A thoughtful thought…. Perhaps Belgium is, after all, synonymous with Best… Some in specialized groups, where hearts swell with love for trains, are very annoyed when they see photos of our railway vehicles that have been spray-painted, referring to other countries, such as Switzerland, where the trains are kept more clean. I can also tell an anecdote about a meeting recently on the train to Hasselt. From which I also have to draw far-reaching conclusions. Listen.
“During my leave in the Czech Republic and Hungary, not a single train saw any graffiti passing me, at least there you can (sic) Trainspot the NMBS, which is the dirtiest carrier in Europe, roof (sic)“ writes one aficionado. I answer the following: In former communist regimes, for example, where “law and order” prevailed more than in our Belgian country, many people are still afraid of the government; as I recently discovered during a long conversation on the bench on the platform of Leuven and later on the train, in conversation with a lady who grew up in Romania. We both enjoyed the good open conversation; she was the director of a company here, so a satisfied Romanian-Belgian. Her ten-year-old son joined in the conversation. When the conductor came by, he responded to my dog very friendly and with humor; then he went into his pocket and held out his hand to the little boy: there was an Easter egg in it. The child as happy as anything! The woman also reported how she really enjoys being in our country. Healthcare, education, safety, freedom of expression. The Belgians are very friendly according to her; as well as the train staff in particular. The mother who resigned in Landen decided: you gave us a special conversation, perhaps because you were a teacher; in Romania you can’t have good human conversations like this; there you are always afraid that someone will report something to the police! And the police are not gentle in those countries. You just have to look up the term “Lubyanka”. Tip: it is the torture center in Moscow.
Another train-hugger suggests that drivers “collude and not leave” a train in this condition. Real? I am happy that NMBS has a different idea of Priorities.
Which country do we want?! What values do we cherish most? I get the impression that I should emphasize that a passion for railway vehicles should not become a form of “professional deformity”. That we must first and foremost want to be Human and Fellow Man. No matter how passionately you love trains, caring for – literally – their Appearance may well remain of secondary importance in our Value scaleHowever?
People, citizens, voters who are currently talking themselves into hope about the arrival of a new paradise thanks to extreme right-wing political governments… who plan to vote for VB… they should take a deep breath, stand still, and think deeply. Find out what they really want.
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Social Media regularly remains at a very low level as far as debate is concerned. The swearing pleasure, the emotional therapy seems to come first quite often. For example, a woman wrote the following in the message about painted trains on the Belgian railways: “As I have suggested before, use snipers and with live ammunition! Good riddance!“. – I would say: look at “vandalism” with leniency; you don’t know what such a perpetrator/artist was given as a backpack. And also watch a good movie about snipers. In this blog I have reviewed a few films.
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My decision a few weeks from the elections: having a PASSION is good; this enriches existence, it gives purpose and meaning and energy.
Today there are figures in extreme parties who arouse passion in their followers. We see that Passion is often blinding! You start looking with mammoth blinders.
Like years ago, people appear on fan pages of someone like the energetic lion from Lubbeek who think that with N-VA or VB in the government, their physical ailments such as back pain will also disappear!
Don’t let us do that. Let us try to remain reasonable with Passion.
That will be an exercise that requires effort, admittedly.
Isn’t the salvation of our country, of our community worth that?
