Leafless Posted October 23, 2007 Report Posted October 23, 2007 Belgian police ejected Flemish far-right officials from a council meeting last night after they tried to stop representatives from speaking in French. http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...ad-01cf84c6ae51 I thought it was only Canada with English/French problems but apparently not. "It bothers me as a Flemish person that people who come and live here don't want to adapt," says an elderly resident of the town of Vilvoorde. "Immigrants have to learn our language, but the French don't. What does that tell you?" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4545433.stm Seems Canada is not the only country to be de-unified by the French. Quote
M.Dancer Posted October 23, 2007 Report Posted October 23, 2007 http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...ad-01cf84c6ae51 I thought it was only Canada with English/French problems but apparently not. Belgium doesn't have English/French problems.... Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Leafless Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Posted October 23, 2007 Belgium doesn't have English/French problems.... French is the common denominator of linguistic problems in both Canada and Belgium. Quote
M.Dancer Posted October 23, 2007 Report Posted October 23, 2007 French is the common denominator of linguistic problems in both Canada and Belgium. Except in Belgium the problem is the flemish minority, not the francphone majority Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
Leafless Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Posted October 23, 2007 Except in Belgium the problem is the flemish minority, not the francphone majority That is only in one region, the Wallon region which harbours 3,360,000 French. The Flemish or Dutch region harbours 5,900,000. But the problem or argument is: Many French speakers have been moving into the Dutch-speaking suburbs in the last few years - and the Flemish parties are determined not to lose control. "It bothers me as a Flemish person that people who come and live here don't want to adapt," says an elderly resident of the town of Vilvoorde. "Immigrants have to learn our language, but the French don't. What does that tell you?" This is the problem when a 'country' defies the definition of 'country', relating to NOT having its OWN language, becomes as volatile as religion. Quote
guyser Posted October 23, 2007 Report Posted October 23, 2007 This is the problem when a 'country' defies the definition of 'country', relating to NOT having its OWN language, becomes as volatile as religion. Three official languages....and we think we have a problem? Maybe they could call it DuFreGer , or maybe Freduger , that sounds nice. But the three.....German, with no respect to Germans intended, always sounds harsh. Even "pass the butter" comes across as an angry rant. French, ah the sounds of love , the romance to woo the ladies.... Dutch....umm....er.......great shoes! Quote
jbg Posted October 25, 2007 Report Posted October 25, 2007 Three official languages....and we think we have a problem?You have Canadian, English and French, no? Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Wilber Posted October 25, 2007 Report Posted October 25, 2007 How do the Swiss manage? Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Sulaco Posted October 25, 2007 Report Posted October 25, 2007 How do the Swiss manage? Small country - increasing interdependence. Highly autonomous regions. A very long history of confederation. Quote Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who learn from history are doomed to a lifetime of reruns.
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