[BOK] Leaving UNL
•
by Boklevski
As you might have seen, the official language of UNL changed from English to Dutch. I have seen the debate to switch to Dutch or even to allow English ánd Dutch. Still, it took me by surprise to see everything changed after two days of being less online due to RL obligations.
The main reason is that Dutch will offer a better environment to create a babyboom. I sincerely hope that eNL will get this well-deserved babyboom, and that this decision will assist in that. I wish Frerk and all others putting effort in this the best and all the luck needed to create this babyboom.
However, this also comes at a cost. We have some dear friends in our community, who helped to build this country to what it is, who cannot speak Dutch. We’ll lose those guys, which I feel is a huge shame.
Obviously, the government will have to obey the decision of the Congress. However, I cannot be part of a government which has to exclude people from our community. As a consequence, this leads to my resignation as Minister of Finance. I have sent the President, TimVeltkamp, and the Prime Minister, Hans Rienveld, a message to announce my resignation.
On a personal level, I love to communicate in English. In my opinion it made the game more “professional”, and it allowed me to meet people from all over the world. Additionally, it’s a good (RL) practice for me to communicate in English: even though I’m not really bad in it, every exercise helps.
This has led to my decision to move out of eNL, and try my luck somewhere else. I’m not completely sure yet where that will be, but it will be a country which has English as official language. I’ve got some time to decide, as I need to be fired first from the company I work in (or wait another day) before I can move. However, if you need me in a few days, try looking in USA, UK or eBelgium.
This means I will also resign as party member and vice-PP of my beloved Independent Party (Daniel, make sure you keep up what you are doing!), and to give up my (forum)seat in the Congress.
I would really like to continue to be part of UNL Elites, as long as their official language remains English in order to communicate with their fighters who do not speak Dutch (yes, we have them!). However, as I will change citizenship, I’m not sure if that will be allowed, and that is something I will have to discuss with our High Command.
If it’s ever decided to move back to English as official language again, please let me know. I will definitely consider coming back, because I really like all the guys in our community...
... just make sure to write the PM in English. 😁
Regards,
Boklevski
Last day being UNL Citizen
PS: If you would like an translation of this article into our new official language, try Google Translate.
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You're very welcome in Belgium 😛
🙁
Maybe I will do the same thing. Because in this law change they didn't think us (who cant speak Dutch).
"However, I cannot be part of a government which has to exclude people from our community."
Why are you making this conclusion? on which do you base this on?
As i understand it, we go to a bilingual society with official language Dutch, and second English as addition. First it was English as official language and Dutch as second additional option. I don't really understand why you make the concusion the new situation would exclude people. Please explain.
@ Shakerr:
First, a bilingual society will unfortunately not work. In Congress, people don't want to write everything twice (Dutch ánd English). We have tried that before.
Second, the law change:
"Article 3.1 Official Language
A) Debates and votes in the congress of the United Netherlands will be conducted in the Dutch language, or English in case of insufficient Dutch skills."
That means when someone raises a debate in English, he can participate; but he cannot participate in any debate raised by someone else, because that will be Dutch.
Third, the effect will be that everything will be done in Dutch, as I see here: http://www.enetherlands.nl/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6634
I agree that maybe using the word "excluding" is too extreme. But it will at least scare them all away. In my opinion, that doesn't differ too much.
[sad smiley]
Or let me rephrase in practical examples:
kerutor Day 1,033, 01:13 - 7h 53m ago
"Now, I can't read gov. articles in eNL. Tomorrow; the forum and irc.."
Alexander Matteo Day 1,033, 05:08 - 3h 58m ago
"Doesn't matter, R&C is a part of the government, it should be available in English!"
Source: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-r-c-registreer-op-het-forum--1518595/1/20
The new law is poorly drafted and clearly discriminates against English speakers.
@Bok: the law article you quote clearly states that both languages are possible. If there is a congressmember who starts a debate in english, than he is in his right. Not like previous was the case with some members writing in Dutch, We all know how some people reacted on this. I am for a more libertarian society, and not looking at every comma or dot. Let people express themselves the way they want, with only 2 conditions: Dutch or English.
