The Mad Monarchist wishes all Belgians everywhere a happy National Day! It was on July 21, 1831 that HRH Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was formally sworn in as His Majesty
Leopold I, King of the Belgians. Considering what a rought time Belgium has had of it lately with poor King Albert II trying to make peace between the politicians of the feuding language communities who still have been unable to form a government, monarchists would do well to pay more attention to the plight of the Kingdom of Belgium as I know of no other monarchy in Europe that is under such a level of threat as that one. Many have taken advantage of the current crisis to use Belgium as an example of the failure of a multi-national state (using much of the same language that was once used against Austria-Hungary) but it may be a better example of the shortcomings of democracy and socialism. I say democracy because polls in Belgium that I have seen are so often contradictory. One will say a majority favor the preservation of Belgium while another shows continued support for the political parties that have almost driven the country apart. I say socialism because, it seems to me, the discontent of Flanders largely seems to boil down to resentment over the redistribution of their wealth to Wallonia (where the socialist party is even more dominant than the separatist party is in Flanders). Of course, as has happened to multi-national states in the past, many are quick to dismiss any chance for the survival of Belgium. I, of course, do not wish to downplay the dire emergency the kingdom is in -be assured I consider it as serious as the country has ever faced. However, I also believe that
if the Belgians really want to get through this they can. Be it the Revolutions of 1848, the World Wars or the "Royal Question" the Kingdom of Belgium has survived disasters in the past and -if they so choose- can do so again. I strongly hope they will do so and that the proud history of the Kingdom of Belgium will continue into the future. God bless Belgium and Long live the King!
May they havbe a Happy and United Natinal Day. I agree that Democracy and Socialism are more poblematic. If they wwre untied alognm the King, with noen fo the other modernist concerns, none of this would be happening.
ReplyDeleteI would be the last person to make light of the Belgian situation; however, at least the country continues to run, new government or no new government, I suppose because alot of the administration is in the hands of EU and local authorities anyway.
ReplyDeleteI admit, the Texan in me likes to see people waking up to the fact that life goes on even without a gaggle of politicians roosting in the capital issuing piles of papers on every single issue. Amazing. The sun still rises, the sky is still blue ... all without a government. Of course I would like to see the regions lose their talking shops, go back to the old set-up and just have everything in both languages and let nature take its course -but of course that would be unthinkable.
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