I could not start this first article by sharing to all of you the “nationale wapenspreuk van België” (Haïti and Bulgaria share the same sentences for their country by the way). It is surprising, but I like the flemish version better than my French one “L'union fait la Force”.
Since, I came to study ETF, I've had like this big discussion with some Flemish student about Belgium and the prejudices that the media give us. I care about my country and I would like to stop what the media said about Wallonie: we are not lazy! (At least, I am not!).
Practically, how can I contribute to our national 'wapenspreuk'? I have some suggestions:
- Being Friends with the others part of Belgium could be one way. When I was a teen, I became friends with Flemish (from “Jeugd Met een Opdracht - Youth With A Mission”) and we did not have any problem to understand each other (French, Flemish and English).
- This last idea is my second suggestion: Try to speak the other language. I always try to speak another language than my own language. If people sees that you try to make an effort, they will try to make one!
- Last thought: as Christians, God asks us to be one! We share the same Christ, why not sharing the same country?
