La génération “mix” peut-elle changer la Belgique ?

Source: belgique.blog.lemonde.fr

Amandine, Marie, Noémie et Triss sont “kokoteuses” . Elles partagent un appartement à deux pas de la place Flagey, un quartier branché, où se trouve l’un des meilleurs fritkot de la capitale et l’ancienne maison de la radio récemment rénovée. Elles nous ont reçues hier soir pour le dîner. Au menu : pizza surgelée, vin rouge et fondant au chocolat.




Triss, à gauche sur les photos, est Flamande. Elle a grandi à Louvain et travaille à Bruxelles dans une entreprise de fabrication de jouets pour enfants qu’elle a créée. Noémie, à côté d’elle, est francophone. Elle a passé une partie de sa vie à Chicago, mais ses parents vivent aujourd’hui dans une commune flamande en périphérie de Bruxelles. Amandine, au centre, est francophone. De retour dans la capitale belge après plusieurs années à l’étranger, elle suit des cours de néerlandais au CLL. Marie, à droite, a grandi à Anvers dans une famille francophone. Toutes les quatre sont à peu près bilingues en français et néerlandais.

Comme une grande majorité de ceux que nous avons croisés depuis le début du voyage, nos “kokoteuses” sont convaincues que ce sont les hommes politiques qui attisent les tensions entre communautés. A les écouter, Flamands et Wallons s’entendraient comme larrons en foire si les médias cessaient de jeter de l’huile sur le feu. “Néerlandophones ou francophones… Nous pouvons très bien communiquer à condition que chacun fasse un effort. Il suffit de se mélanger. Les vieux ne le font pas forcément, mais la nouvelle génération est beaucoup plus ouverte”, affirme Noémie.

Les quatre filles ont des amis issus des deux communautés linguistiques. Triss explique en souriant qu’elle choisit en général de sortir avec des garçons bilingues pour ne pas renoncer à ses dîners “mixtes”. Ce besoin de mélange, leurs parents ne le comprennent pas forcément. “Quand je rentre à la maison, ils me demandent ce dont on a bien pu parler, ironise Noémie. Ils ne s’imaginent pas qu’on puisse communiquer dans les deux langues, parce qu’eux-mêmes n’ont jamais vraiment essayé”.

La mère d’Amandine, par exemple, parle à peine le néerlandais. “Si je ramenais un copain Allemand ou Espagnol, elle leur parlerait anglais sans problème. Mais avec un Flamand, elle serait dans une situation compliquée : théoriquement, elle est censée maîtriser cette langue, elle ne trouverait pas normal de lui parler anglais…” Francophone de Flandre, Marie est dans une situation encore plus compliquée. Elle sort avec un Flamand, ses parents l’ont élevée en français et ils ont un peu peur que cette culture se perde à Anvers. “Depuis que je suis petite, ma mère me répète qu’elle ne voudrait pas que ses petits-enfants l’appellent Oma”, dit-elle.

Vooral het laatste paragraafje is veelzeggend.

PC wrote:

Vooral het laatste paragraafje is veelzeggend.

Wat leidt u daaruit af?

Ik leid daaruit af dat de 'nieuwe verdraagzaamheid' zo ver gaat dat een aantal Franstaligen in Vlaanderen het Nederlands of Nederlandstaligen willen respecteren - lees het laatste zinnetje maar.

Overigens, misschien heeft de journalist in Brussel een tendens waargenomen, ik heb in Antwerpen al evengoed een andere tendens waargenomen, met name allochtonen die geen enkele voeling hebben met het Franstalig landsgedeelte, geen woord Frans kennen en niet begrijpen dat zij na het jarenlang studeren van het Nederlands in Brussel met het nodige dedain worden behandeld. We zitten in dit land met een groeiende groep mensen voor wie de tweeledigheid van België geen enkele betekenis heeft en dat wellicht nooit zal hebben op de manier dat autochtonen dat in zekere zin nog wel kennen. Men houdt daar beter rekening mee.

La réponse à la question de ce sujet est "oui".

Je suis de plus en plus persuadé que nous vivons en Belgique les suites d'une lutte entre familles rivalisantes qui est devenue une lutte de clans, mais à laquelle la grande majorité des Belges sont étrangers. Les médias ne sont pas plus que les porte-paroles de ces clans qui luttent pour le pouvoir et l'argent. En ce sens, le nationalisme n'est qu'un prétexte, un moyen pour mener la lutte au-dessus des têtes des Belges et à leur détriment. Une bonne mixité entre les Belges et le remplacement des politiciens par des gens d'en-dehors des clans vont résoudre ce problème, comme c'est le cas aux Pays-Bas, en France et dans d'autres pays. Si on comprend les causes des problèmes politico-communautaires, les solutions sont faciles.

