Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Plutonium95]

Am pleased to announce the success of negotiations between the MLP and the CCP. Archbishop Delcroix shall be Belgium’s new Minister of Education; I hope that this is the start of an era of open communication and a willingness to work with each other across party lines. He shall be announcing his proposal for education in Belgium shortly, with my full support. Both sides have worked together on this and made concessions, and I hope that it is appealing to everyone.

I would also like to announce our new Chief of General Staff, Armando Diaz, he has fought and lead troops in several campaigns and after speaking with him I am sure he will make for a fine CoGS, while assuring the CCP that we do not hold them responsible for the coup and that their members will be welcomed into the army. I thank Monsieur Burke for his service during our transition after the coup. I must say I was a fan of his no nonsense style of leadership and I hope to see it in the future, the army needs to be ready for the future.

-Michel Daret, Prime Minister of Belgium

 

[Tapscott]

Am pleased to announce the success of negotiations between the MLP and the CCP. Archbishop Delcroix shall be Belgium’s new Minister of Education; I hope that this is the start of an era of open communication and a willingness to work with each other across party lines. He shall be announcing his proposal for education in Belgium shortly, with my full support. Both sides have worked together on this and made concessions, and I hope that it is appealing to everyone.

I would also like to announce our new Chief of General Staff, Armando Diaz, he has fought and lead troops in several campaigns and after speaking with him I am sure he will make for a fine CoGS, while assuring the CCP that we do not hold them responsible for the coup and that their members will be welcomed into the army. I thank Monsieur Burke for his service during our transition after the coup. I must say I was a fan of his no nonsense style of leadership and I hope to see it in the future, the army needs to be ready for the future.

-Michel Daret, Prime Minister of Belgium

I attest this is true. The belief that negotiations had broken down are, in-fact, false, but rather we were engaged in protracted discussions about the matter. As for the proposed Education bill, I shall present it shortly.

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels

 

[Fingon888]

I thank the Prime Minister for his trust in me. I solemnly swear to serve Belgium as the Chief of the General Staff and to further reform our military. I will announce any changes to the military when I receive more information from the Minister of War.

- Field Marshall Armando Diaz, Chief of the General Staff

 

[Gen. Marshall]

Welcome to the Cabinet, Mr. Delcroix. I hope you will use your powers as Minister of Educations in a wise, stimulating and useful manner.

((Hi Fingon ))

- Maximiliaan van Brabant, Minister of Justice

 

[Tapscott]

Christian Education Act

I. All schools in Belgium are required to teach a denomination of either Catholicism or Protestantism as part of their curriculum.

a. All schools are entitled to teach non-denominational Christianity, in which they shall teach the core tenants of Christianity as a whole, and encourage the children to ask the advice from their parents on the specifics of Christianity.​

II. Non-state owned schools shall be made exempt from taxation.

This bill ensures that the children of Belgium receive the necessary spiritual education they need, to live a good fulfilling life. As for those who worry about one faith dominating the other, this bill ensures that the situation resolves itself, for a school determines how they wish to teach Christianity, which will be decided by the religion of the population in the area. As for multi-religious areas, conflict will be avoided by teaching the core tenants of Christianity. The Christian faith of Belgium shall remain strong!

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Minister of Education

 

[Jako473]

A song started getting shuffled around the survivors of the coup who had rejoined the army. It was a catchy-tune, so it was often sung by some soldiers.

And when they ask us,
how dangerous it was,
Oh, we'll never tell them, no,
we'll never tell them:We spent our pay in some cafe,
And fought wild women night and day,'Twas the cushiest job we ever had.

And when they ask us, and they're certainly going to ask us,
The reason why we didn't win the battle of liege,
Oh, we'll never tell them,
oh, we'll never tell them There was a front,
but damned if we knew where.​

 

[yourworstnightm]

This bill ensures that the children of Belgium receive the necessary spiritual education they need, to live a good fulfilling life. As for those who worry about one faith dominating the other, this bill ensures that the situation resolves itself, for a school determines how they wish to teach Christianity, which will be decided by the religion of the population in the area. As for multi-religious areas, conflict will be avoided by teaching the core tenants of Christianity. The Christian faith of Belgium shall remain strong!

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Minister of Education

The Flemish people is Catholic, that's what separate us from the Protestants up north. Catholicism must be the only recognized religion, since it's the true church.

 

[Davout]

Dear Marechal Diaz,

I offer you my congratulations on your appointment, although once you get acquainted with the task before you, you may feel commisserations are more in order.

