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| Europe |
| Dutch leftists discover that they don't like their functioning multicultural society |
| 2008-12-30 |
| Edited for length, go read the whole thing...it's basically what we've been saying for ages, but since it's coming out of leftwing mouths, all the sudden it's acceptable. We just have to hope that the Dutch aren't too far gone, though I fear they may have crossed the line of no return already. Two weeks ago, the country's biggest left-wing political grouping, the Labor Party, which has responsibility for integration as a member of the coalition government led by the Christian Democrats, issued a position paper calling for the end of the failed model of Dutch "tolerance." It came at the same time Nicolas Sarkozy was making a case in France for greater opportunities for minorities that also contained an admission that the French notion of equality "doesn't work anymore." But there was a difference. If judged on the standard scale of caution in dealing with cultural clashes and Muslims' obligations to their new homes in Europe, the language of the Dutch position paper and Lilianne Ploumen, Labor's chairperson, was exceptional. The paper said: "The mistake we can never repeat is stifling criticism of cultures and religions for reasons of tolerance." WHOA WHOA WHOA what is this? Government and politicians had too long failed to acknowledge the feelings of "loss and estrangement" felt by Dutch society facing parallel communities that disregard its language, laws and customs. Native Dutch don't get these privileges - they're racists...how can this be? Newcomers, according to Ploumen, must avoid "self-designated victimization." She asserted, "the grip of the homeland has to disappear" for these immigrants who, news reports indicate, also retain their original nationality at a rate of about 80 percent once becoming Dutch citizens. Instead of reflexively offering tolerance with the expectation that things would work out in the long run, she said, the government strategy should be "bringing our values into confrontation with people who think otherwise." This is nothing less than earthshaking. There was more: punishment for trouble-making young people has to become so effective such that when they emerge from jail they are not automatically big shots, Ploumen said. Getting tough on law and order? I'm getting the vapors. For Ploumen, talking to the local media, "The street is mine, too. I don't want to walk away if they're standing in my path. Sounds like a Texas sheriff. Again, utterly shocking to hear this. "Without a strategy to deal with these issues, all discussion about creating opportunities and acceptance of diversity will be blocked by suspicion and negative experience." And that comes from the heart of the traditional, democratic European left, where placing the onus of compatibility on immigrants never found such comfort before. It's a point of view that makes reference to work and education as essential, but without the emphasis that they are the single path to integration. Rather, Labor's line seems to stand on its head the old equation of jobs-plus-education equals integration. Conforming to Dutch society's social standards now comes first. Strikingly, it turns its back on cultural relativism and uses the word emancipation in discussing the process of outsiders' becoming Dutch. !!!!!!!! This is nothing less than a repudiation of multiculturalism!!!! For the Netherlands' Arab and Turkish population (about 6 percent of a total of 16 million) it refers to jobs and educational opportunities as "machines of emancipation." Yet it also suggests that employment and advancement will not come in full measure until there is a consciousness engagement in Dutch life by immigrants that goes far beyond the present level. Indeed, Ploumen says, "Integration calls on the greatest effort from the new Dutch. Let go of where you come from; choose the Netherlands unconditionally." Immigrants must "take responsibility for this country" and cherish and protect its Dutch essence. Not clear enough? Ploumen insists, "The success of the integration process is hindered by the disproportionate number of non-natives involved in criminality and trouble-making, by men who refuse to shake hands with women, by burqas and separate courses for women on citizenship. "We have to stop the existence of parallel societies within our society." This is what multiculturalism is. They built their society, and now they have it, and this is where we've always said it would lead. And now they decide they don't want it? A bit late, fellows. And the obligations of the native Dutch? Ploumen's answer is, "People who have their roots here have to offer space to traditions, religions and cultures which are new to Dutch society" - but without fear of expressing criticism. "Hurting feelings is allowed, and criticism of religion, too." Had to bold that, too. People go to JAIL for criticizing Islam in Holland. We'll see if this gets off the ground, and what the real leftists say about it. I long for the day that we can go back to having real debates with real liberals, the JFK type, instead of just being called racists because we have differing opinions. |
| Posted by:gromky |
| #8 Ok, so we've got some interesting words coming from unexpected sources. Wake me when there's any real action, ok? Because until that happens, none of this really means a tinker's damn. |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2008-12-30 22:46 |
| #7 You use what you've got as an issue. Attacks on gays weren't enough (sorry, Pim) but dissing women takes it to another level. It's about damned time. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-12-30 20:31 |
| #6 (She)Liliane Ploumen: "The success of the integration process is hindered by the disproportionate number of non-natives involved in criminality and trouble-making, by men who refuse to shake hands with women, by burqas and separate courses for women on citizenship." Beware of pi**ed-off feminists, insulted and dissed by Islamo-boys. Especially amoral and proud of it Dutch ones. Sharia will put an end to hand-shaking, destroying business civilization as we know it. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2008-12-30 17:01 |
| #5 Sorry. Too late... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-12-30 12:00 |
| #4 Dump tolerance Insist on reciprocation. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-12-30 10:46 |
| #3 Sounds like at least one Dutch lefty has been mugged by reality. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2008-12-30 09:49 |
| #2 Dhimmitude apparently not the same in practice as it looks in all the brochures. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-12-30 09:44 |
| #1 Dutch are pretty hard to anger. But you really don't want to be around when they lose their patience. Though they had been picked on for many years by the Vikings, when the Frankish Dutch lost patience, in the Battle of Leuven in 891, it was said that Viking bodies were so numerous they blocked the river. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-12-30 09:30 |