Belgica wrote:

La réponse à la question de ce sujet est "oui".

Je suis de plus en plus persuadé que nous vivons en Belgique les suites d'une luttes entre familles rivalisantes qui est devenue une lutte de clans, mais à laquelle la grande majorité des Belges sont étrangers. Les médias ne sont pas plus que les porte-paroles de ces clans qui luttent pour le pouvoir et l'argent. En ce sens, le nationalisme n'est qu'un prétexte, un moyen pour mener la lutte au-dessus des têtes des Belges et à leur détriment. Une bonne mixité entre les Belges et le remplacement des politiciens par des gens d'en-dehors des clans vont résoudre ce problème, comme c'est le cas aux Pays-Bas, en France et dans d'autres pays. Si on comprend les causes des problèmes politico-communautaires, les solutions sont faciles.

Alleen jammer dat u er niets van begrepen hebt.

Misschien juist wel. Vandaar uw onnozele reactie.

Belgica wrote:

Misschien juist wel. Vandaar uw onnozele reactie.

De onnozelheid zit eerder bij u met uw verhaaltje over families uitgegroeid tot clans die alle problemen veroorzaken en die arme Belgische bevloking die alles maar moet ondergaan. Wie is dat dan, die Belgische bevolking? De kiezers? Blijkbaar niet, want die ondersteunen al die "clans". Eén of andere mythische entiteit dan? Of de 1000 man die toevallig eens op een enquete hebben gewantwoord en aan wiens oordeel jullie blijkbaar meer waarde hechten dan aan dat van 7 miljoen kiezers. Het probleem is dat u weigert de realiteit te zien van een land dat communautair verdeeld is, een verdeeldheid die veel dieper gaat dan politieke discussies. Maar door het probleem te ontkennen zal u nooit een deugdelijk antwoord kunnen vinden op de samenleving zoals die in België nu eenmaal is.

Het ondervragen van de niet-politieke families toont juist het tegendeel aan: België is het slachtoffer van twee kleine clans die de media beheersen en de Belgen manipuleren. Maar leugen en bedrog bieden geen toekomst. Die clans bereiden alleen hun roemloze ondergang voor.

Belgica wrote:

Het ondervragen van de niet-politieke families toont juist het tegendeel aan: België is het slachtoffer van twee kleine clans die de media beheersen en de Belgen manipuleren. Maar leugen en bedrog bieden geen toekomst. Die clans bereiden alleen hun roemloze ondergang voor.

Man, man, man, en geloof je dat zelf nog ook? De verkiezingsuitslagen - inderdaad, het ondervagen van de niet-politieke families, met name alle Belgen en niet een handvol ad random uitgekozenen om vrijblijvend een enquete te beantwoorden - waren dacht ik anders duidelijk genoeg. Uw pays réel dat ooit in opstand zal komen tegen al dat gemanipuleer bestaat enkel in uw dromen. Er loopt een breuk door dit land, geïllustreerd door een totaal andere verkiezingsuitslag, met andere woorden de electorale vertaling van totaal andere wensen, verzuchtingen en verwachtingen, in beide delen van het land. Daar een antwoord op vinden door goede structuurveranderingen, dat is wat België zal redden, niet het wachten op een apocalyptische kladderadatsj waarna een stralende toekomst wenkt. Hebt u misschien een beetje te veel Bakoenin gelezen?

"Ce qui empêche les gens de vivre ensemble, ce ne sont pas les différences de culture, mais l'arrogance de ceux qui croient que la leur est supérieure".

Ceux qui ne sont pas d'accord (et je pense que PC en fait partie) sont indiscutablement intolérants, voilà tout.

BFE wrote:

"Ce qui empêche les gens de vivre ensemble, ce ne sont pas les différences de culture, mais l'arrogance de ceux qui croient que la leur est supérieure".

Ceux qui ne sont pas d'accord (et je pense que PC en fait partie) sont indiscutablement intolérants, voilà tout.

