Comments on: Wow England, You’re Lamer Than We Thought

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:58:15 +0000

@CB CB – sadly the majority of Brits think that Stella is French… But yes, keep spitting – I can’t think of anyone I like who drinks Wife Beater!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:29:29 +0000

Hi there,
I just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog. I am married to a ‘gantois’ (I don’t know how to say this in Dutch or I would!) and we are considering moving back. Right now we are in California and where we live the school system is in shambles. So we’ve got 2 years or so to make up our minds before our baby is ready for kluterklas (or however you spell it).
I searched for expat blogs based in Gent and magically found yours! I was/am happy and relieved to know there is at least one American with similar politics there. Really.

Thanks a bunch for your humor and insights! J

By: VirtualSprite

VirtualSprite — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:19:48 +0000

Well, about all I can say is that W isn’t still in office for a very good reason, and not just for term limits.

Although the sore losers comment was kind of funny.

By: pinolona

pinolona — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:55:48 +0000

I obviously disagree about Britain being America’s bitch (yep, our leaders do kowtow to the US but the majority of the population are longing for Hugh Grant to be voted into office and to tell Billy Bob Thornton where to stick it, just like in the film… ahem), and I hope you were being ironic with the ‘you’d be part of the Third Reich by now’ comment… please don’t be one of those Americans who thinks you saved our arses in WWs 1 and 2, etc, etc ad infinitum.

However. I do hate, loathe and detest the manipulative character of the British press (not to mention the fact that so many intelligent people – including my parents – trust it: this is really galling). I also can’t bear Euroscepticism. And yes, you are right, the UK is not ‘Great’ enough to stand alone and Eurosceptics conveniently ignore the fact that if we’re not ‘ruled’ by the EU as an equal (indeed major) partner then we’ll be under the US thumb, with a lot less say in the matter. Damn it, this is frustrating.

So yes, with you on Eurosceptics and the press, slightly smarting from the tone though
I’ve actually been in Paris for the past couple of days and haven’t had a chance to check the British press yet: may have to have relaxing herbal tea on hand before diving into for example the website of the awful Daily Mail…

By: How to fail expectations when there aren’t any « La puce, die Welt and everything else

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:05:26 +0000

[...] Regarding my opinion on Tony Blair and how relieved I am that he did not make it, it couldn’t be expressed any better than Korie already did. [...]

By: lapuce

lapuce — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:54:46 +0000

The funny thing is: I’m sure that the only thing that would make the UK press complain even more about the EU and its institutions is if its little magnificent island got kicked out.

By: Enigma

Enigma — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:38:35 +0000

I believe,I of little world news knowledge(living across the pond if you will)mentioned this whole thing to you,before you even heard about.Here’e one for WTAE channel 4 news right here in the “burgh”.

By: Goofball

Goofball — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:07:39 +0000

Hi Korie,

I think it’s cute that as a non-Belgian you felt so strongly about these insults.

Whenever I’m in London I see these headlines on the anti-Eu tabloids and always shake my head in disbelief. How can a civilised country tolerate such biased media? It’s insane. They are always so full of lias such as indeed as if the president of the EU is now going to make independantly decisions that will affect their lives. That’s simply not true so stop lying to your compatriotes.
Additionally I’ve never gotten the UK’s hate attitude towards the EU while they still remain a member.

So their recent bit of mud throwing to Belgium as a whole (our food, beer, right hand lane driving, Jean-Claude Van Damme, ….anything they could come up with was mocked), didn’t surprise me neither shocked me . Which doesn’t make it pleasant of course.

However a Wallonian newspaper has returned the insults with a list of 10 things to hate by the UK ….that doesn’t make me proud either.
Pfffffff stupid journalists, stupid stupid liars.

By: CB

CB — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:32:23 +0000

Ah well, we’ll just keep spitting in the Stella Artois we export to Little Brittain.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:41:56 +0000

Haha! I take it the disclaimer was for me…

Don’t worry, I completely agree and have been working on a similar post (I am that slow!). Although… less of the America’s bitch, thank you!

I don’t really understand the UK’s obsession with not being in Europe. The Daily Express and The Sun are among the worst papers for dramatising eeeeverything though and sadly, the people who tend to read them don’t know any better. Maybe they’ll feel a bit better when they see the other post has gone to a Brit (and a woman!!! – Harriet Harman will be pleased).

It’s at times like this I’m glad not to live there any more.

You can look forward to my own rant sometime soon…!