Age of Empires

Hooray! France is looking to expand its territories.

Belgium has been without government since June 2007. Belgium is split between two language groups, the French speaking Wallonia region and Dutch speaking Flanders in the north. These two regions have been bucking for more political autonomy.

We are two different nations, an artificial state created as a buffer between big powers, and we have nothing in common except a king, chocolate and beer.

Filip Dewinter, the leader of Vlaams Belang, or Flemish Bloc, the extreme-right, xenophobic Flemish party.

Anyone who has spoken French in a Flemish city quickly gets a sense of the mutual hostility that is a part of daily life here. The current crisis dates from June 10, when the Flemish Christian Democrats, who demand greater autonomy for Flanders, came in first with one-fifth of the seats in Parliament.
Yves Leterme, the party leader, would have become prime minister if he had been able to put together a coalition government.
But he was rejected by French speakers because of his contempt for them — an oddity since his own father is a French speaker. He further alienated them, and even some moderate Flemish leaders, on Belgium’s national holiday, July 21, when he appeared unable — or unwilling — to sing Belgium’s national anthem.
Belgium’s mild-mannered, 73-year-old king, Albert II, has struggled to mediate, even though under the Constitution he has no power other than to appoint ministers and rubber-stamp laws passed by Parliament. He has welcomed a parade of politicians and elder statesmen to the Belvedere palace in Brussels, successively appointing four political leaders to resolve the crisis. All have failed.

NY Times 21 Sep 2007

Now it seems France might have a solution: Wallonia can become part of France! Hooray! Vive La France! Last time we tried to take belgium was when Napoleon got slapped down at Waterloo.


Flanders can keep Brussels tho. I don't like their sprouts.



It seems my blog consists of one syllable words and poopie jokes.