Politics

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with the party in the poster behind me.  

A few days after the results of the election became known, my former colleague and I landed in a spontaneous discussion about who I voted for, who he voted for and who everyone else voted for. 

We both expressed an uncomfortable surprise at the rise of the nationalist right as opposed to the green's or the liberals. The left made some headway this time around (which I'm rather happy about) but it has remained in the minority of what the majority of people want.

Despite the fact that our respective votes differed somewhat, we'd both gone in the opposite direction to the popular choice.

"I'm not particularly happy about the results but it's what the people want!" He stated.

Admirable that a Gen-Z of mixed racial and national heritage could have a more mature attitude than the people who have defaced the campaign boards in the photo above.

Is this ok?

No.

Is it ok to decide for the majority when a minority disagrees?

Not in this cultural context.

Democracy is exactly what keeps us from becoming a fascist or communist dictatorship! Yet these people, whomever they are, have dared to write fascism on some of these posters. And to that I'd respond by holding up a mirror.

It's fine to disagree with an outcome. Democracy doesn't promise that all shall live happily ever after. It stipulates that all have the right to choose and that the choices will be tallied and the one with the most votes wins. 

What would be the alternative? Minority rule? 

What if I disagree with the choice of the minority? Do I as the minority of the minority get to overturn that decision?

If you follow that logic, I would have the power to decide for millions.

If you walk or drive around Beersel (home for almost 10 years) you will see quite a number of vandalized posters and boards such as these. I'm not a Vlaams Belang sympathizer but I am a free speech, free to campaign and free to hold your own opinions sympathizer.

For the October, local elections, I have added my name to the list of candidates (within the confines of my affiliated party) because I believe I can bring added value and equilibrium to a pretty conservative municipality.  

I wouldn't find it comforting if those affiliated with the party depicted in the posters would go around defacing mine. 

It's much easier to paint the town red when you disagree, and much harder to work towards changing people's minds with good arguments and tangible proof. 

Douglas Murray (Oxford educated writer, journalist and political commentator) often states in his interviews that the purpose of higher education is to follow the truth wherever it may lead. I'd go a step further and say that everyone, educated or not, should follow the truth wherever it may lead. 

The current events in our neighbouring country France indicate the same disdain for freedom.

And if the shoe were on the other foot?

Then it would all be just another path to the same outcome.

Today's thought processes are pervasive approximations of the truth. The truth as each individual chooses to define it. 

Fair enough. That's free will.

However, if most of the country unanimously decided that the age of consent should be eliminated, I would vehemently oppose it. I therefore understand the motivation behind this vivid set of actions from opposing members. 

Yet this isn't about hypothetical situations. The reality right now is that Belgium isn't a one-party state. Even with a particular majority in the government there will continue to be criticism and opposition to policies from the other members who have a seat at the table. That is the beauty of democracy...even those with minority votes will continue to have a voice.

Let's protect that beauty, not deface it.