Dutch courage, Dutch tolerance, Dutch politics...
For a couple of days, Dutch media are "preparing" for the anniversary of the assassination of Theo van Gogh, who got killed November 2 last year (if I remember correctly). As part of this, there are even more pieces about 'what is wrong in the Netherlands', 'how did we get here' and 'how do we get out of here'. Amidst this all, there is general lament that things-have-changed.
I was in Australia at the time Pim Fortuyn emerged and was killed. I returned in 2003 to a strange country, with people being scared, angry and blaming politics and politicians. And worse: blaming foreigners... Things had certainly changed.
I am really puzzled by the general perception of the problems of Dutch society. I don't think that a handful of domestic islamis terrorists who received their enculturation into Islam through shady internet sites poses such risk to our society that we should stop all immigration, revoke civil rights and embrace big brother in our every day lives. Nor am I convinced that life in the Netherlands all of a sudden is so bad. Life is good -- certainly if I compare it to some other places. I just don't understand the basis of discontent of some of my compatriots.
I especially do not understand the professed lack of trust in politics and politicians. Some people claim that there is a gap between those who govern and those governed and that this is bad. Well wake up and smell the coffee! That 'gap' is present in almost all societies, including modern democracies. Secondly, the 'gap' is not a cause for a lack of trust, as we do go on trusting our politicians. If you want to know what a complete lack of trust in politics looks like, I suggest you go to the Philippines and see what a completely useless and inefficient state that has become!
It just is not true that the Dutch don't trust their government or their politicians: witness the absolute lack of civil discontent about the upcoming healthcare reform in Holland. It is supposed to commence in January 2006 and nobody knows yet what it means for him or her exactly. I could mean that we all have to pay much and much more for less care, or not.... And yet, nobody has organized a march on The Hague; started an underground movement or prepared the Revolution. How is that for trust? In short, all this talk and attempt at 'analyzing' the 'national mood' is, dare I say it, crap.
Alternatively, we might take it for Dutch conformism and the lack of real courage then leaves us with Dutch courage: Proost!
I was in Australia at the time Pim Fortuyn emerged and was killed. I returned in 2003 to a strange country, with people being scared, angry and blaming politics and politicians. And worse: blaming foreigners... Things had certainly changed.
I am really puzzled by the general perception of the problems of Dutch society. I don't think that a handful of domestic islamis terrorists who received their enculturation into Islam through shady internet sites poses such risk to our society that we should stop all immigration, revoke civil rights and embrace big brother in our every day lives. Nor am I convinced that life in the Netherlands all of a sudden is so bad. Life is good -- certainly if I compare it to some other places. I just don't understand the basis of discontent of some of my compatriots.
I especially do not understand the professed lack of trust in politics and politicians. Some people claim that there is a gap between those who govern and those governed and that this is bad. Well wake up and smell the coffee! That 'gap' is present in almost all societies, including modern democracies. Secondly, the 'gap' is not a cause for a lack of trust, as we do go on trusting our politicians. If you want to know what a complete lack of trust in politics looks like, I suggest you go to the Philippines and see what a completely useless and inefficient state that has become!
It just is not true that the Dutch don't trust their government or their politicians: witness the absolute lack of civil discontent about the upcoming healthcare reform in Holland. It is supposed to commence in January 2006 and nobody knows yet what it means for him or her exactly. I could mean that we all have to pay much and much more for less care, or not.... And yet, nobody has organized a march on The Hague; started an underground movement or prepared the Revolution. How is that for trust? In short, all this talk and attempt at 'analyzing' the 'national mood' is, dare I say it, crap.
Alternatively, we might take it for Dutch conformism and the lack of real courage then leaves us with Dutch courage: Proost!
posted by Bruno at Tuesday, November 01, 2005
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