Banned in Belgium

Last week on NARN 1 we stumbled into an attempt to get banned in Belgium. Pending last minute word from the Belgian embassy, that attempt was unsuccessful.

Lest anyone think Belgium is a tolerant, libertine paradise where free thinking, free speech, and free commerce are embraced, I present to you a list of things that actually are banned in Belgium.

Sikh Religious Symbols

On September 4, 2005 The Tribune reported, "After imposition of a ban by France on wearing turbans in schools, Belgium too has followed suit and banned the religious symbols of the Sikhs in their educational institutes.

Agitated Belgium Sikhs of the Guru Nanak Sikh Society told The Tribune that while France enacted a law, imposing ban on religious symbols in schools, the
Belgium schools had also imposed the ban.

The Madonna song "Frozen"

Madonna fans in Belgium will no longer be able to hear her hit "Frozen" on the radio or watch the video on television. That's because Madonna recently lost a plagiarism case in that country.

RollingStone.com reports that Belgian songwriter Salvatore Acquaviva filed a suit against Madonna, claiming she plagiarized parts of his song "Ma Vie Fout L'camp (My Life's Getting Nowhere)," for her hit single "Frozen."

Urine stream controlled video games

Belgian police have cracked down on this Galileo of the gaming age, banning a version of the game entitled Place To Pee from the GamePower Expo in Gent, Belgium. It seems the Flemish flatfoots consider the game, which allows players to control the direction of their on-screen cars by aiming their streams of liquid waste at a censor placed in a urinal, an "indecency offense."

Pantless floating Saddam Hussein sculptures

A sculpture of a tied-up Saddam Hussein floating in a water tank has been banned by a Belgian mayor because it was deemed too controversial, says an official. "This work could shock people, not only from around here but tourists and potentially people of another faith, in particular Muslims," he told AFP.

Leo Coulier, secretary of the Middelkerke town hall, described the scupture as "controversial" and "potentially explosive". The sculpture, named "Shark", depicts Saddam Hussein in underpants with his hands tied behind his back in a shark-like pose.

Now that we are fully informed on how to get banned in Belgium, we'll give it another shot this week.


Throughout the program, all hosts will be festooned with Sikh religious symbols and turban. Then, sometime in Hour 1, John Hinderaker will sing an acapella version of "Frozen" by Madonna. In Hour 2, we'll bring in the hosts of NARN 2 to compete in a spirited round of "Place to Pee" and we'll call all the action. Finally, at the end of the show, Chad the Elder will cap off his return NARN appearance by recreating the sculpture "Shark" live on air (pending our acquisition of a 10,000 gallon fish tank).

You thought you could keep letting us in Belgium? Think again!

It all starts at 11AM Central, locally on AM1280 the Patriot. Streaming LIVE worldwide at the web site. You can join the conversation at 651-289-4488.

Following us at 1 PM, Mitch Berg and Capt. Ed Morrissey, then at 3PM it's King Banaian and the Final Word. Also, don't forget David Strom preceding us all at 9 AM.

Don't you dare miss it!