What the hell, Belgians?
There’s something super creepy about the Belgians. Like, these guys. The Blancs Moussis, or ‘clad in white’, from the mid-Lenten celebration of Stavelot (it was last weekend). “During the afternoon a procession of floats travel through the streets showering crowds with confetti and flogging them with pig bladders.”
Oh, and Kattenstoet (means Cat Parade) where they commemorate that time they threw cats from the towers by throwing toy cats from the towers. Those and more creepy Belgian festivals at the link above.
I’m not sure why this story has floated up again, since it happened in the Nineties. I think because his lawyer has been telling stories to a local magazine. Innyhoo, Marc Dutroux was a pedophile serial killer who kidnapped girls and kept them in his basement. Some he killed, two just plain old starved and a couple were found alive.
During the investigation and trial, the behavior of the police and other authorities was so strange and incompetent that when Dutroux insisted he was part of a large pedophile ring that included people at all levels of government, he wasn’t completely dismissed. This was all going on when I first began travelling to the UK and I remember the scandal festered unresolved for a very long time.
Hence my Belgophobia, probably. Just thought I’d share, since Dutroux is back in the news.
Tomorrow? Dead Pool! Be here, 6 sharp.
Posted: March 10th, 2016 under international, personal.
Comments: 8
Comments
Comment from SusanG
Time: March 10, 2016, 11:46 pm
You had me at flogging with pig bladders.
Comment from AliceH
Time: March 11, 2016, 12:18 am
First thing that comes to my mind when I read “Belgian” is Hercule Poirot. Second is draft horses. Then my mind shifts to Clydesdales. Then to beer. Then… ummm beer… Be right back.
Comment from David Gillies
Time: March 11, 2016, 12:34 am
First thing that comes to my mind is corrupt undemocratic oligarchs reigning over Europe. Then paedophiles. Then chips with mayonnaise.
Comment from Bruno Braun
Time: March 11, 2016, 1:57 am
Dutroux is a fair odious character. Would easily pass your everyday MEP.
Comment from gromulin
Time: March 11, 2016, 4:45 am
But we should be following the lead of the enlightened European justice system…
Makes Clancy Wiggum look like Dick Tracy.
Comment from mojo
Time: March 11, 2016, 5:41 pm
“…when we were unruly, we were tied in sacks and beaten. Pretty standard, really…”
Comment from Jon
Time: March 11, 2016, 6:03 pm
Pretty sure that’s why Douglas Adams made “Belgium” a dirty word.
Comment from Wolfus Aurelius
Time: March 14, 2016, 2:38 pm
I think Hercule Poirot too, and then waffles. Sometimes the reverse when I’m hungry.
The pic reminded me of the Day of the Dead scenes at the beginning of the most recent James Bond film, Spectre. Creepy indeed.
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