Joëlle Milquet, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Interior and Minister for Equal Opportunities, has written to the editors of newspapers, magazines and radio and television inviting them to follow the example of de Morgen by banning the term “allochtone”. The word means “from elsewhere” or “foreigner” in a derogatory sense, especially since it is still applied to even third and fourth generation immigrants. Over the border the French don’t use the word—it’s another one of those words made in Belgium that has come from the Netherlands through Flanders and into the vocabulary of the francophone community.

Bart Eeckhout, de Morgen ‘s Culture and Media editor, said: “We want to send a clear signal. For we must stop this division between these two groups: us and them.” He clarified his paper’s decision: “De Morgen has decided to be more precise in its editorial policy to avoid generalizations.” Referring to the use of the term “muslim” in its pages he claimed “in the context of the events that took place in Antwerp, there is a problem with young people who are driven by Muslim extremists. They are young Muslims—in this case there is no taboo”.

De Morgen‘s decision was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, who is of Italian extraction. Di Rupo said, however, he had never been called Mr. “Allochtone” Prime Minister. It is an initiative that does not convince everyone. Hendrik Bogaert, Secretary of State for Public Services, does not think that banning the word will alter anything other than the terminology of integration. Bart de Wever, president of the N-VA, sees in the use of the word proof of the failure of the immigration policy.

According to Edouard Delruelle from the Centre for Equal Opportunities “the initiative taken by de Morgen reveals a symptom. If we are not comfortable with certain words, is means that we are uncomfortable with real problems, of crime, the integration of Islamism, especially with young people of the second and third generations, and it all gets mixed up together in people’s minds”.

In his opinion piece Didier Hamann, chief editor of le Soir , responded by saying that “Joëlle Milquet’s appeal obviously deserves careful consideration” and that “le Soir remains open” to the notion. He went on to say: “Up until what point does someone remain a foreigner in Belgium? How many years does it take to forget one’s origins?”

“Another reality: whether we like it or not many immigrants proudly claim a culture other than the local culture which is predominantly secular but nonetheless Christian inspired. These differences in language, cuisine, philosophy, etc clearly exist…” Hamann goes on to echo Hendrik Bogaert’s sentiments: “It is not by changing the words and so distorting reality that newspapers will solve the issue of coexistence between communities from different cultures. The solution lies more in the editorial process than in the use of vocabulary.”

Paul Morris /Belgafiles

Sources:
Le Soir
de Morgen

Week ending 23 September 2012: here are 5 of the best of what’s on in Brussels for the coming days.

Art

Accessible Art Fair Brussels
Now in its 6th year, the AAFB returns to the Conrad hotel for three days of ogling at art of more than fifty artists. There’s an international feel to it and you get to meet as they stand in front of their works, just waiting for you get your credit card out. Entrance is free and the art affordable.

Conrad Brussels Hotel
71 Avenue Louise, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
Friday 21 September 18.00-22.00
Saturday 22 September 11.00-18.00
Sunday 23 September 11.00-18.00
www.accessibleartfair.com

Cinema

To Rome with Love (2012)
Picturenose’s James Drew completes his two-part paean to Mr Konigsberg (aka Woody Allen) with his latest, which is still showing at the Vendôme in Brussels.

He is delighted to see Allen back in his own film in a starring role, visiting Rome as the neurotic (surprise, surprise) husband Jerry of a woman in his own age bracket (which is a genuine surprise)…
See James’ review.

Circus

Cirque Alexandre Bouglione – Viva Latino – 6th International Circus Festival Brussels
For the 6th Brussels International Circus Festival Alexander and Nicolas Bouglione offer up their latest creation for 2012: VIVA LATINO!

With a bunch of new numbers, they promise: chills, spills, passion, emotion, the wonderful Bouglione cavalry, acrobats, clowns, performing dogs and many other surprises…

Cirque Alexandre Bouglione, Atomium, 1020 Bruxelles
September 26 to December 9
www.bouglione.be

Trade show

Baby Salon: for mothers and mothers-to-be

This weekend discover under one roof all you ever wanted to know about the world of baby.

Get advice information, advice from specialists and samples of major brands for your baby.

Admission is free for children under 12 years (and babies, presumably).

Tour-Taxis
Avenue du Port 86, 1000 Brussels
22 to 23 September
Saturday: 10:00 to 18:00
Sunday: 10:00 to 18:00
www.babydays.be

Charitable acts

The Generosity Line – 0905 23 222

This weekend (or any other day for that matter) exercise your digits—it takes less than a minute and you can chill out on your sofa and let all the others run around, watching acrobats, films, painters and baby nappy demonstrations. People to People International Belgium have just launched a fund-raising initiative in collaboration with Ring Ring. You call a number and 2 euros is automatically deducted from your credit and the money sent on to People to People to help fund grassroots charity initiatives in Belgium; these smaller organisations generally find it difficult to get funding through the regular sources.

www.ptpi.be

See also:
Salsa in Belgium
Toots Thielemans at 90

To Rome with Love (2012)

Picturenose’s James Drew completes his two-part paean to Mr Konigsberg (aka Woody Allen) with his latest, which is still showing at the Vendôme in Brussels.