I leave the army in your care in an infinitely better state than how I found it when I took over from my predecessor. I trust that you will maintain this tradition and be able to say the same at the end of your service.

These are good men. They have trained well and are as ready as they will ever be for the trials ahead. If you show them respect, they will respect you. If you lead them well, they will reward you with excellent service. Our numbers are few so each soldier's life must be dearly cherished and not frittered away on vainglorious adventures like the late Marechal Damseaux's.

The officers have been picked on merit. I adjure you to promote men with the talent to fight well, rather than the talent to brown-nose, as we will need the former sorely in the near future whilst the later run at the first volley as we saw during the Second Revolution.

I wish you all the best in your future loyal service to our King, our Government and our Belgian people.

Bon chance

Patrice Burke

 

[Marschalk]

A random deputy stands up. It is once again old Alexander Molineux, a CCP member and an ex-judge.

- Sadly enough, Mr. Van der Hoeff has demonstrated, that he cannot run the Ministry well. His economic policies, that contradict the ideas of his own party and his own government, have caused much harm to our nation, which is already suffering from the Flemish financial crisis. Well, I must say, that I was rather worried about this appointment even before these unwise actions – I cannot trust a man, who sports absurd fake titles, and who wanted to turn the Ministry of Trade in some kind of a medieval plutocratic heaven, independent from the Cabinet and the parliament. It is said, that it is a mistake – but alas, we cannot make mistakes now! I hope, that our good Prime Minister will be able to deal with the situation in the future – and prevent new blunders of his respected colleague.

At the same time, I want to say, that our politicians have demonstrated great wisdom and nobility of spirit – they were able to put the party differences aside, and create the national unity government, in accordance with the enlightened wishes of His Royal Majesty. I applaud them and congratulate Archbishop Delcroix on his appointment, and hope, that in cooperation with Prime-Minister Daret, he will be able to serve the King and the nation well. I want also to congratulate Field Marschall Diaz, our new Chief of the General Staff. I am sure, that this talented general will be able to create the new Belgian army, strong and loyal – and maintain the old military traditions of honor and chivalry.

Now, here are my votes:

BEA: Abstain

While I like the idea, I think, that this office is too important to be a subsidiary of the Ministry of Justice, and do not think, that a political Minister should influence the appointment of its Director (especially because it will deal with political machinations). Maybe we should make it a part of the Civil Service Main Office, and let the King or the State-Secretary of the Civil Service (both are apolitical) to appoint the Director?

Alliance: France

Our French neighbors have demonstrated twice, that they want to be our honest and cooperative partners. They supported us during our great Revolution – and they helped us to protect our country from the Dutch invaders, and to restore our constitutional regime. We are united by one faith and by bloodties, we have similar forms of government, it is easy for us to understand each other. we are natural friends and allies.

UK is too far, and cannot give us the support we need, help us to solve certain regional problems. Up to now, it has only tried to influence our politics, in order to further its own interests. Remember, that we have elected a King – and then the British blocked his appointment. Do we need such interference from our friend and partner?

While I would have liked to see Prussia as our ally, I do not think it is possible at the moment. We do not have a basis, that we can use, in order to create proper relationships with this country, and we cannot trust them. This Protestant kingdom support our enemies, the Dutch oppressors, in the past – why should they change their attitude now?

((Since my char is still a military officer now, and he cannot speak in the parliament, will have to use this «random deputies» from time to time, lol)

 

[Jako473]

((Since my char is still a military officer now, and he cannot speak in the parliament, will have to use this «random deputies» from time to time, lol)

((I just type it, I think it is assumed a deputy speaks for you if you are not there..? Both ways are fine.))

 

[yourworstnightm]

I just wish the government would quit vanderhoofing the economy. There has been enough tomfoolery lately.

 

[Tapscott]

The Flemish people is Catholic, that's what separate us from the Protestants up north. Catholicism must be the only recognized religion, since it's the true church.

Catholicism is the recognized religion of Belgium, as it is indeed held by the majority of the people of Belgium. However the bill of rights protects freedom of worship, as Belgium is not populated solely by Catholics. My esteemed colleague, Monsieur Willems-Hopegood, is an example of this. While he is a devout Christian, he is not a Catholic. And while I do not agree with his religious beliefs here, I respect his right to worship his denomination of the Christianity.

As for your concerns about the Flemish people being made to worship a particular way, you need not worry. Since it is up to the school itself to decide what religion it teaches, it will no doubt teach the religion of its region. So a Catholic community would be taught about Catholicism, and the same would occur for non-Catholics. We can keep Belgium a morally strong nation, without needing to bother with the medieval practice of persecution.

