Re: Speaking of freedom

I share Femke Halsema’s analysis. Checks and balances in parliament mean it is constantly moving towards a balance of opinions. Sometimes one party may pose something ‘over the top’ in order to put the current balance out of balance in search of the new.

By stating that the Koran should be banished just as Mein Kampf, Geert Wilders brilliantly put on the agenda that violence/war/killing is advocated in the Koran, and we need such a discussion. Although I disagree with the remedies advocated; such as banning the Koran.

I draw a clear parallel with Fortuyn’s statement “Islam is a retarded culture”, which aimed at putting on the agenda that together with Muslim immigrants, cultural ideas that have been abolished already by both Christian and post-Christian humanist civilization, were imported again to our civil society. To which we would have to formulate a both intellectual and civil law solution. Among those cultural ideas: 'eerwraak' (honour-killing), unbelievers (or otherwise heathens) and people abandoning Islam belief as well as gays should be killed, and – brought up by Israeli acquaintances – an Islamic word of honour to a non-believer can be breached without consequence.

The question currently being discussed in the media: ‘should we tolerate without reservation everything that is advocated in the Koran under the umbrella of the Constitutional rights of Freedom of Religion?’ is a relevant one. Yes, Amsterdam, and the country around it, is indeed the place where one can discuss what is elsewhere considered to be politically incorrect. However, indeed as I suspect Femke Halsema is trying to express that not everyone, especially politicians strongly adhering to the thought of Freedom of Religion, feels free to discuss that parts of what is brought into the country under the umbrella of religious freedom is unwanted in our civil society.

I personally welcome every discussion about rejecting violence for the favour of love - in whatever form: dialogue, respect, fierce discussion, searching for a balance of opinions - as a basic principle.

Regards,
(Name supplied [Dutch])

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Re: "Ban on Koran" meets with disapproval

Bravo on the Dutch government's stand on freedom of religion. Truly, Europe's Age of Enlightenment must have begun here.

Regards,
R L Tanizaki

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Wilders presents anti-burqa bill

Geert Wilders is right! I hope the anti-burqa bill will be passed.

Regards,
Stephanie

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 Re: Amsterdam closes 2 "smart shops"

Regarding your article about closing 2 ‘smart shops’ and the finding of GHB (Gamma hydroxy butyrate) at the scene; I wanted you to know that www.projectghb.org is a great resource for GHB information.  We have worked with more than 1800 GHB addicts in 18 countries, including your country.  It is a very difficult addiction to beat and we are the primary source of information about how to deal with it.  We in fact just published a book about GHB addiction and treatment.  Please use us as a resource!

Regards,
Trinka Porrata

[NB: GHB is made From: gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide - basically it is degreasing solvent or floor stripper mixed with drain cleaner. When GBL or BD or products containing them are ingested, GHB is produced.]

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Re: Steps to curb drinking for under 16s

I have lived here for 24 years and have never found any problem with 16-year-olds drinking. In fact they really don’t drink alcohol much, and do not abuse it. One up for the Netherlands

Regards,
Irene

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Re: "Coffeeshops not threatened by ban"

This ban was based on lies. On 8 August 2006 the HSE in their document OC 255/15 article 9 states "HSE cannot produce epidemiological evidence to link levels of exposure to second hand smoke to the raised risk of contacting specific diseases".

The link between individual circumstances of exposure to risk in exempted premises will be hard to establish. In essence, HSE cannot produce epidemiological evidence to link levels of exposure to SHS to the raised risk of contracting specific diseases and it is therefore difficult to prove health-related breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. A blanket ban was not wanted by the majority. If you think this ban is wrong and you would like a voice, please go to www.freedom2choose.co.uk/.   The new sister site to www.thebigdebate.org/. 

Regards,
Mandy

[Note: The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities who work in support of the Commission.]

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Re: "Service not up to scratch"

Duh! These complaints have been made by non-Dutch for decades. Good that the Dutch themselves have seen with their own eyes how in other countries, service actually means what it's intended to mean.

Regards,
Elise krentzel

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Re: Healthcare in the Netherlands

You forgot to mention on your recent article about healthcare in the Netherlands, that you are one of the few countries that offer a reduced rate on health insurance if you are vegetarian!

The Netherlands has just become the first country where vegetarians are eligible to receive discounted health-insurance because of their diet. According to Ode magazine (www.odemagazine.com/p/about), which reported on the story, the policy, called VegePolis, "operates on the principle that people who choose not to eat meat live healthier lives."

Apparently, members also get a 10 percent discount on vegetarian dinners, and a portion of the insurance revenue goes to animal welfare groups. What a great country. Nice job The Netherlands.

Regards,
Joanne Pullan

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Re: Snobbery in the Brickwork

I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Snobbery in the Brickwork’. 
Originally from the US, I have been doing a law internship in the Netherlands for two months and have found the article spot on regarding Dutch attitudes and behaviour.  It is too bad the article did not appear earlier, as I expected the politeness European "politeness" and "sensibilities" I had experienced elsewhere in Europe. 
A friend of mine in the programme from the United States likened it to being "scolded" or "chided" for doing anything they perceived to be wrong. (Once in the grocery store she was violently tapped on the shoulder by a man who then had to find someone to interpret just to tell her that wearing her iPod headphones she wouldn't hear a fire alarm.)

Americans have a reputation for rudeness (well-deserved at times) from Europeans I have talked to, however I found people here to be ruder than anything I experienced in the States (outside of New York).  I won't even go into the myriad problems I have had with my landlady (who is several bricks short of a house), including the proper way to prepare a sandwich and even how the toilet should be flushed.

Overall it has been a great experience, mostly due to the international character of The Hague, and the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) which I attend. I have found this to even out some of the "keurig," although I am sure my experience would not have been as enjoyable had stayed in a smaller town or suburb where the pressure of "keurig" was greater.

Regards,
(Name supplied [American])

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Re: Language issues for expat families

Developing bilingualism
 
When my daughter was 3, we moved from my home-country Germany to the Netherlands. We’ve lived here for nearly four years, and I'm married with a Dutchman, so my daughter is exposed to both English and Dutch, and also to English. It was always my dream to raise my child multilingual, and it's a fascinating development to observe.
 
When we first came here, my daughter didn't know a word of Dutch, so we enrolled her in a Dutch day-care centre so she would be able to communicate in Dutch by the time she would attend school. She learned it quickly, and soon a slight Dutch accent was recognizable when she talked German. I didn't know how to speak Dutch at this point, so sometimes she would translate for me, as her skills in Dutch increased rapidly. She soon figured out, that she needs to talk German to my parents and Dutch with the rest of her world. She's fluent in both languages now and switches between them in a matter of seconds, without any problems. At home, we talk in both languages, and though Dutch surely is the stronger language for her, she communicates just as comfortably in German, which will be a huge benefit for her later on.
 
English is the third language in our household, as we have a lot of friends overseas. I try to raise her with the understanding that every language she knows will allow her to meet more interesting people from everywhere will widen her horizon.
 
Regards,
Sonja Braaksma

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22 August 2007

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Subject: Life in the Netherlands, expat opinion