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Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 5:37:04 AM   
RealityLicks


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Joined: 10/23/2007
Status: offline 		For the last five months, Belgium has had no leader and no government. The two halves of the country (Wallonia/Flanders) are becoming increasingly hostile to each other with the French-speaking, Socialist South taking criticism for their high unemployment burdening the Flemish/Dutch-speaking North.

The North, which is dominated by Far Right politics, is talking about independence or a confederation at best, with Brussels, home to the European Parliament, mooted as a free-standing city-state.

Could the end-product be a radicalised and violent Walloun youth? And as they have no oil, does anybody care?
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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 5:45:27 AM   
mnottertail


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Status: offline 		I think it is time that we as a nation step up to the plate, and intervene to secure our chocolate interests there. (one magnificent way to keep consentual slaves in line).  Furthermore, I will volunteer to be the belgian homeland beer czar, since none of you other cowards are clambering to do your duty.   I called it first!!!!!!!!

Ron 

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 5:52:15 AM   
meatcleaver


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Status: offline 		Belgium isn't a country and never was, it is a confederation of French speakers that don't want to be French and Dutch speakers that don't want to be Dutch and neither want to be Belgian! The language divide goes back to the Roman empire, the border between the Roman Empire and German europe running right through today's Belgium. The Flemish speakers (Flemish = Dutch without French influence) are more belligerent because they earn most of the country's wealth but Dutch, er sorry, Flemish was not recognized as an official language until 1967 when a Dutch, er..Flemish version of the constitution was recognized. French being the language spoken by the ruling class and until 1967 and being the only official language until then.

I had a meal with a Belgium girlfriend in Brussels once, she was Flemish and because she tried to order in Flemish, the French speaking waiter ignored her. In the end I ordered in English. When it came to paying I was going to pay speaking English. She said don't, he (French speaking waiter) will understand Flemish when money is involved otr he won't get paid. He did understand Flemish when accepting payment. This story could eacily have been the other way round. Usually Brussels isn't as bad as the two provinces for this sort of thing.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:05:31 AM   
pahunkboy


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Status: offline 		send troops!

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:12:55 AM   
RealityLicks


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Status: offline 		Well, it was set up by the British when still a superpower and that explains the disregard for cultural sensitivity. Look at Iraq.

I do have much sympathy for the Wallouns, though. They flourished in the Industrial era and made the country viable but now that manufacturing is moving east, their counterparts in Flanders want out of the union. Its a case of "what have the Wallouns ever done for us?"

Not sure about the complexities of the various regional gov'ts but there was always a national Premier, sports teams, army etc. Guess that doesn't mean much in a country thats only 180 years old. On the language issue, exactly the reverse is now happening to French-speakers in Flanders - people not being served in shops etc unless they speak Flemish.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:16:35 AM   
pahunkboy


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Status: offline 		shock and awe

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:36:28 AM   
LadyEllen


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From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		I wouldnt worry about it. Like everything else in Belgium, it seems to be a swamp, then you find it all drains away.

E

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:43:27 AM   
Politesub53


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RealityLicks

Well, it was set up by the British when still a superpower and that explains the disregard for cultural sensitivity. Look at Iraq.



Belgian wasnt set up by the British but by the conference of Vienna as i recall. Not quite the same thing at all.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 6:52:25 AM   
RealityLicks


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Status: offline 		You may be right there. But it was clearly meant as a landing point for British troops should the French or Germans ever hold all the ports along the coast and it was the German invasion of Belgium which caused Britain to declare war

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 7:06:25 AM   
RealityLicks


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

Belgian wasnt set up by the British but by the conference of Vienna as i recall. Not quite the same thing at all.


No you're wrong. Treaty of London set it up - Vienna gave the land to Holland which lead to a war of independence. Qn Victoria and Leopold were related closely.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 10:29:20 AM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		Why would I care even if they did have oil?

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 10:35:07 AM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		The Swiss have been dealing with this sort of violent separatist movement for years.

http://www.switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/arc_jurassien/secession.html

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 11:13:12 AM   
NorthernGent


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RealityLicks

For the last five months, Belgium has had no leader and no government. The two halves of the country (Wallonia/Flanders) are becoming increasingly hostile to each other with the French-speaking, Socialist South taking criticism for their high unemployment burdening the Flemish/Dutch-speaking North.

The North, which is dominated by Far Right politics, is talking about independence or a confederation at best, with Brussels, home to the European Parliament, mooted as a free-standing city-state.

Could the end-product be a radicalised and violent Walloun youth? And as they have no oil, does anybody care?


Reality, we had this one a while ago; the general consensus being that if they must insist on sporting mullets, then they can't expect a single soul to pay the slightest bit of attention to their domestic woes.

P.S. it's Walloon.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 11:20:51 AM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		NG, if they have MULLETS then fuck 'em!
Sorry but I'm not on the "Cares about what happens in other countries" committee this month.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 12:09:50 PM   
RealityLicks


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quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

P.S. it's Walloon.


Not in German newspapers.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 2:25:08 PM   
Politesub53


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RealityLicks

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

Belgian wasnt set up by the British but by the conference of Vienna as i recall. Not quite the same thing at all.


No you're wrong. Treaty of London set it up - Vienna gave the land to Holland which lead to a war of independence. Qn Victoria and Leopold were related closely.


Check your source, the treaty of Vienna in 1815 unified the Dutch and Austrian controlled parts of Belgian. Queen Victoria wasnt even born then. All the treaty of London ( 1839 ) did was to guarantee Belgian neutrality.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 2:47:28 PM   
RealityLicks


Posts: 1615
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Status: offline 		Do you never sleep?!

Treaty of London, 1830.

1815 treaty granted the low countries' unification to Holland, which leads to civil war. Britain is architect of the new Kingdom of Belgium in 1830. Leopold crowned 1831.

Leopold l was Victoria's uncle and introduced her to another relative of his, Prince Albert.


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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 2:59:05 PM   
Politesub53


Posts: 14862
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Status: offline 		There was no new kingdom in 1830, just independance from Holland. How do you make the leap from independance to Britain being the Architect of a new kingdom. You were also the first to mention queen Victoria, i merely pointed out Belgium was unified before she was born. The first line of your post #5 states clearly that Belgium was set up ( your words ) by the British, this patently wasnt the case.

As for never sleeping, its not even 11 pm here.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 3:00:38 PM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		If you guys have another war in Europe don't invite the U.S. this time.

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RE: Anarchy in Western Europe - 11/14/2007 3:12:43 PM   
RealityLicks


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Status: offline 		We'd have to invite you a few years early, so you can show up on time.

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