Belgium 'placed on democracy watch list' (3 elected mayors banned from office for speaking French)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | December 3, 2008 | Bruno Waterfield

[Stoat]

European human rights watchdogs are now watching Belgian democracy closely after the move by Flemish local authorities.

The Council of Europe has "opened a monitoring procedure on local democracy" fuelling a row between Dutch speaking and francophone Belgians that has threatened the existence of Belgium.

Flemish regional authorities have blocked three French-speaking mayors from taking up public office since they were elected in January 2007 in the Brussels suburbs of Linkebeek, Wezembeek-Oppem and Kraainem.

Marino Keulen, the Flemish Interior Minister responsible for the ban, remained defiant and announced he will stick by his decision to outlaw the elected mayors.

[Stoat]

My apologies for posting such a severely edited article....this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic rules pertaining to the posting of articles from the UK Telegraph. 

Please click on the main article link to read the full story.

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The Council of Europe has "opened a monitoring procedure on local democracy" fuelling a row between Dutch speaking and francophone Belgians that has threatened the existence of Belgium.

Just a couple of thoughts....

• A common language and culture.....essential elements of the glue that holds any society or successful nation together.
• Many thoughtful Americans tend to feel that their nation's as well as the world's stability, prosperity, freedoms and future is threatened when the main media outlets work tirelessly, openly and shamelessly for years to push a completely unqualified Marxist cokehead with a cadre of terrorist and anti-American friends and criminal associates into the Presidency by playing the race card and on feelings of white guilt among the weak and easily-manipulated.  Belgium, however, has it's very existence threatened by the election of three city mayors who speak French.

[Boiling Pots]

Belgium should break up.

It’s not right that the francophones dominate the Flemish so.

OT, but I was at Miami Wal Mart yesterday, and my wife asked one of their workers a question, and he had no clue what she was saying, as he could not speak English. Is this a normal Wal Mart policy, of hiring workers who cannot speak English?

[Stoat]

Is this a normal Wal Mart policy, of hiring workers who cannot speak English?

Did you mention it to the store manager?  His / her response might have been interesting.

Also, sometimes people who have an ethnic appearance play the "I can't understand you" game when they are simply being lazy or want to avoid interacting for whatever reason.

Police encounter this constantly in traffic stops.

[Boiling Pots]

I was afraid the manager would not be able to speak English as well.

Miami is not even part of the US anymore.

This area is totally controlled by Spanish-only speakers. If you don’t speak Spanish (I do), you cannot survive in this town without great difficulty.

[Stoat]

I’m very sorry to hear that....it’s become a concern in many American cities and is pouring gasoline on the borders / language / culture debates.

Hopefully it won’t be allowed to get to the point where it tears our country completely apart, as is apparently happening in Belgium.

[Boiling Pots]

It’s tearing the country apart right now.

I served in a jury pool a couple of weeks ago...about 30% of the people there could not speak English. They were all dismissed (Another perk of being a citizen without being able to speak English..no jury duty!)

A few non-English speakers apparently didn’t hear the call for them to leave, and they piped up during the day over how they could not speak or understand any English. Of course, I asked in a very loud voice each time, “How are you a citizen then if you cannot speak English?”

No one seemed to be too concerned.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Ridiculous stupid feud. Belgium should give its French part to France and its Flemish part to Holland and cease to exist. Then the arguing will stop.

[Stoat]

You’re lucky that you weren’t arrested for a ‘hate crime’ for daring to suggest that an American citizen should speak English.

I agree it is tearing things apart and it needs to be stopped fast, and rolled back. I have little hope that things will improve over the next four years, however.

Thank you though for doing your civic duty and for standing up for what’s right.

[skipper18]

“A common language and culture.....essential elements of the glue that holds any society or successful nation together”

60 % speak Flemish, 40 % speak French.

You’d never put up with your mayor being denied office because he was a different religion than the guy rubberstamping the results.

It’s no different here.