[Dutch elections] Minister-president Mark Rutte's open letter to the Dutch.
Linky link. My translation (if someone finds a mistake, please do tell me):
To all Dutchmen,
There's something wrong with our country. How is it possible that we, as a country, are so wealthy, but that some people behave so poorly? People who set the tone in our country more and more. Who are willing to overthrow everything we, the Netherlands, have worked so hard for. We can't let that happen!
Most people have good will. The silent majority. We want the best for our country. We work hard, help one another, and think the Netherlands are quite a cool country. But we do worry about the way we treat one another. Sometimes it seems like no-one behaves normally anymore.
You probably recognise it. People seem to behave more and more anti-socially. In traffic, in public transport, and in the streets. Who think they always have right of way. Who dump their garbage on the street. Who spit at conductors. Who hang around in groups and bully people, threaten them or even assault them. Not normal.
We feel increasingly uneasy when people abuse our freedom to undermine our country, even though they came to our country for that freedom. People who refuse to adapt, dislike our traditions and reject our values. Who harrass gays, cat-call women in short skirts, or call normal Dutchmen racist. I understand it all too well when people think: if you reject our country in such a fundamental manner, I'd rather have you leave. Because I feel the same. Behave normally or leave.
Never should we accept this behaviour as normal in our country. The solution is not, to lump together groups of people, to insult them, or to simply deport whole groups of people. We can't build a society like that. The solution is mainly a matter of mentality. We should continu to make clear what is and what is not normal in this country. We have to defend our values actively.
For in the Netherlands, it's normal to shake hands and treat one another like equals. It is normal not to assault first-aid helpers. To treat teachers with respect and to not bully people with vlogs. It is normal to work for your money and try to make the best out of your life. To help one another when things are rough and hug people when times are tough. It is normal to do your best and not to walk away from your problems. That you listen to others. Rather than yell if you disagree with someone.
The near future will decide our country's direction. We only need to answer one question: what kind of country do we want to be?
Let us fight for being able to feel at home in our beautiful country. Let us make clear what is normal and what is not. I'm sure we can do that. That we can reïnforce what we made together thus far. You, I, all of us. Let us coöperate to improve our country even better. Because we really are a really cool country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Would you?
Mark Rutte
Posted Jan 23, 2017, 12:14 PM UTC
I found this letter incredibly interesting in terms of Dutch culture and politics.
It really reminded me of the famous Dutch expression: "doe maar gewoon dan doe je al gek genoeg" - just be normal, because being normal is crazy enough.
In the Netherlands there are strict social rules in relation to what is normal. I do not think that in the UK (for example) we would accept it if our PM were to write a similar letter and we do not really accept such strong statements on what is normal. Especially in England, individual eccentricity is a highly guarded social freedom.
I think he refers to the new immigrants. He says we have to tell them how to behave in The Netherlands.
It's not a very good letter in my opinion. He switches between immigrants and the entire country a lot, so I may be wrong.