Also there is the option for the use of translating stuff, like the build in google-chrome translator, which works perfect, and the ingame erepubl plus. Also when i read back in the time, the United Netherlands was an union of 2 countries, NL and BE. For the French speaking people they decided at the time to make english the language to communicate with, but of course i do not have to teach you eHistory lessons ; )
@Pierre: there is no discrimination in the new situation, only liberty to use both languages. We just left the situation, where discrimination took place, by some who dare to wrote dutch in congress 😉
Voted hard!
As this is a constitutional change we need two congress votes to make this change permanent. Talking about drastic measures etc is bullshit and populist language (to all who said that on the forum).
Although I agree on most parts, you are making a martyr out of yourself in my opinion.
>I would really like to continue to be part of UNL Elites, as long as their official language remains English in order to communicate with their fighters who do not speak Dutch (yes, we have them!). However, as I will change citizenship, I’m not sure if that will be allowed, and that is something I will have to discuss with our High Command.
We had an internal agreement on continueing with English, and I think your foreign citizenship could be forgiven.
This is a sad message for me, but I do understand and respect your decision.
I wish you all the luck you may need!
I didn't see it in the constitution, so don't know if we need two votes Garmr. I didn't like the change myself and voted no, because if it is done for the new players then we need the babyboom first. If there are 2 people who join and 6 people who leave, because of the language then we shouldn't have changed it.
bok, je weet dat je me dit niet aan kan doen. het komt er op neer dat je NL verlaat omdat je niet zo veel engels meer kan lullen... errug jammert...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLf2arpEMI
😒 🙁
I respect your decision Bok, I find your compasion for non-dutch-speakers inspiring. Good luck whereever you may go.
@ All:
Thanks for the support and/or respectful comment that I find here! Maybe, one day, I might come back here because you're all so awesome...!
@ Shakerr:
That is indeed in the law. However, my point is, that if someone raises in their freedom a debate in English, I - being Dutch speaker - can participate, even if my English is weak. If someone raises in their freedom a debate in Dutch, non-Dutch speaker cannot participate at all.
In the first situation, we were only excluding one or two people (max!) who not speak English at all (and there really weren't much more, as guys like briepe adjusted to the language!). In the second situation, you exclude all kind of contributors from within or outside our country. Kerutor, Pierre, Fhaemita, Frank811 (who just received access to our part, which he can't really use now anyway), but even at a certain rate guys having a bit troubles reading, like TimVeltkamp (yes, our CP!) and Alexander Matteo. I probably have forgotten a lot of others.
And we will lose at least 75% of the people visiting our IRC channel if English will disappear more and more, because they won't like looking at a wall of Dutch text.
@ Garmr:
Indeed the first thing I did when I read it, but it's not in the constitution.
I'm not trying to create a martyr out of myself, I'm just leaving government because I am not behind the decision to implement this, which will - at best - harm my motivation to function as Minister (and UNL deserves only motivated people).
My decision to leave UNL is a different decision based on the fact I just like to speak English... (or - quoting AI - "zo veel Engels lullen")
@ AI:
I'm almost getting sentimental because of this...
😁 >
I'm leaving eNetherland's too,becouse I don't speek Dutch like many congressmember like me Boklevski Kerutor and I think there are more.. We should go toghether to Belgium 🙂
Why? you can still talk english there. the only change is that Dutch (the 'native' Netherlands language) is also allowed.
As in the article "I resign" of Tonie112:
Mael, you clearly are not considering any of the English-only speakers in our country.
You CANNOT participate any longer in debates if half or more of the discussion is done in a language you don't speak.
This country is eNL. It makes no sense to forbid Dutch as a language.
This law gives people who CANNOT participate in english debates a chance to voice their opinion.
Goodluck in "United" Belgium Boklevski ; )
I will vote for English always, but staying in eNL for now 🙂
Welcome to eBelgium, Boklevski. We will be glad to have you in any language.
Wow!!! Bok, feel free to move in eBelgium and to join us: we need more experimented, wise and motivated players like you here!
You'd be welcome if you wanted so, for sure.
I'd be proud and happy to offer you the MT !
😉