From reactions I receive from readers, I realize that it is all but clear to many what is going on here in this country with language, politics, elections, and all the talk about federation versus confederation, etc. But let's stick to this blog's philosophy of steering clear of politics. Nevertheless, Dimitri's picture, which he took about two years ago in January 2011 at the occasion of the protest march "Shame" in Brussels, is as good a reason as any to give you some numbers here:
"Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers (about 60%), mostly Flemish, and the French-speakers (about 40%), mostly Walloons, plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium
Hard for any of us, anywhere these days to escape the politics, the anger, the demonstrations and it is discouraging. Hope things improve in both of our countries, Anni!
ReplyDeleteand in the world, Sylvia!
DeleteIk hou wel van deze foto. Heel speciaal.
ReplyDeleteGroetjes,
Filip
all compliments to Dimitri!
Deleteknappe veelzeggende foto! 'let's stick together!'
ReplyDeleteEn France, la langue d'oïl a supplanté la langue d'oc, mais c'était il y a bien longtemps.
ReplyDeleteça donne une perspective toute différente
DeleteIf we Belgian politics not quite understand how foreigners must understand it
ReplyDeletea remark that I hear from time to time, Joke
Deleteen we zijn allemaal mensen op deze enige aardbol :)
ReplyDeletenet gezien op de 7e dag: http://www.vaneygen.be/Nathalie_Van_Eygen/Book_%28excerpt%29.html
ReplyDeleteIk ken Nathalie, jammer dat ik dit gemist heb! Bedankt met het te hebben laten weten.
DeleteEn allemaal in dat kleine landje
ReplyDeleteinderdaad, hoe kleiner hoe ingewikkelder?
DeleteMij bevalt deze foto Annie.
ReplyDeletebedankt in naam van Dimitri!
DeleteHallo Anni,
ReplyDeleteEen foto die de situatie goed illustreert! Toch doe je er goed aan de zaken even te verduideljken voor buitenlanders die er anders moeilijk aan uit kunnen :-))
Groetjes, Frans
Het is ongelooflijk de vragen die ik van buitenlanders krijg... het feit van straatnamen in twee talen te hebben bijvoorbeeld.. Ik moet werk maken van nog wat foto's in dezelfde zin.
DeleteNog een prettige zondagavond
Bonjour Anni
ReplyDeleteJe suis tout à fait d'accord avec la pancarte que le Monsieur brandit. Le tout c'est de s'entendre.
Oui il neige un tout petit peu ce matin, rien de bien méchant.
Bonne jouréne !
que ce qui devraient l'entendre, l'entendent, Claude!
DeleteHello Anni,
ReplyDeleteIt seems politics can be a thorn in your side no matter where you live. Here in the US everyday is a fight between two parties and who is going to have the last word never mind about what the people want. They are the innocent bystanders who have to watch grown adults behave like children who can't have their way! :)
Kristie, you are so lucky to ONLY have two parties!! we have a zillion ones -; which does not make it easier.
DeletePlutôt courageux comme démarche...La Belgique pour le nuls...
ReplyDeleteNous restons avant tout la patrie du surréalisme..c'est ca notre héritage comment, n'en déplaise à...
http://politictwist.blogs.lalibre.be/archive/2011/02/09/la-belgique-pour-les-nuls.html
Deletevoilà la Belgique pour les nuls, Olivier !
eenvoudiger kon het blijkbaar niet....
ReplyDeleteik zou het niet graag moeten uitleggen
prettige dag
over dat uitleggen, zijn we het allemaal eens, denk ik :)
Deletegreat picture, thanks for the info as well! its cool+confusing at the same time, is not it?
ReplyDeleteWat een interessante blog Anni, hier ga ik eens vaker komen! En knap dat je het zo kan uitleggen, ik had het zelf nooit zo goed gekund! :) Hopelijk blijven we in ons kleine landje aan elkaar "hangen". ;)
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