The United Nations and the European Commission have pinned down the Flanders region for linguistic 'discrimination'. In several reports published this week, both institutions express concern for the Flemish government's adoption of a 'wooncode', a housing code that reserves access to social housing for tenants who either speak Dutch, or commit to learning the language. For Martine Vandemeulebroucke, "the existence of linguistic discrimination and the emergence of racism between the country's two communities are taboo. And yet it exists. The long crisis ... has radicalised public opinion. The Mrax [Movement against racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia] more accustomed to having to defend illegal immigrants or Moroccan and Turkish minorities, is beginning to receive complaints of racism between the Flemish and French speaking communities."The original can be read here in French.
The leading party in not only Flanders, but now also Belgium as a whole, after the recent elections is Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New Flemish Alliance) which, amongst other measures, advocates within Flanders:
1. Preferential choice in schooling being given to Belgian families who have at least one Dutch-speaking parent.
2. Libraries being forced to stock at least 75% "Flemish" language books.
3. Having to prove "ties" to Flanders if you wish to buy a house or move into low-rent housing.
4. Blood donation sessions being only conducted amongst people who were mono-lingually Dutch (because, of course, Dutch-speaking blood is different to the French-speaking sort).
Whilst they can in no way be compared to the out and out racist headbangers of Vlaams Blok, their own self-description as being "centre-right civic nationalists" is seriously stretching it.
Which makes this invitation surprising (or maybe not):
A ROW has erupted after Plaid Cymru invited a senior politician from the controversial Flemish Nationalist party to speak at its annual conference.The defence offered by the Plaid spokesman is, well, not the most watertight I've heard; ie Labour votes with them in the European Parliament and:
Tomorrow MEP Frieda Brepoels will address Plaid delegates in Aberystwyth.
Her party Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliante (sic) (New Flemish Alliance), which became the biggest party in Belgium after a general election earlier this year, has been accused of promoting discriminatory policies in favour of Flemish speakers.
"It is ludicrous to suggest that the fact that an N-VA representative is attending Plaid’s conference means that we will be adopting their policies."Not really the point though is it?
You could invite Nick Griffin you have a word with the faithful without promising to adopt the BNP's policies- the fact he was invited in the first place is what would disturb people.
But OK, *if* Plaid Cymru are not in favour of the linguistic policies being adopted by the N-V A, a simple statement to that effect would help to kill off the controversy.
8 comments:
"4. Blood donation sessions being only conducted amongst people who were mono-lingually Dutch (because, of course, Dutch-speaking blood is different to the French-speaking sort)."
Your rants against Plaid are usually quite funny - but I'm afraid the above statement is just not true. It's usually wise when you find some outlandish fact to look at a number of sources. Here;s the truth from Syniadau: http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/
"It's usually wise when you find some outlandish fact to look at a number of sources. Here;s the truth from Syniadau: http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/"
The "truth" (which is not denied on the blog you name) according to the original Wall St article which he quotes:
"Flemish leaders have also ordered libraries to stock at least 75% Flemish books, blood drives to be monolingually Dutch and schools to stick to Dutch"
You can perhaps explain to me the necessity (from a civic nationalist viewpoint) of making blood drives “monolingually Dutch”?
Furthermore the blog you quote has the argument since the N-V A don’t comprise a majority of that parliament that they:
1)Didn’t vote for these measures
2)Don’t advocate them.
Apart from the fact that they are part of a coalition government there (I believe), that’s still a mighty big assumption to make; this is the NV-A’s website on language (http://www.n-va.be/search/search_by_page/Linguistic%20Policies) but since I don’t understand Dutch, this seems to be an impartial (and not contradicted by the party itself) useful summary of their stance:
http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/145849
"The party is also known for fighting for laws that force the non-native Dutch speaking inhabitants of Flanders to only use Dutch, Flanders' sole official language, in their communication with the government, and for the promotion of the use of Dutch in Flanders as the language enabling integration."
The kind of "civic" nationalism you would like to Plaid to be associated with?
Re my alleged anti-Plaid Cymru “rants”:
Plaid Cymru bewilder me at the minute, I think they are steadily becoming an irrelevance (partly their own fault, partly the way the political cards have fallen nation-wise).
I don’t think they’re a threat to the Union, I think on balance, I hope they survive because they add to the UK’s rich political tapestry.
Don't you recognise the huge difference between "blood drives to be monolingually Dutch" and your "Blood donation sessions being only conducted amongst people who were mono-lingually Dutch (because, of course, Dutch-speaking blood is different to the French-speaking sort)."