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Minister of Education

 

[Gen. Marshall]

vanderhoofing

((With all due respect to Dadarian, "Vanderhoofing" sounds awesome.))

 

[NikoHoI3]

I congratulate our party on another election victory! Although, I am not particularly satisfied with Mr. Daret appointing the Leader of the Opposition to a ministerial position, or the way our economic policy has been working. But, I believe that our party will kinfd the correct solution to the unemployment problem.

BEA: Aye
Alliance: France

Christian Lacroix, Deputy for Liege

 

[unmerged(718634)]

This bill ensures that the children of Belgium receive the necessary spiritual education they need, to live a good fulfilling life. As for those who worry about one faith dominating the other, this bill ensures that the situation resolves itself, for a school determines how they wish to teach Christianity, which will be decided by the religion of the population in the area. As for multi-religious areas, conflict will be avoided by teaching the core tenants of Christianity. The Christian faith of Belgium shall remain strong!

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Minister of Education

Just a few questions for you Monseiur Delcriox, if you do not mind, firstly as a Christian I follow God and I follow the teachings of the Bible and as such understand the merits of teaching our children in the spiritual regard, but we do have some, not many, but some amount of a Jewish population and likely some who no longer follow a faith at all and although they are, but a small minority, they still indeed exist. What is your idea in regards to them?

As well you have pointed out that the bill will exempt all Private schools from taxation and although I do not believe we should tax Church Schools, what of non-Religious Privately owned schools? They make a profit off of something that, in my belief, should be fundamentally ensured for all children with less cost. Does this account for all Private Institutions of learning?

 

[Tapscott]

Just a few questions for you Monseiur Delcriox, if you do not mind, firstly as a Christian I follow God and I follow the teachings of the Bible and as such understand the merits of teaching our children in the spiritual regard, but we do have some, not many, but some amount of a Jewish population and likely some who no longer follow a faith at all and although they are, but a small minority, they still indeed exist. What is your idea in regards to them?

As well you have pointed out that the bill will exempt all Private schools from taxation and although I do not believe we should tax Church Schools, what of non-Religious Privately owned schools? They make a profit off of something that, in my belief, should be fundamentally ensured for all children with less cost. Does this account for all Private Institutions of learning?

Well those people are in the extreme minority, as you yourself said, and as such it makes little sense to mandate spiritual education of their particular, fringe, beliefs to the wider, more religiously uniform, population. Freedom of worship is enshrined in the constitution, so this bill would not at all prevent them from worshiping their deity at their particular place of worship.

As for non-religious private schools, I have not heard of any such institutions existing, anywhere. ((At this period in time if a school wasn't owned by the state, it was owned by a Church. A non-religious education would be rather unthinkable back then, with many private schools today remaining tied to a particular religious denomination.))

~ Sébastien Delcroix, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Minister of Education

((Also, I heard that being Minister of Education means I can slightly influence what we research? Since Gen. Marshall pointed out that our administrative costs are ridiculously high, could we focus our research on techs to alleviate that cost?))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Also, I heard that being Minister of Education means I can slightly influence what we research? Since Gen. Marshall pointed out that our administrative costs are ridiculously high, could we focus our research on techs to alleviate that cost?))

((MoE can't influence research. Technology, as ever, remains in the hands of "fate." It is true, however, that we don't have enough bureaucrats.

Note that we are already voting on the Belgian Electoral Authority Act as amended [post=15933708]here[/post]))

Belgian Electoral Authority Act: 18/6/2

Alliance:
UK: 9
France: 13
Prussia: 3
Abstain: 1

 

[Gen. Marshall]

((Well I hope that my and Tapscott's IC pleas for bureaucratic research affects fate a bit ))

 

[yourworstnightm]

Just a few questions for you Monseiur Delcriox, if you do not mind, firstly as a Christian I follow God and I follow the teachings of the Bible and as such understand the merits of teaching our children in the spiritual regard, but we do have some, not many, but some amount of a Jewish population and likely some who no longer follow a faith at all and although they are, but a small minority, they still indeed exist. What is your idea in regards to them?

As well you have pointed out that the bill will exempt all Private schools from taxation and although I do not believe we should tax Church Schools, what of non-Religious Privately owned schools? They make a profit off of something that, in my belief, should be fundamentally ensured for all children with less cost. Does this account for all Private Institutions of learning?

The Jews can either take care of their own education, as they always have done, or become Christian. That's my view.

 

[Harpsichord]

As a fervent secularist, I of course oppose this "Christian Education Act". The state should not dictate to schools what they must teach regarding religion.