Allé, er worden mij maar wat ideeën toegeschreven om mij dan maar zonder meer als intolerant af te doen. Overigens schort er iets aan uw logica. Niet akkoord gaan met bovenstaande stelling betekent niet automatisch dat je intolerant bent. Het betekent alleen dat je niet akkoord zou gaan met de stelling dat de onmogelijkheid om samen te leven het gevolg is van een superioriteitsgevoel. Iemand die bijvoorbeeld van oordeel zou zijn dat de onmogelijkheid om samen te leven het gevolg is van een gebrek aan communicatie, of het gevolg is van verschillende visies op hoe dat samenleven moet georganiseerd worden, of het gevolg is van een verschil in cultuur etc. Kan iemand mij aangeven waarom bvb. de mening dat het spreken van een andere tal communicatieproblemen oplevert een bewijs van intolerantie is? Tot zover uw gebrekkige redenering. Nu, de moralistische toon die er uit spreekt is nogal typisch voor intolerante mensen: wie het met mijn ideeën niet eens is (Ceux quie ne sont pas d'accord) is moreel verwerpelijk... Maar ja, het moreel criminaliseren van anderen, daar is de Bub wel zeer goed in.


Voor alle duidelijkheid: ik zeg helemaal niet dat één cultuur superieur zou zijn ten opzichte van een ander - en als BFE meent dat ik dat wel zeg, dat hij dan met citaten afkomt waar ik zeg dat in dit land (of elders) de ene cultuur superieur zou zijn aan de andere.

Wat ik wel zeg is dat er een communautaire breuklijn doorheen dit land loopt, en dat de enige manier om ondanks die breuklijn het land bijeen te houden - wat zeer wenselijk is - men een deugdelijke politieke structuur voor dit land nodig heeft. En voor mij is de beste oplossing hiervoor een ver doorgedreven federalisme. Iets anders heb ik hier nooit verdedigd. Maar ja, volgens sommigen zijn federalisten blijkbaar intolerante mensen.

My choice for expressing my thoughts to you all IN ENGLISH will be made quite apparent when you read what follows :-
"I am unable to distinguish any difference between a Belgian Flemish and a Belgian Walloon when I visit our beautiful Country Belgium and its charming indigenous population, APART FROM THE LANGUAGE !
I know for fact that a Walloon has far more difficulty learning to speak Flemish then a Flemish to speak French. However, I noticed that both the EDUCATED population of Flanders and Wallonia have no difficulty expressing themselves in ENGLISH !
- Why not then consider making English the first language of Belgium ?!
- Consider at the same time banishing the flags of Flanders and Wallonia from government & public buildings. We already have a flag to unite us all : The NATIONAL BELGIAN FLAG !
- Consider also abolishing ALL existing fascist, right wing and left wing parties. Let us start from scratch ! Anyone opposing a UNITED BELGIUM is to be considered a troublemaker and be punished accordingly.
- Consider rallying and supporting the King during these dangerous & difficult times by giving him back sufficient power to Govern.
YOU WILL NEED TO ACT FAST TO AVERT CIVIL UNREST and even the dreadful possibility of CIVIL WAR !
Good luck and sincere best wishes to ALL THOSE AMONGST YOU WHO ARE OF GOOD FAITH, AS WELL AS TRUE BELGIAN PATRIOTS !
Lawrence/Larry Asslinger-Hochschild
Isle of Wight, England"

Dear friend,

You are totally right, except for 1 point: english as first language is a bad idea, because he could become the only one language of our land, consequently our land could lose his interest.

Thanks for your interessant post.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

My choice for expressing my thoughts to you all will be made quite apparent when you read what follows :-
"I am unable to distinguish any difference between a Belgian Flemish and a Belgian Walloon when I visit our beautiful Country Belgium and its charming indigenous population, APART FROM THE LANGUAGE !

It is probably difficult to notice while living on the Isle of Wight, but there are quite a few differences apart from the language.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

I know for fact that a Walloon has far more difficulty learning to speak Flemish then a Flemish to speak French.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

Why would they have more difficulty in learning the language, unless you really think they are intellectually uncapable of learning Dutch (which is of course nonsense) However, I noticed that both the EDUCATED population of Flanders and Wallonia have no difficulty expressing themselves in ENGLISH !
- Why not then consider making English the first language of Belgium ?!

So that only the educated people would be able to speak the language of their own country, as is theimplication of what you write? Why should we give up the right to speak our own language in the place where we were born. Why should we commit cultural suicide, as changing the language would cut off both the Dutch and the French speakers from their cultural heritage? No, thank you, we're not a British colony! But to illustrate the absurdity of your proposal: we'll consider changing our language if the UK will accept French or German as the sole official language of the EU.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

- Consider at the same time banishing the flags of Flanders and Wallonia from government & public buildings. We already have a flag to unite us all : The NATIONAL BELGIAN FLAG !

