Editor Paul Morris responds to some of your mails, including someone who is not a fan of Hillary Clinton and another who is not a fan of expatica's 'Nazis'

Re: Expatica user suggestion

Hello, I have recently read your story: Calling American Voters in Belgium, and I have some suggestions: This is a hillaryblog made by a Belgian who studied American politics during some time and always liked the Clintons http://hillary.skynetblogs.be

Greetings, Len

Hello, Len

Thank you for the mail. This information was supplied by the Democrats Abroad who were voting for their presidential candidate. There is no mention of Hillary or any other Clinton in the text. The organisation does fine work in helping expats become overseas voters. Surely this is in the interests of democracy.

I am not quite sure what your gripe is. Perhaps you just don't like Hillary Clinton. Expatica covered the election overseas process in depth with great success and we will continue to help overseas voters, no matter their political hue.

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To Expatica

Ik zeg “ Expatica “-mails op, omdat het bijzonder opvallend is hoezeer de meerderheid der commentaren rechts nationalistisch getint zijn, en meestal ten onrechte denigrerend ten overstaan van België, in functie waarvan vreemdelingen hier kunnen – en mogen – verblijven .

Aan de redacteur(s) van “ Expatica “ geef ik de raad van de Griekse filosoof Anaxagoras : “ Zwijg, of zeg iets dat beter is dan zwijgen “

(I cancel Expatica mails as I observed that the majority of the news and comments have a right wing / nationalistic view point and they are in the majority of the cases negative about Belgium, the country which allows you – foreigners – to live in its country.

To the editor(s) of Expatica I quote the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras:  “Be silent, or say something better than being silent”).

Dr Lucien Thoné

Dear Lucien

I can only answer this letter in part since you have given no examples of right wing or nationalistic views expressed on our site. Speaking personally my father was a miner and I have been a Socialist all my life. Your letter was not in English - we are an English language site after all - so I have no way of telling your level or understanding of English. Perhaps you are simply misunderstanding certain features or articles.

Can you please give me the links to the articles in question as proof of what is a very serious accusation against us? We pride ourselves as being in and part of the community here. My daughter goes to a local school and I am firmly established among the Belgians in my quartier in Etterbeek.

I studied Greek at school so I am glad you bring up Anaxagoras. He also said "Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine were taken away". Our site is open to all and they should make of it what they want but we draw the line at nationalism and have always sought to give both sides of every argument that arises in daily life.

Your sincerely

Paul Morris

Dear Paul,
 
I was happy to get finally a contact with somebody responsible for " Expatica " and being anxious about ethics.

As Belgian citizen reading incidently some comments about typical Belgian situations and/or events on this site, I had frequently the strong impression
that the reports or interpretations of the latter were dictated by rather extremist Flemish people, scarcely bringing up any sympathy for the French-speaking
half of Belgium (some of those being nostalgics of Nazism or, at least, far-right separatists).
 
I think that the 4,8 million readers of Expatica, and surely those who are hosts of Belgium, merit a correct empathic representation of facts and a sympathetic
approach of the whole Belgian population
 
Unfortunately I am not able to illustrate my assertions with articles, as they were mostly published several months or more ago, and are deleted presently.
But the negative impression still remains
 
I thank you for your comprehension and cooperation.
 
Your very sincerely
 
Dr Lucien Thoné

Dear Lucien

We do not delete articles, we have an archive where articles are stored and remain available to readers.

And I can assure you that no one - including nostalgics of Nazism or far-right separatists - would be allowed to dictate one word to us far less entire articles.

I can close this correspondence by confirming that we take no sides in the ongoing dispute between the two communities in this countries and have, on the contrary, celebrated the diversity of Belgium since our inception.

many thanks

Paul Morris

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And finally, our blogger Cheeseblog bids us farewell...

Hi Paul,

Here is my final blog as promised. I've included links to some for my previous Expatica blogs as I was having fun looking back through them I thought the readers might as well.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to blog for Expatica and best of luck with the site. It has evolved into something really important to the expat community.

All the best,
Alison

--
"I photograph a thing not only for what it is, but also for what else it is" -Minor White

Hi, Alison

Many thanks for your sterling work for us, for leading us through the trials, tribulations and the joys of life abroad.

all the best and good luck

Paul

Read Alison's final blog this Friday (15 February 2008)...

If you are blogger and would like to promote it on our site, please send a mail to belgium@expatica.com

(expatica February 2008)