GeforceArthur,
From an American perspective, there are very few areas where the government does a good job. There are far more areas where the government does an inefficient, wasteful, and inferior job. The less government the better! A population or nation who rely on the government for their well-being is a stagnant, listless, and uninspired people.
Take care,
TTP
It depends from what perspective you’re looking. The gov’t is made up of the people as well. I wouldn’t call it uninspired. Social-democracies (not socialist !) have the highest standards of living, for instance Scandinavian countries. Compare this to the liberal-democracies like 19th century Belgium-UK. Utilitarism in its purest may be inspiring, it’s surely not the best for all people, and you don’t have to be a marxist to think that (unless Clinton was one).
However, in the case of the USA I can understand the problem. For a country the size of a continent, and as much people too from different ethnic groups, I find it amazing it still functions, already more than 200 years (ok not the civil war). But the gov’t in Washington focusses more on foreign policy, not? There’s not even a minister of the interior, which I find quite strange. How important is the federal gov’t in the life of the average American? Not much I can imagine.
GeforceIf I want to hear a bunch of crap and some arrogant shouting I can go to the Peppers again. The thing I hate about festivals though is the audience. Does anyone feel the same? Don’t want to sound snobbish, but sometimes they can be a pain in the ass!! I’d rather saw them playing at the sportpaleis or ancien belgique.
Here are some Pixies sites and the playlist, which is quite long and everything I wanna hear.
http://klepshimi.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_klepshimi_archive.html#108252867139318144
GeforceIt’s not a constitution, it’s a draft paper to make distinctions between the different institutions. It contains some basic human rights but that’s it.
Even the UN has some sort of ‘charter’. In fact, this constitution will even make the European Commission weak, compared to the Council made up of national ministers 😡
GeforceI really don’t understand what the problem is about this constitution. In fact, this constitution is actually a favour towards all the Euro-sceptics, the Euro-enthousiasts like myself don’t like it very much. It means that some decissions will return to London for instance. The EU is a confederation, and after the constitution, it will remain one. So there’s not even a chance of it becoming a United States of Europe. It just means that there will be a clear seperation between Brussels and London, more important, that if the Brits don’t like anything decided in Brussels from now on they’ll have a legal methods to oppose this etc.
I find it extremely arrogant however to think England is better than Scotland, N-I or Wales. As an outsider I see the differences between the 4 different nations the UK has. However, politically, the UK is still one. If England wants to be independent so be it, because nothing will depend on England anymore. Utter utter separatist crap. :rolleyes:
On the side, why doesn’t the UK become a federal state like Belgium or the US? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to form a constitution instead of sticking to this 17th century solution?
GeforceTwo months? I thought they were going to Pinkpop. If you’re going to Werchter, let me know something. I’ll be the kid near the entrance crying he lost his ticket 😀
Doolittle is my favourite album too, though Surfa Rosa comes straight behind. Trompe Le Monde and Bossanova are good too, but I’d rather hear them playing Debaser than My Velouria to be honest 🙂 But we’ll see.
If anyone’s going to Werchter in Belgium, here’s the bad news. The Boston four are placed BEFORE placebo. They should have shown a bit more respect towards the Pixies, and let them end the festival. I mean, Placebo are just beginners, and David Bowie, well, David Bowie will probably tour for another 3 decades.
Anyone bought the DVD as well? A gig of 1988, when Charles still had more hair/less kilograms.
GeforceMust be this lovely thing. As the song on the radio now goes, I ‘d love to make a little birdhouse in my soul for her. Only she’s now with that whining ******* 😀
GeforceLaw? It’s just a matter of constitutions, which is important for everyone, even if you don’t study law. However, you don’t want me to defend in you in court as a lawyer. 😀 ‘ll just stick to teaching a bunch of uninterrested nose-picking scholars the essence of history
To add one more thing on the capitals. In 1810 when Napoleon conquered the Netherland (which was just a formal action as the king was his brother), he made Amsterdam the second capital of his empire, and Rome the third.
GeforceWell Jeroen, I think the Dutch sentiment towards Europe has to do with the fact that the Republic was very much related to the new trading system. The reason why the Republic survived was due economic reasons, so that explains probably why the Republic rather cooperated than fighted with the other major European superpowers, 3 wars with England which it provoked itself being the exeption.
However, Flags, national anthems etc. you have to be careful with. These are 19th century ‘Romantic’ inventions to promote nationalism. Belgium had The Guldensporenslag, the new kingdom of the Netherlands the Batavian myth. So the national symbols are not very historical anyway, they are more a product of 19th century invented traditions. And it changes all the time. During nazi-occupation, the Germans tried to bring the Flemish and the Dutch together by bringing back the topic of a “Groot-Nederland.” History can be used as a political tool as well. In the early days of the Belgian kingdom, historians didn’t even mention the fact that north and south were once very close.
The official name of YOUR country now is not “Nederland” but “Koninkrijk der Nederlanden”, in plural. When north and south were brought together again in 1815 it was called “Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden/The United Kingdom”. And while we are busy: your queen is “koningin der nederlanden”, our king is “koning der Belgen.” What’s the difference? Well, our king is – how strange it may sound – only chosen by the will of the people. Theoretically, the people should just inform the king with a note “get lost” so he could look after another job 😀 In the Netherlands, the queen is constitutionally a lot more powerful.
On the language issue I can tell you one thing: different language doesn’t mean a different culture. As much as I like the Netherlands, apart from the language, Flemish and Walloons have really more in common. The Dutch spoken in Belgium today is actually the language used in Antwerp, a bit like Holland became the cultural frontrunner in the Netherlands. So there do exist Belgians, and not only Flemish and Walloons. In fact, being Belgian is less artificial than the other two, because it has been united 250 years before its formal independence in 1830. Regionalism is not bad, but not in it’s current form which is related to extreme right.