On the other stuff -"...and for the promotion of the use of Dutch in Flanders as the language enabling integration." - that's what most countries do. They try to assimilate incomers linguistically don't they. All these actions (including the administrative language of the blood drive) are consistent with that position which, correct or not, is certainly not extreme and compares with California's enforcement of english in a 33% hispanic state. Do I agree with it? I think they are right on education and about right on libraries, wrong on language of correspondence.
You should withdraw that french and Dutch speaking blood nonsense.
As to Plaid becoming an irrelevance actually being in government for the first time in history is a complete and absolute logical contradiction of that statement.
"Don't you recognise the huge difference between "blood drives to be monolingually Dutch""
I do occasionally employ artistic license to make a point,
but I also have been blogging long enough to known how far one can push that license in order still to make a valid point- in this particular case, I don't think I'll bother making any alterations.
On the other stuff -"...and for the promotion of the use of Dutch in Flanders as the language enabling integration." - that's what most countries do.
Most countries/regions, within the EU at any rate (Catalonia being a notable exception), take account of the fact of the reality that they have a population where there is not a sole, mother-tongue language spoken by its citizens. My understanding of the situation in Flanders is that in many parts, (Belgian) Dutch is indeed the sole language spoken by the vast majority of its citizens. But that is obviously not the case across all of Flanders- in which case, it is not appropriate to make one rule to apply to all of Flanders.
As to Plaid becoming an irrelevance actually being in government for the first time in history is a complete and absolute logical contradiction of that statement.
We'll see. As I said the other day, I think they made a tactical mistake ruling out coalition with the Tories and Lib Dems. I suspect Labour are going to romp home in both Wales and Scotland at the next devolved elections- not because they particularly deserve to do so, but merely because they will be seen as the natural opposition to a govt in Westminster which is starting to (in popular mythology) wield the axe. What's Plaid's answer to that narrative?
1.That's not licence O Neill it's lying.
2. Um most countries in the EU don't you know, France, Most of Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, the Castillian part of Spain etc etc - all have pretty similar policies.
3 We will see how Plaid do next year.
1. I think this is the first time, I've been accused of lying on here. If you're enough of linguistic fascist to think "blood drives to be monolingually Dutch" justifies your stance rather than mine, then I'm happy to let the readers make their own choice on that one.
2. Read how I opened the post again:
"The United Nations and the European Commission have pinned down the Flanders region for linguistic 'discrimination'."
How did you interpret that sentence?
Before you start patronising people, you should make sure that you have got your facts right and secondly that your knowledge of the subject is stronger than the person you're belittling.
For your information, Croatia isn't yet a part of the EU.
If you want a debate with me on language policy in, to take only one example from your list, Slovakia (http://unionistlite.blogspot.com/2010/06/when-two-tribes-go-to-proxy-warthe-eu.html) then just say the word.
3. Well, yes, obviously.
1.What this means is that in Flanders those posters you get on notice boards inviting people to donate blood are in Dutch only - like in Belfast (correct me if I'm wrong) they are in English only. Linguistic facsism? No - just normal to be honest.
2.You are right about Croatia and the EU (candidate member however) - I just thought European - don't think that changes the logic and your Slovakian stuff just makes my point for me.
You say
"Before you start patronising people, you should make sure that you have got your facts right and secondly that your knowledge of the subject is stronger than the person you're belittling"
Patronising? Being helpful more like - (I do know more about minority languages in Europe than you !!)
"1.What this means is that in Flanders those posters you get on notice boards inviting people to donate blood are in Dutch only - like in Belfast (correct me if I'm wrong) they are in English only. Linguistic facsism? No - just normal to be honest."
I haven't seen notices in languages other than English in Belfast, but have done so in South London. So, no, the practise in Flanders is not "normal" in a modern, democratic, multi-cultural state. You must have missed the start of my post I reminded you about in my last comment, the UN and European Commission concerns?
"2.You are right about Croatia and the EU (candidate member however) - I just thought European - don't think that changes the logic and your Slovakian stuff just makes my point for me."
Really? The actions of the previous Slovakian government to impose one language for all official communications and dealings with the state meant the suppression of those whose mother tongue isn't that of the majority of the country. Were they entitled to do so, in your opinion? Depending on your answer to that, we'll see whether that link has made your point.
Patronising? Being helpful more like - (I do know more about minority languages in Europe than you !!)
Well, you're certainly more arrogant than me when making your assumptions, I'll give you that.
Post a Comment