Participating

How can we ensure that everyone is included in Brussels?

First thing I would change is the way everybody treats Brussels. This city looks like no man’s land. As a new-comer, in order to feel that I am becoming part of something bigger than just the air surrounding me, I have to identify that place. Where is it? What is it made of? Who inhabits it? Where do they live? Who were they? What do they want to become? And these are the Brusselaars. And this is Brussel and Bruxelles! Only by identifying a strong personality we do conform our attitude our behaviour to that person/place/object. If not, I’ll make of myself a new point of reference. And as points of reference start to multiply, so do the points of view on what is and what should Brussel be. (I know that I’ve been here for only a year and a half now, but this is what I feeling walking through Brussels, and believe me I feel sorry for it) Actions to be taken; a. Newcomers should be presented with Brussel, The real Brussel, not only the administrative one, but the real one, the one you can enjoy. Everyone has to enjoy his new home, even if it is just for some months. This way he will learn to respect it, because he will learn his life, his joys, his sorrows, scars and gems. He will relate his joys and scars to the ones of the city. So they will pertain to each other. There should be a plan to present Brussel, from the metal plates on the pavement to the house of Magritte, from Notre Damme du Sablon to KAAI and so on… b. to do this properly, a pact or a moratorium should be prepared; to not chop off bits and pieces from Brussel any more (as much as you can) and to not plant those horrors that are still being build (even inside the pentagon). Certain areas, especially the City Centre should become a monument. So everyone that will join in will respect the will of the Brusselaars to preserve who they are, be it Flemish, Walloon or any other community which moves ahead. The architecture if the soul of a country. By taking care of its body you’ll enrich its soul as well. "Render unto Brussel the things that are Brussel’s”.