Article

2014-05-26 Europe

Flemish Separatists Set for Victory in Key Belgium Election

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2014-05-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 The tribalists continue to win.

A buddy in the UK pointed out that the Spanish are terrified about the coming dissolution of the UK as Scotland proclaims its independence because of the precedent.

Now this. Wales, Catalan, the Basques, Venice the list goes on.

Posted by AlanC 2014-05-26 08:48|| 2014-05-26 08:48|| Front Page Top

#2 The idiot socialists don't understand real history as their only beings with Marx in the 19th Century. Nationalism is the counter to tribalism, not 'internationalism'. Undermine national identity and you slide back to the previous loyalties. Their case isn't helped by their insistence of using identity politics that promotes that very tribalism.

Posted by Procopius2k 2014-05-26 09:41|| 2014-05-26 09:41|| Front Page Top

#3 The only justification behind merging people into larger groups is security; i.e. more of us can put up a better fight. These groups all now feel that the EU will protect them, so the rationale collapses (not a demonstrated fact).
Coming soon: Germanic princedoms and Greek city-states. Because, you know, if it was a good idea from a few hundred to a couple of thousand years ago, it's bound to be a good idea now.
If the Russians and/or Chinese can just be patient, this could be a walk through.

Posted by ed in texas 2014-05-26 09:56|| 2014-05-26 09:56|| Front Page Top

#4 The interesting possibilities are endless. The EU is rapidly becoming the Holy Roman Empire V2.0.

The principalities and city states and petty kingdoms will proliferate till the bureaucratic inertia becomes overwhelming.

Which of these petite "sovereignties" become the first to break away? What of those caught between the neo-Russian empire and the EU?

When does the caliphate reform, and with what effect?

Interesting times indeed.

Posted by AlanC 2014-05-26 13:06|| 2014-05-26 13:06|| Front Page Top

#5 "The tribalists continue to win."

Funny that you would say that on this site as 99.9% of the amerikan idiots who post here would be in total agreement in making English the only official language of the United States to counter the false-flag Mexican invasion.

Posted by spano bellingbo3665 2014-05-26 19:02|| 2014-05-26 19:02|| Front Page Top

#6 So if the Scots go for independence, who gets Balmoral? To the best of my knowledge, it is owned by the Royal Family and not the Crown.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2014-05-26 19:09|| 2014-05-26 19:09|| Front Page Top

#7 Funny that you would say that on this site

What's your take on Quebec separatism, mon ami?

99.9% of the amerikan idiots who post here would be in total agreement in making English the only official language of the United States to counter the false-flag Mexican invasion.

"amerikan" with a 'k'. How... 1970s.

I have no problem with English as an official language, for the same reason international aviation uses it.

That cultural approach to immigration also worked relatively well from the 1820s until recently. It's also still a reason that when the US economy gets the sniffles, Canada gets a cold.

A final question: do they inject Canadians with a smugness/insecurity virus combination at birth? Or is it something in the water in Ontario?

Posted by Pappy 2014-05-26 20:25|| 2014-05-26 20:25|| Front Page Top

#8 In the 2000 census, one of five Americans spoke a second language in the home. Not asked was how many in the Southwestern states, California, southern Florida, and Cincinnati, Ohio speak Spanish not at home but in the streets, and how many in New York City speak Russian, Chinese or Yiddish ditto...

No doubt the numbers were higher in the 2010 census; I haven't had occasion to look it up. I do know that in my daughters' public high school in an outer suburb in the middle of the American Midwest, the English As A Second Language program caters to 72 different languages. The top three languages by population are Spanish, Vietnamese and, oddly enough, Arabic.

In such a society, a single language common to all is necessary, Mr. Jerkface Killa. You Canadians, with your small population of French speakers and even fewer natives, are pikers.

Posted by trailing wife 2014-05-26 22:19|| 2014-05-26 22:19|| Front Page Top

23:42 Hotspur666
23:25 Squinty
23:17 AlmostAnonymous5839
23:12 Hotspur666
22:46 JosephMendiola
22:39 JosephMendiola
22:34 JosephMendiola
22:30 49 Pan
22:23 trailing wife
22:21 JosephMendiola
22:19 trailing wife
22:18 JosephMendiola
22:13 Charles
21:45 OldSpook
21:03 Squinty
21:02 Thing From Snowy Mountain
20:58 Squinty
20:52 rjschwarz
20:34 wr
20:32 Pappy
20:30 JosephMendiola
20:27 Pappy
20:25 Pappy
20:19 CrazyFool