Well, YOU, Sir, have the Union Jack, we will decide for ourselves which flags we will use. Belgium is a federal state, and there is nothing wrong with using the flags of the federal entities - unless, again, you wil consider to get rid of the Union Jack and replace it with the flag of the European Union.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

- Consider also abolishing ALL existing fascist, right wing and left wing parties. Let us start from scratch ! Anyone opposing a UNITED BELGIUM is to be considered a troublemaker and be punished accordingly.

It is almost frightening to see how time and again people here start talking about abolishing parties with other opinions and about punishing people for their deviant opinion. I'd rather stick to our constitution (ask your cousins from over the pond what this word means) and to democracy, if you don't mind, and give the right to everyone who chooses to do so to form a political party and to participate in politics.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

- Consider rallying and supporting the King during these dangerous & difficult times by giving him back sufficient power to Govern.

It's a pitty the British didn't rally around their queen to lock up Tony Blair in the Tower, it would have saved the UK participation in a few wars (not that the Brits mind a good war now and then...). No, I'd rather stick to democracy instead of giving power to an unelected dictator (which he would be without parliamentary control).

Larry Asslinger wrote:

YOU WILL NEED TO ACT FAST TO AVERT CIVIL UNREST and even the dreadful possibility of CIVIL WAR !

Act like the British did in Northern Ireland? No thank you, that was really not a good example of managing a conflict between two populations. We have a history of managing this conflict without violence, and nothing points in the direction of doing it otherwise in the future.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

sincere best wishes.

Not if we follow your bad advice.

C'est une bonne chose que nous ayons un étranger sur ce forum, car de cette manière, les flamingants qui le composent devront constater que leur petite Flandre n'existe pas au niveau international et que leur agitation ridicule ne les mènera à rien, car si ils obtiennent ce qu'ils veulent, ils n'auront plus qu'à se regarder le nombril.

BFE wrote:

C'est une bonne chose que nous ayons un étranger sur ce forum, car de cette manière, les flamingants qui le composent devront constater que leur petite Flandre n'existe pas au niveau international et que leur agitation ridicule ne les mènera à rien, car si ils obtiennent ce qu'ils veulent, ils n'auront plus qu'à se regarder le nombril.

Gezien de enormiteiten die de man uit zijn botten slaat zou ik maar niet al te veel vertrouwen op het oordeel en de representatitviteit van een toevallige vreemde passant. Waar u trouwens de conclusies haalt die u trekt uit wat de man schrijft is mij een raadsel.

Larry Asslinger wrote:

My choice for expressing my thoughts to you all will be made quite apparent when you read what follows :-
"I am unable to distinguish any difference between a Belgian Flemish and a Belgian Walloon when I visit our beautiful Country Belgium and its charming indigenous population, APART FROM THE LANGUAGE !
I know for fact that a Walloon has far more difficulty learning to speak Flemish then a Flemish to speak French. However, I noticed that both the EDUCATED population of Flanders and Wallonia have no difficulty expressing themselves in ENGLISH !
- Why not then consider making English the first language of Belgium ?!
- Consider at the same time banishing the flags of Flanders and Wallonia from government & public buildings. We already have a flag to unite us all : The NATIONAL BELGIAN FLAG !
- Consider also abolishing ALL existing fascist, right wing and left wing parties. Let us start from scratch ! Anyone opposing a UNITED BELGIUM is to be considered a troublemaker and be punished accordingly.
- Consider rallying and supporting the King during these dangerous & difficult times by giving him back sufficient power to Govern.
YOU WILL NEED TO ACT FAST TO AVERT CIVIL UNREST and even the dreadful possibility of CIVIL WAR !
Good luck and sincere best wishes to ALL THOSE AMONGST YOU WHO ARE OF GOOD FAITH, AS WELL AS TRUE BELGIAN PATRIOTS !
Lawrence/Larry Asslinger-Hochschild
Isle of Wight, England"

Let do it like the United Kingdom. The Scotish parlement runs the Scottish National Health Service and the department of education as both were disolved when Blair became prime minister. However the Scott MP who are member of the British parlement also vote on all maters about the English (and Welch) NHS and education. It easy ... let us disolve all things the Flemish majority want to spli and let together run the country.

PS: I have seen a lot of English, Scottish and Welsh flags during my time in Britain.

