country seeks unemployed aristocratic male. Must be of functioning procreation capability. No further qualifications required. Preferably housetrained and not prone to droole in public.'

That's all. It has always been a temporary job, just a few generations who play monarch while the Flemings and Walloons play Belgians. :shrug:

[Subotan]

The Padanians can have them :yes:

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The Padanians can have them :yes:

Only after flowers, chocolates, and a hint of romance.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Belgium simply had the poor timing to become independent during the Restauration period in the 19th century. So the powers that be demanded Belgium become a hereditary monarchy. Therefore they put an ad in Europe's newspapers, 'Newly independent country seeks unemployed aristocratic male. Must be of functioning procreation capability. No further qualifications required. Preferably housetrained and not prone to droole in public.'

Dear God, Louis, don't you start!* If I am to be taken to the tumbrils, please let the proclamation be spelt correctly!

A MMO game that I play has just published an entire story arc about a "Restauration", so I am feeling somewhat prickly - not having seen any new bistros being offered. :wink:

[HopAlongBunny]

It's clear to me. Wallonia should join Quebec.

The federal gov't here would be powerless to stop it. (If only the bloc had jumped on it for the election...)

[Louis VI the Fat]

https://img861.imageshack.us/img861/2417/semainefritebelgiquel1.jpg
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yc2tUg8cnQ&feature=related)

[Louis VI the Fat]

https://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1836/jupilerverreabiere500x5.png (http://www.sophiaellis.com/Photos/TheZombieDiaries/SophiaEllisTheZombieDiaries6.jpg)

[The Wizard]

The project of Wallonia has always been Belgium. The project of Flanders is Flanders.

Actually, the roles were reversed from the late '40s to the '60s, if memory serves. Walloons wanted separation and the Flemish wanted to maintain Belgium (and the king). Earlier, in the interwar period, the roles had been reversed again. It's a very confusing dance, Belgium :laugh4:

[Furunculus]

has anyone in belgium yet realised that they were massively over-governed given the continuation of normal life without a federal government?

[InsaneApache]

Shhhh......you don't want people to know that we don't actually need politicians, they might stop voting for them. :book:

[Kralizec]

I've studied the constitutional structures of several European states (plus the USA) when I was in uni. The Belgian state is a convulated mess.

A seperate layer of government for the regions Wallonia and Flanders (Brussels excluded). A seperate layer of government for the "language regions": Dutch, French and German. Plus provincial and local governments. For a country with less than 12 million people. Gah!

[Louis VI the Fat]

https://img861.imageshack.us/img861/2417/semainefritebelgiquel1.jpg
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yc2tUg8cnQ&feature=related)




Dude, what's with the picture?It's an E-booby trap! :jumping:


No Belgian shall be able to resist clicking that picture. He must check it out. The way a cat must sniff and poke a new, large purple box in a room saying 'cat fud inside'.

What's more, both the cat and the Belgian will poke it every single time, you can repeat it over and over. Belgians will click that picture every time they visit this thread, wondering what the outcome will be this time. If only because in Belgium doing the exact same thing twice may yield very different results, whereas doing the opposite twice might end in the exact same result. Such is the nature of surrealism, the true subject of this thread, so central to God's plan with Belgium.

I don't know what is the excuse for the cat.

[Adrian II]

Belgium rulzz. But in such a complicated way that nobody notices, not even the Belgians.

AII

[Fisherking]

Just give them back to Austria. The Belgians already spend most of their holidays there and it give Austria port access.

The royal family can go an live with their relatives in London.

What could be more Surreal.