jock123
Moderator
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#2 · Posted: 15 Jan 2010 11:36
Err... I think the line is "Belgians in the Congo", and the reference sadly isn't a positive one...
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared independence from Belgium on June 30th, 1960, after what by any standards was one of the most oppressive and bloody colonial rules in history.
Belgian interests tried to regain control by supporting a further movement, which saw the announcement of the State of Katanga, which would have seen pro-Belgian parties controlling the majority of the Congo's assets, starving the rest of the region of resources.
This was followed by the country virtually dissolving into a series of internal crises, the condemnation of Belgian activity by the U.N., assassinations, military interventions, and decades of insurgencies, counter-revolutions, and many, many U.N. operations. It has had a devastating effect on the Congo, and it couldn't be said that it has recovered even yet.
So on balance, Billy Joel may be a Tintin fan, but this song isn't the one to show it!
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