PS1: I remember an articel in The Times when the Belgian system outcast the VB about using the system to ban political parties. If you can't beat a political party in the ballot box you are a loser.

BFE wrote:

Dear friend,

You are totally right, except for 1 point: english as first language is a bad idea, because he could become the only one language of our land, consequently our land could lose his interest.

Thanks for your interessant post.

Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
I can assure you that I fully appreciate your concern about losing your National entity. ! This will NOT occur, as surely you must realise that Belgium would remain Belgium, whatever the first language. English is by far your best choice, as schools in Belgium already include this language as part of the curriculum. The language itself is easy to learn, and I tell you this from my personal experience, as my mother tongue was French, and I also spoke fluently Swahili and Lingala at one time.
From what I can see from your reply, your English is pretty good already, so you should have no trouble speaking it fluently in the near future.
Thank you for not tearing me apart like 'PC' did below ! I don't think he quite understood what I was trying to put across to other members of this group. I will try and appease him once I have sent this message on to you.
Kind regards,
Larry

I think PC has understood very well what you were trying to say and considering your points of view, you will surely feel at home with BUB. If you don't get lost in their programme, that is.

perikles wrote:

Larry Asslinger wrote:

My choice for expressing my thoughts to you all will be made quite apparent when you read what follows :-
"I am unable to distinguish any difference between a Belgian Flemish and a Belgian Walloon when I visit our beautiful Country Belgium and its charming indigenous population, APART FROM THE LANGUAGE !
I know for fact that a Walloon has far more difficulty learning to speak Flemish then a Flemish to speak French. However, I noticed that both the EDUCATED population of Flanders and Wallonia have no difficulty expressing themselves in ENGLISH !
- Why not then consider making English the first language of Belgium ?!
- Consider at the same time banishing the flags of Flanders and Wallonia from government & public buildings. We already have a flag to unite us all : The NATIONAL BELGIAN FLAG !
- Consider also abolishing ALL existing fascist, right wing and left wing parties. Let us start from scratch ! Anyone opposing a UNITED BELGIUM is to be considered a troublemaker and be punished accordingly.
- Consider rallying and supporting the King during these dangerous & difficult times by giving him back sufficient power to Govern.
YOU WILL NEED TO ACT FAST TO AVERT CIVIL UNREST and even the dreadful possibility of CIVIL WAR !
Good luck and sincere best wishes to ALL THOSE AMONGST YOU WHO ARE OF GOOD FAITH, AS WELL AS TRUE BELGIAN PATRIOTS !
Lawrence/Larry Asslinger-Hochschild
Isle of Wight, England"

Let do it like the United Kingdom. The Scotish parlement runs the Scottish National Health Service and the department of education as both were disolved when Blair became prime minister. However the Scott MP who are member of the British parlement also vote on all maters about the English (and Welch) NHS and education. It easy ... let us disolve all things the Flemish majority want to spli and let together run the country.

PS: I have seen a lot of English, Scottish and Welsh flags during my time in Britain.

PS1: I remember an articel in The Times when the Belgian system outcast the VB about using the system to ban political parties. If you can't beat a political party in the ballot box you are a loser.

Hello Perildes,
Thank you for your in-put.
I have read your message with interest. Unfortunately the situation in the United Kingdom cannot be comparable to that of Belgium. The Welsh, the Scots, the Irish and the English are definitely four different races, with deep rooted entities spanning centuries. However, they share one common language : English (although spoken in different accents !), but the written word remains English. I can assure you that the majority of the indigenous population of the UNITED KINGDOM wish to remain UNITED, despite what some politicians want us to believe.
Yes, there are different flags representing the Welsh, Irish, etc... Why not, BUT as long as they are not used as a rallying point for unsavoury politicians and their supporters. Alas the flag depicting the Cockerel of Wallonia and the flag depicting the Lion of Flanders are being used for this purpose, as you well know. A great shame !
These flags are also being used as a symbol of disunity amongst the Belgians and as a weapon to incite HATRED between you two factions. What a calamity ! What a crime !
A change of attitude must now prevail as from tomorrow from you Flemish & Walloons alike, or I can guarantee that the future for all Belgians will be bleak if you carry on being led by unscrupulous politicians and their supporters, whom I can only describe as being evil morons (just like their leaders). Any suggestions as to how you personally can change this attitude ? I would like you ALL to share this with me and the rest of this group. It would be a good start don't you think ?!
Kind regards,
Larry

Boorman wrote:

I think PC has understood very well what you were trying to say and considering your points of view, you will surely feel at home with BUB. If you don't get lost in their programme, that is.

