Miss Belgium is not 'tweetalig'

Melifluous · 18-12-2007, 12:53

Means little to me, but apparently upset some Dutch Belgians..

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...7n35AD8TJAO000

I didn't think anyone spoke dutch anymore anyways.

Shabbaman · 18-12-2007, 13:01

It's only an issue because the dutch and french belgians can't form a new government because of language issues.

Darkness · 18-12-2007, 13:46

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Shabbaman

It's only an issue because the dutch and french belgians can't form a new government because of language issues.

Indeed. They've been trying for quite a few months now, and tehre's no end in sight.

barbu1977 · 18-12-2007, 15:23

There have been many articles about Belgium un the news here since some are french-speaking and they have to deal with minorities/majorities issue similar to what we may have.

I guess, the main problem they have, is that the Wallon and the Flemmish are better of learning english than learn the second official language of the country.

Here you can bet that a miss Quebec is going to get booed if she does not speak French. Somehow, it's different for a miss Canada that does not speak English. That is because like the Flemmish, us French Canadian feel that our language is threatened by the majority's language.

Shabbaman · 18-12-2007, 15:45

It's not just a lingual problem. Both parts of the country have a different government, and the dutch part is a lot more prosperous.

Matrix · 18-12-2007, 19:46

The division is a but more equal than in Canada, barbu. 59% speaks Dutch, 40% French and 1% German. Wallonia (French/German speaking) used to be more prosperous, but now it's the other way around. Flanders gifts Wallonia about 1 billion euros on a yearly basis.

But Brussels is mostly French-speaking, and because of suburbanisation a lot of them moved to the neighbouring Flemmish municipality. That's where the cultural conflict is heaviest.

So there is an economically Flemmish dominance nationwide, but a linguistically French dominance around Brussels. That's the heart of the conflict. And the amateuristic politicians make it worse.

Pastorius · 18-12-2007, 21:05

I vote for a fusion of Quebec and French-Belgians

Socrates · 18-12-2007, 21:38

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Paalikles

I vote for a fusion of Quebec and French-Belgians

Heh, as long as they don't fuse with us, we're fine.

(j/k, dans mes bras mes cousins québecquois

)

Beorn · 18-12-2007, 23:17

Quebecer chicks are hot, you have a lot to gain from that fusion in Europe

Whomp · 19-12-2007, 01:27

I will confirm chicks in Montreal are mighty fine lookin' ladies. Once the loonie comes back to earth I may have to visit now that I'm single again!

Here's the think about Belgium I don't understand....I thought the whole thinking behind the EU is getting closer together not further apart. A few weeks ago I was talking to a guy from Barcelona and there doesn't seem to be a lot of love lost for the French or Spaniards due to his Catalan roots.

18-12-2007, 12:53	#1
Melifluous Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: In the bar with SF. Posts: 3,024	Miss Belgium is not 'tweetalig' Means little to me, but apparently upset some Dutch Belgians.. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...7n35AD8TJAO000 I didn't think anyone spoke dutch anymore anyways. __________________ Isn't it awfully nice to have a penis? Isn't it frightfully good to have a dong? It's swell to have a stiffy, It's divine to own a dick. From the tiniest little tadger To the world's biggest prick! So three cheers for your willy or John Thomas. Hooray for your one-eyed trousers snake.

18-12-2007, 13:01	#2
Shabbaman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Costa La Haya Posts: 8,493	It's only an issue because the dutch and french belgians can't form a new government because of language issues. __________________ "Our spam is backed with COMETS!"

18-12-2007, 15:23	#4
barbu1977 Emperor Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Blame Canada!. Posts: 3,501	There have been many articles about Belgium un the news here since some are french-speaking and they have to deal with minorities/majorities issue similar to what we may have. I guess, the main problem they have, is that the Wallon and the Flemmish are better of learning english than learn the second official language of the country. Here you can bet that a miss Quebec is going to get booed if she does not speak French. Somehow, it's different for a miss Canada that does not speak English. That is because like the Flemmish, us French Canadian feel that our language is threatened by the majority's language. __________________ Postcount = Postcount + 1; //Postcount++

18-12-2007, 15:45	#5
Shabbaman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Costa La Haya Posts: 8,493	It's not just a lingual problem. Both parts of the country have a different government, and the dutch part is a lot more prosperous. __________________ "Our spam is backed with COMETS!"

18-12-2007, 19:46	#6
Matrix Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 4,828	The division is a but more equal than in Canada, barbu. 59% speaks Dutch, 40% French and 1% German. Wallonia (French/German speaking) used to be more prosperous, but now it's the other way around. Flanders gifts Wallonia about 1 billion euros on a yearly basis. But Brussels is mostly French-speaking, and because of suburbanisation a lot of them moved to the neighbouring Flemmish municipality. That's where the cultural conflict is heaviest. So there is an economically Flemmish dominance nationwide, but a linguistically French dominance around Brussels. That's the heart of the conflict. And the amateuristic politicians make it worse. __________________

18-12-2007, 21:05	#7
Pastorius Custard used tile Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Opening a can Posts: 3,158	I vote for a fusion of Quebec and French-Belgians __________________

18-12-2007, 23:17	#9
Beorn Disabled Vet Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: RAWR! Posts: 1,555	Quebecer chicks are hot, you have a lot to gain from that fusion in Europe __________________ Please do not annoy, torment, pester, plague, molest, worry, badger, harry, harrass, heckle, persecute, irk, bullyrag, vex, disquiet, grate, beset, bother, tease, nettle, tantalize or ruffle the animals. San Diego Wild Animal Park

19-12-2007, 01:27	#10
Whomp King Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago. Posts: 2,388	I will confirm chicks in Montreal are mighty fine lookin' ladies. Once the loonie comes back to earth I may have to visit now that I'm single again! Here's the think about Belgium I don't understand....I thought the whole thinking behind the EU is getting closer together not further apart. A few weeks ago I was talking to a guy from Barcelona and there doesn't seem to be a lot of love lost for the French or Spaniards due to his Catalan roots. __________________ If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.--W. C. Fields