(18o) Being part of society - the World Cup as example

27/11/2022. Fights between Moroccans and police in Belgium during and after the World Cup match Belgium versus Morocco. Of course, many Belgians but also those belonging to the Moroccan culture are furious. Why this violence? During a next game, Moroccans formed a human chain to control the violent persons and prevent fights with the police. Of course, parents should try to avoid aggression by their children although distrust towards police, and more general society should not be so intense that their children refuse to acknowledge the authority of police and more general, government.

First, we also complain about Belgian hooligans during Belgian competition games. Thus, it seems that a certain part of football supporters is attracted to football for a fight, not for the game. I repeat, a certain section of football supporters, whether Belgian or Moroccan supporters.

Heavy machinery to stop potential supporters from entering the centre of Brussels

But, I think a problem with regard to the troubles with Moroccans in Belgium, but also the Netherlands, after games by the Moroccan team, is that people with Moroccan ancestors who are born in Belgium are still described as Moroccans while we should call them Belgians. But, in order that we do so, it is important that people who are born in Belgium but with Moroccan ancestors (and this extend to other groups), also call themselves Belgians, and their family call people born in Belgium also Belgians, although they can have their own traditions. By naming themselves "Belgian", it will be easier for "original" Belgians to remember to call those people also Belgian, although an interest in their cultural practices such as for their food and music should be possible.

By naming themselves "Belgian", they can supporter with friends and colleagues for the Belgian football team, and thus meet friends in their own country that is named Belgium, and not only people who belong to their same group. This way all Belgians can help each other climb the social ladder while descendants of Moroccans don't feel placed between two cultures whereby they belong to none.

But and particularly for Belgium, it is difficult in Belgium, as even "original" Belgians experience. Not only speak many Moroccans, or more general people from other backgrounds, their own language at home, and thus with an accent the language of the region where they are born, they also need to speak two other languages to be successful: the language of the other region and the international language English. This is already too much for many Belgians as not everyone is gifted to speak easily multiple languages, and failure to do so results in fewer chances on the job market, so they are called lazy, or people say they don't want to integrate, or they do jobs many people don't want to do such as cleaning streets. 

When they call themselves Belgians instead of referring themselves to the nationality where their parents or grandparents were born, more Belgians will start to call them "Belgians" too, and integration can move forward. When they are less confused about to which nationality and culture they belong, it is more likely that they will join police, fire brigade, become teacher, even join politics in the country where they were born, thus integrate. At this moment, "real" Belgians mourn that Belgium is out of the world Cup, while "Moroccan" Belgians celebrate Morocco moves to the next rounds, and the possibility even exist they may end in the final and become champion. However, without the violence, as Belgium is out of the World Cup, Belgians could show support for Morocco, together with their Moroccan friends. In contrast, now the strong police force present on the streets suggest that Belgians fear a next game by Morocco. Further, violence results in more people who consider them as a problem. Still, many "Moroccan Belgians" don't want violence as they form a circle around those who show signs that they may start a fight and thus to separate them from the police. 

Even the "real" Moroccans, those who are born and live in Morocco, distance themselves from those who use violence in Belgium as they don't want to be associated with violent people but instead want to celebrate the victories of their country in the World Cup. And thus those who used violence after football games are in their own. Just like Belgians distance themselves from Belgian hooligans.

Compare with USA

It is similar as in the USA where only white people call themselves "Americans" while others are called and call themselves "Afro-Americans", "native Americans", "Latino Americans". If those people would call themselves "Americans", integration may go faster while they can continue to embrace part of their heritage such as wear colourful clothes and continue to have a large contribution in music, so also others can embrace that.