One last remark. South Africa has actually 4 capitals. Parliament in Capetown, Gov’t in Pretoria, Supreme Court in Bloemfontein (?) and the national bank, thus economic centre, in Jo’burg. And ofcourse another example of dividing powers between multiple cities is the EU: Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxemburg, Straatsburg and a national capital.
GeforceIn Bachten de Kupe wieder spreekn etwa da iedrèè ku verstoa. As I’ve lived near the coast (Koksijde) I even have problems understanding people from a nearby inland town (Veurne). Ofcourse, that might have to do with the fact that I’m half Antwierpeneer.
To be honest, the subtitles don’t bother me. The only dilemma is my laziness. Am I too lazy to translate or to read? Most of the times though I fall asleep in front of the TV after a while.
GeforceWest-Flemish and Limburgish are no sepperate languages, not at all. You probably don’t understand anything because people are speaking fast and don’t open their mouth, though I suggest you try to read Kowliers lyricks and you’ll understand it.
The Belgian Republic. Well, since the Brabant revolution started in Turnhout, near the Dutch border, it might be that your region (around Eindhoven I think) was involved in it. The territories you live in were called “generaliteitslanden” and had a different status. In fact, they were no-mansland. They didn’t belong to the south informally because they were part of Brabant. But the Republic occupied the territories as a buffer. It was probably the worst region to live in, because it didn’t have a right to vote in the Staten-Generaal.
So if you’re tired of being called Dutchmen, we could arrange a meeting in Baarle Hertog, and I’ll hand you the official documents proving you are a Belgian ! 😀
GeforceI think the Catholic/Protestant struggle had alot to do with it Ben. And to say it was backward to be allied with the Hapsbourg empire is a bit strong.
True, but protestantism and a good economy went together. You see, it were the rich civilians who became the first reformists. The catholics farmers in ‘the backward’ regions were – sorry to say it – incapable of making the step towards a new religion. I’m not saying this, Max Weber does. Belgium today is mostly catholic, because most protestants fleed from Spanish suppression.
Don’t want to disappoint people who visit Belgium, but Waterloo is a shame! No infrastructure, the kind of historical site with dirty toilets (where you have to pay) because it’s private-owned. There are enough other historical places to visit, but Waterloo is crap. So, you can betters spend the hours drinking a Mort Subite or a Geuze (!) in Brussels or Antwerp.
GeforceCool, now these are discussions I like.
You are right about the Belgium thing being something from the Romans. Though, under the reign of the Spanish, the Southern Netherlands were called ‘Belgica’ already. Anyway, it’s very confusing, and changes all the times. I just wanted to clear out the “low lands” have not always been sepperated, and before 1588 someone from Koksijde was as much a Nederlander as someone from Leeuwarden. (now they only have a helicopter-base in common).
The ‘Belgian’ Republic was not a succes though. We only made it for 9 months! 😀 So we decided from then on a monarch with little intellectual capabilities is probably the best.
On the language. I understand little of Flip Kowlier, but I like his music though. But to be honest, dialects is not my thing. I have less problems understanding someone from Holland than someone from (Belgian)Limburg for example. But Flemish is not a language you’re right, we should call it Dutch. There are only 21 million people still using it, so we shouldn’t divide it even more. Frisian is not a dialect though, it’s a different Germanic language, just like English or German.
GeforceI still think “the Netherlands” are both your and my country. Low lands is more a geographical term. Before 1588 the whole area was known as the Netherlands, and only because the northern provinces could be sepperated they took over the name ‘Netherlands’. However, it’s also ours 😀 (no heartfeelings though).
GeforceIt’s also noteworthy to point out that the the border between the Republic and the Spanish Netherlands were a coincidence. Actually, the fight against the Spanish began in Flanders and so continued throughout Brabant and Holland. However, the more backward provinces (which are now Eastern-Netherlands and Southern belgium) didn’t want the war. When Parma tried to reconquer the territories, all provinces suddenly became quite selfish and hence it explained why Holland was remained liberated but Flanders and Brabant were retaken.
Fact is the people from the North/Sout Netherlands have one thing in common: egoism :D.
The fact why the Spanish continued their war against the Republic for another 40-years was not because they wanted to retake the Republic, it was clear the latter was too powerfull and had powerfull allies (England and France), but because the ‘Dutch’ blocked the river Schelde, so the port of Antwerp, and thus the whole SN couldn’t not trade with the rest of the world. In fact, I even think it were people from the SN who insisted on continuing the war with the Republic, even though the Spanish would rather use the force to fight against the ever growing empires of the French and the English.
Quite a difficult time, and to be honest, don’t ask me to explain how the allianes changed because that’s impossible!
GeforceHolland is a province of the Netherlands. Just as not all British are English. However, Holland has always been the most important provice, though people from Utrecht, Groningen etc will probably feel different.
The Netherlands are actually misused. In fact, the Netherlands are both the country it is today AND Belgium. In fact, Belgium is just latin for the Netherlands. Theoretically spoken, both countries mean the same, only in different language.
When Belgium was a republic (for a while) back in 1789 it was named the United Dutch States (Etats-Unis Belges), the Netherlands were called the United Provinces of the Netherlands, or short ‘The Republic’. Very confusing, not?
However, there IS a big difference. If there’s one thing I’ll do in the UEFA-cup it’ll be burning that ugly, hideus orange flag :D. Naah
Ohh and one last remark. ‘Dutch’ in ‘Dutch’ means Dietsch which is German. The language should be renamed Netherlandish, or else, Arthurian 😀
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