The State of the State

Dear fellow citizens,

Today, I find myself facing a difficult dilemma. My colleagues and supporters insist that I urgently make a choice: am I Flemish or Walloon? Apparently, simply being Belgian is no longer enough, and even Brussels seems to have lost its place as a valid identity.

In Belgium, one can identify as Flemish or Walloon, but there is no clear term that truly captures what it means to be “Belgian.” That is why I propose a change. Just as people in the United States call themselves “Americans,” I suggest that we adopt a new term: Belgicans.

My identity cannot be confined to one side of the country. I navigate easily between its regions and cultures. While many of my supporters are Flemish and expect me to fully embrace that culture, I see myself first and foremost as a Belgican.

Like Texas in New York - different, yet still connected.

I live in Antwerp’s diamond district and speak all three national languages fluently. To me, this diversity is not a problem, but a strength.

So I ask you, my loyal readers:
Do you feel primarily Flemish, Walloon, or Belgican?