Another year, another Woody Allen film. I am aware that this may cause distress for some misguided souls, but not me – like waiting in line to see the latest James Bond flick, there is always a rare expectancy about every Woody pic – such is the prolific frequency of the director’s work, it’s rather like waiting for a bus, ie if you don’t like this one, don’t worry, there’ll be another along in a minute. Midnight in Paris (2011) was for this reviewer Mr Konigsberg’s finest for some time, so does To Rome with Love (2012) match up? Well…

…it is certainly keeping up Allen’s new-found love of Europe, with the romantic beauty of Rome forming a warm backdrop to an essentially charming, mostly amusing tale of the lives, loves and misadventures of the Eternal City’s residents.

And it is very good to see Allen back in his own film in a starring role, visiting Rome as the neurotic (surprise, surprise) husband Jerry of a woman in his own age bracket (which is a genuine surprise), Phyliss (the excellent Judy Davis), whose daughter Hayley (Alison Pill) is set to marry Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti). However, Jerry’s frustrated talents as an opera director may be about to be given a new lease of life, when he discovers that Giancarlo (Fabio Armiliato), Michelangelo’s funeral director father, has a world-class singing voice – but only in the shower.

Architect Alec Baldwin, meanwhile, is taking his own trip down memory lane, visiting the street on which he lived as a student back in the day. Chancing upon young Jack (Jesse Eisenberg), the pair discover that they have a great deal in common, which may well be to their mutual advantage. Finally, in what is the film’s funniest vignette by far, we meet Leopoldo who, tiring of his happy family life and job as a clerk, is about to discover that being a celebrity has its own price.

As with virtually every Allen picture, there’s much more good here than bad; the film’s pacing and intermittently very sharp dialogue make for a more-than entertaining dollop of whimsy and, even if some of the stories occasionally drag a little and some of the exchanges appear a touch forced, this is still likely your best bet for September in the cinema.

112 mins. In English and Italian.

Vendôme
Chaussee de Wavre, 18
1050 Brussels
T. +32 (0)2 502 3700
www.cinema-vendome.be

See also:
Midnight in Paris: Woody? Mais oui!
Shivers: Sex has never been so dangerous

Mediaeval Festival
For the 16th year the medieval festival take place in the commune of Forest—an opportunity to (re)discover the magical setting of Abbaye de Forest and a unique atmosphere that will whisk you back to the Middle Ages. Knights, damsels (in distress perhaps?), crafts, animals, troubadours and minstrels are part of the course.

Ideal for all the family!
14-16 September 2012

Abbaye de Forest
Place St-Denis
1190 Forest

Free
www.forest.irisnet.be
Accessible to persons with reduced mobility

Friday: 17:00 – 23:30
Saturday: 10:00 – 23:30
Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00

Cartoon by Serge Vantez

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Picturenose’s James Drew seizes the opportunity to rediscover a modern Woody Allen classic that’s showing at Cinema Styx in Brussels.

Well, are you or aren’t you? A Woody fan, I mean – in the same way that much of the civilized world may be safely divided into two categories, namely those who loathe Manchester United and those who don’t but strangely hail from absolutely everywhere in the world except Manchester, there are two accepted schools of thought on the work of one Allen Stewart Konigsberg, or Woody Allen, if you will.

This writer has always loved his work as a comedian, actor, writer and director (and it’s normally best when he combines most or all of the above in a given work), but recognizes that there are those who hate him almost as much as I hate Man Utd.

Pooh-pooh to them – let them see Midnight in Paris and perhaps be convinced otherwise. Here’s hoping.

After his excursions to Barcelona and London (and given that he is no longer making movies in the US) Allen turns his attention to Paris, the city of light, city of love. Midnight in Paris draws an artistic, romantic portrait of Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) a brilliant writer who’s staying in Paris with his fiancée and her parents. Inspired by the city’s beauty, he begins writing a novel, but, as with so many of Allen’s heroes, finds true love and the real meaning of life en route.

Clearly, Wilson is here as Woody’s customary alter ego, but this is not a clichéd, hackneyed imitation, but rather a nuanced, delicate and very funny portrayal of a man making his way through a surreal and fantastic journey into the past, namely the Paris of the 1920s, where he meets artists such as Hemingway, Picasso, Dali, Lautrec (an excellent Adrien Brody), and learns what life’s about.

While the latter half of the film does become somewhat repetitive, this is more than forgivable, given this extravagant, fascinating and near phantasmagorical set-up – quite simply, a marvellous, intellectually nourishing tale of a man who is facing choices that will determine the direction of his life. Definitely not to be missed.
100 mins. In English and French.

Cinema – Styx
Rue de l’Arbre Bénit, 72
1050 Elsene
T. +32 (0)2 512 21 02/ (0)2 512 21 02
styx.cinenews.be

This is one of my favourites knockers so far. I found this little beauty when out and about exploring the streets of Auderghem when looking for a new apartment in Brussels. It’s amazing what one can find on rue Valduc.