Hahahaha ! Thank you Boorman ! I will try not to get lost !
I won't bother to reply to PC then if that is the case. I hope he/she will look at my message again and come to understand more clearly my points of view. I hope so any way.
Kind regards,
Larry

Thanks Larry for your interesting comments. But beware, we also admit some flamingants or wallingants to express their ideas on this forum (like PC and Boorman), so they are not all Belgian unitarists. But this is only in our own interest to make our debates more vivid and to train our political skills.

I also hope that the United Kingdom stays united. You're right about your common language, but as you say your country has a past of division, which Belgium has not. So, the situation is quite different.

Nevertheless, 80% of all Belgians are definitely against the split of their country but all political parties except for the B.U.B. are linguistically divided and the media are in their hands. This is our biggest problem. Belgium is no real democracy anymore...

Belgica wrote:

Thanks Larry for your interesting comments. But beware, we also admit some flamingants or wallingants to express their ideas on this forum (like PC and Boorman), so they are not all Belgian unitarists. But this is only in our own interest to make our debates more vivid and to train our political skills.

I also hope that the United Kingdom stays united. You're right about your common language, but as you say your country has a past of division, which Belgium has not. So, the situation is quite different.

Nevertheless, 80% of all Belgians are definitely against the split of their country but all political parties except for the B.U.B. are linguistically divided and the media are in their hands. This is our biggest problem. Belgium is no real democracy anymore...

I have read your note with great interest and thank you for your reply Belgica. I will answer it sometime tomorrow.
Good night and please don't worry. There is always a solution to even the worst scenarios. Keep being optimistic, it will eventually rub off on the others.
Kind regards,
Larry,

Belgica wrote:

Thanks Larry for your interesting comments. But beware, we also admit some flamingants or wallingants to express their ideas on this forum (like PC and Boorman), so they are not all Belgian unitarists. But this is only in our own interest to make our debates more vivid and to train our political skills.


I also hope that the United Kingdom stays united. You're right about your common language, but as you say your country has a past of division, which Belgium has not. So, the situation is quite different.

Nevertheless, 80% of all Belgians are definitely against the split of their country but all political parties except for the B.U.B. are linguistically divided and the media are in their hands. This is our biggest problem. Belgium is no real democracy anymore...

Thank you for your concern Belgica. I am aware that your group is bound to contain 'FLAMINGANTS' & 'WALLINGANTS' alike amongst us Unitarists, which in my opinion is a 'healthy' way to approach the ongoing delicate political situation. I sincerely hope that it will not take too long for our other Belgian compatriots, such as PC and Boormans, to put aside once and for all their HATRED towards one another and make the effort to at least try and comprehend what us Unitarists are trying to achieve for the GOOD of our Country as a whole. Even PC & Boormans know that, should Belgium cease to exist, none of the three divisions will survive without one another. It is also a known fact that the 'FLAMINGANTS' have no desire to become part of Holland in the first place. As for the 'WALLINGANTS'I must admit that I have no idea what they are hoping to achieve by wanting to be 'adopted' by France. On the otherhand I can just about comprehend the desire of the German speaking 'WALLINGANTS' to be 'adopted' by Germany, but I do feel extremely sad for those Belgian Ardennais whose families had to suffer so much under the Nazi occupation, especially during the Battle of the Ardennes towards the end of WWII.

Yes, I am also aware of that 80% of BELGIANS, which is a GREAT number whom we should make aware of this group's existence, so that they also come along and swell our ranks !
You mention above ".......but all political parties except for the B.U.B. are linguistically divided*. LINGUISTICALLY divided ! That is exactly what I have been trying to make you and the others aware of this fact which has been a 'thorn' in the relationship between Flemish/b]speaking BELGIANS, French speaking BELGIANS and German speaking BELGIANS.
I therefore reiterate what I had mentioned in my original message : ......."I am unable to distinguish any difference between a Belgian Flemish and a Belgian Walloon when I visit our beautiful Country Belgium and its charming indigenous population, [b]APART FROM THE LANGUAGE !
I know for fact that a Walloon has far more difficulty learning to speak Flemish then a Flemish to speak French. However, I noticed that both the EDUCATED population of Flanders and Wallonia have no difficulty expressing themselves in ENGLISH ! - Why not then consider making English the first language of Belgium ?!"

If the media is in 'their' hands, then as a group representing 80% of the population, you should consider starting doing something about it.....NOW !

Kind regards,
Larry