July 15, 2008

Belgium go Bye Bye? Somewhere up there in the ether, Douglas Adams is rubbing his hands together wickedly. And this, right on the heels of their coronation as the Beer Capital of teh World, too!

This seems similar to the issues fomenting separatism in Quebec?

posted by es el Queso 16 years ago
  • It’s a fascinating issue, one which I don’t pretend to grasp fully. My impressions are that the situation shares much the case of Quebec separation, in that the group of actual separatists is small compared to those who simply use the threat of separation to extract greater political powers. In that, the language of the politicos perhaps does not match the opinions on the ground. I think this is borne out by the areas of control that the Flemish are after – areas without a necessarily cultural or linguistic component to them. That said, the parallels to the Quebec situation may end there, as the Belgian situation is much more binary and even than that of Quebec (other than on the island of Montreal itself). Quebec may be able to extract more from the Rest of Canada through ‘appeasement’ (and I hate to use that word), where the same concessions would mean a dissolution of the state in the Belgian context. (I'm also reluctant to get into a comparison of suffering by the Quebecois and Vlaamse communities...) It’s also interesting in that historically, the prosperous regions have flip-flopped, and that the separatist cause seems to ignore that – that they may well flip again. Also that the talk of union with Belgium’s neighbours does not take into account the willingness of those neighbours to take them on, nor does such talk address the fact that, undoubtedly, a chunk of the respective nationalist movements may not want union with those neighbours. During the last go-around, I was taken aback by the fact that the King didn't get involved until very late in the game, seeing as that's what he's there for, and you'd figure that he'd be motivated by self-preservation more than anyone (not that he'd have his head on a pike, but being King is a pretty sweet gig -- it's good to be the King). In any event, the cause of a United Belgium would have been advanced greatly had they qualified for Euro 2008. In summary, then, these Belgians are crazy.
  • Oh, philosophers may sing Of the troubles of a King; Yet the duties are delightful, and the privileges great; But the privilege and pleasure That we treasure beyond measure Is to run on little errands for the Ministers of State. Srsly tho, this was one of those things where you always hear about them squabbling, and you know there are deep feelings on both sides, but you never imagine anything will really come of it.
  • Belgian beer is too damn sugary.
  • WHAT?!?
  • Seriously...is it supposed to be a dessert topping over there or something?
  • OK, I'm guessing you've only ever had a lambic or a kriek, and not very good ones at that.
  • I thought lambics and krieks were sour, not sweet. ???
  • Supposed to be, but the LCBO is teh suck.
  • Granted, I haven't had a lot of Belgians...maybe a half-dozen or so, but I've yet to find one I don't loathe. If they have something with the hoppy bitterness of an IPA, I'd gladly give them another shot.
  • De Ranke XX Bitter perhaps?
  • I agree with rocket and I've tried a fair selection - far too sickly most of them; suitable for students looking to get bladdered in short order but not a true beer aficionado's drink.
  • But you have to admit the waffles rock.
  • Only in Waffllonia.
  • Previously. I like the odd Trappist myself.
  • I don't drink beer any more so to hell with the lot of the filthy fucking Belgian bastards.
  • Interesting. Not a fan of Belgian waffles, but I'd walk a mile for a Belgian Trappist Ale. And have done. HUGE fan of St. Sebastian. I have nothing to say about the actual article, however. As long as they preserve the monasteries and their ales, they can speak Klingon and dance with bears and all will be well with the world.
  • MonkeyFilter: they can speak Klingon and dance with bears and all will be well with the world There ye go.
  • In many ways the EC would take the sting out of a break-up. There aren't going to be customs posts on the border between Wallonia and Flanders or wherever, whatever happens. Just a bit of a reconfiguration within Benelux.
  • My biggest problem with Flemish nationalism is the number of bigots, fascists, and racists involved. Vlaams Belang (formerly Vlaams Blok) has been driving this separatism movement for years, pulling the other Flemish parties with it on the issue. VB is a completely odious organization; if Belgium breaks up, it'll be a victory for the extreme right. I hope that some sort of devolution can be agreed upon.
  • Les flamandes dansent sans sourir.