Villagism, worse than provincialism

"Precedence - Some local governments (in Flanders, mostly Dutch speaking northern part of Belgium, ed.) are planning to yield preference to those able to demonstrate a personal link with the city/village when selling construction plots.

Do you consider this measure discriminatory?"

That's the question De Standaard, arguably the most respected Dutch speaking newspaper in Belgium, is asking its readers in a poll. More than half of the readers see no problem with the measure.

One doesn't have to _consider_ it discriminatory, positive discrimination of locals simply _is_ discriminatory. "Do you consider this discrimination morally wrong?" would have been a more appropriate question.

I can appreciate the longing many people have for their idyllised old Flemish city or village, much of its particular language and many of its habits, village madmen, church tower cafes and shops, breweries, fritkoten,... long gone. But please, no cerebral arteriosclerosis!

(This message in English for my many friends with no command of the Dutch language.)