Myrtus

Liberal Conservatives (VVD) win Dutch elections

Go figure!  The one time I didn't root for them they go on winning  the elections.

Labor Party (PvdA) came in a close second, but the biggest surprise of all was Geert Wilders' one member party (PVV) gaining 15 more seats than in the previous election, coming in 3rd.

Now the real challenge begins as the new multi-party government coalition formation has to be decided on next, considering that Job Cohen (PvdA leader) has previously insisted that as far as he's concerned there is just no way he'd consider working with Geert Wilders' party.

Vote Geert Wilders

Naaah of course I'm just kidding!

Don't vote Wilders!

 

VOTE Job Cohen!

European Muslims' Jewish Friend, Job Cohen - NYTimes.com

I was talking to one of my sisters recently who lives in Amsterdam and I asked her to tell me what she thinks of Amsterdam's former mayor Job Cohen.

Without hesitation she responded: "He's my idea of what a politician should be like.  Not only does he look the part, he actually does what he says he's going to do, unlike most of our politicians.  He has this natural ability to command respect and put you at ease, sort of like a father figure really, and when all hell breaks loose, you know you're in good hands because he'll take care of it and make you feel that everything is going to be alright.  Sadly, we have too many politicians that look or act like they just rolled out of college, too high on ambition and self-gratification, and absolutely no interest in doing what's good for our country and the people."

New York Times Magazine's Russell Shorto sort of paints the same picture of Mr. Cohen, but in a much broader sense, digging deep into Holland's complicated sociopolitical, historical and multicultural fabric, explaining Cohen the man, the politician and his mission to save Holland from the brink of collapse as a member of parliament.

Job Cohen and Geert Wilders scold each other over Muslims and immigrants

Job Cohen, leader of Dutch Labor Party (PvdA) and former Mayor of Amsterdam, appeared somewhat riled up in yesterday's televised election debate with Geert Wilders as his opponent, especially when Wilders dismissed him as being a "world champ tea-drinking and multi-culti-hugging", clearly aiming to push his buttons; to which Mr Cohen responded by telling him to stop "generalizing people, especially Muslims" and that he should judge people based on their actions instead of their religious beliefs, when speaking in terms of crime in The Netherlands.

Dutch Tea Party

At the rate the "Tea Party Express" keeps moving, it was only a matter of time before it made its way over the Atlantic and kept on going around the world, but now that the Dutch Tea Party is here, who knows what might happen. ;)

Unlike their American counterparts, the Dutch Tea Party people - of course being Dutch and all- call themselves liberals, even though somewhat conservative/right-wing in nature.

Ever Since I can remember I've always rooted for VVD, but not this year tough.  This time I'm rooting for PvdA in the upcoming Dutch parliamentary elections (June 9th), purely because I believe in Job Cohen and Ahmed Marcouch.  These are people with a solid track record on taking care of business with a NO-nonsense approach and getting things done.  Holland needs more problem solvers like these in charge of government.  So goodbye Mr Balkenende and company, it's time for you to go now.

Job Cohen has done a tremendous jobs as Mayor of Amsterdam for the last 9 years and he is now fulfilling his current role as the party president for PvdA and "lijstrekker" in the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

"Lijsttrekker" is the Dutch term for a "prime candidate" to lead a party in the election process.  After the election this person usually gets a leadership position, either as a Minister or a Prime-Minister.

I'm sorry to say this, but I think that as it is right now, the Dutch Tea Party is a complete waste of time.

I think I found the spot where God resides

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen swapped his mayoral business attire in for a "waiter's" outfit as a humble gesture to help serve meals at the recent launching of the world's newest one of a kind loony bin....uhh I mean restaurant. This new government subsidized restaurant is meant to be completely run and operated by individuals who suffer from various psychiatric disorders, such as manic depression and schizophrenia. The restaurant currently employs 26 individuals who "normally" wouldn't stand a chance getting a job in the workforce because of their psychiatric disorders.

AD.nl - 24 uur per dag actueel nieuws /

I wonder what the menu is like.

No wonder Amsterdam was picked as the most pleasant Dutch city

The researchers say that live entertainment (theatre, music, etc.) increases the cultural appeal of cities significantly. This combined with a historical city centre and varied culinary offerings attract the highly educated.

You're probably wondering what the heck is wrong with The Netherlands these days, right?

Well, Ian Buruma thinks he has the answer, and what I find interesting is where he says this:

"New alliances were formed between social conservatives who had always been suspicious of foreigners, and of Islam in particular, and old leftists who saw Islam as a threat to liberal values, associated with the Enlightenment."

Hmm a new kind of unified political front to combat a common enemy?

OK, so the question is, who exactly is this enemy?

Mr Buruma has the perfect answer:

The Muslims are too small in number to convert Europe to their religion, and many Muslims are not devout anyway. The danger is not “Islamicization”, but a violent revolutionary movement affecting disaffected youths, born in Europe. The violent faith-based politics of the Middle-East offers a ready-made cause to these young people, comparable to the appeal of Maoism in the past. The cause is often transmitted through the Internet.

Mr. Buruma is right. Many of those disaffected youths born in Europe now have a voice that's being heard throughout the world thanks to one of their own piers, Dutch Moroccan hip-hop artist Salah Edin. Watch his new video for "Netherland's Biggest Nightmare" and see for yourself...it's in Dutch, but you actually don't need to understand the lyrics to know what the song is all about.

If you would rather not listen to it, just fast forward all the way towards the end you'll hear Ayaan Hirsi Ali say something. (weird)

I'm not a hip-hop fan myself, so I'm only now finding out about Salah Edin because he's been in the headlines a lot lately and I had no idea that hip-hop was such a big deal in Arab countries......I really don't like hip hop.

OK now go ahead ask me what does the title have to do with this post.

They got the right idea in Holland

With the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan just around the corner, Ramadan Festival is getting ready to launch its month long festivities for the second time this year in the Netherlands.  The main focus this year is on strengthening interfaith relations between Muslims and people from other religions and cultures.

Since Ramadan also coincides with Rosh Hashanah, Ramadan Festival will kick off its scheduled festivities with a debate between Jews and Moroccans living in the Netherlands, with antisemitism as the main topic. Some of the participants in this debate are Job Cohen - Mayor of Amsterdam, Imam Van Bommel and Rabbi Menachem Sebbag.  Live Moroccan and Jewish music and sharing an iftar dinner is also part of the event.

There are one million Muslims in the Netherlands, most of them from Turkish and Moroccan origin.  This year 250 Muslim families across the country volunteered to participate in an open house project, inviting non-Muslims into their homes to share Hospitality Dinners after sunset.

News from Holland

Jews and Moroccans unite in A'dam to fight intolerance

Mayor Job Cohen launched a new organisation with representatives of the Jewish and Moroccan communities in Amsterdam on Monday.

The founders said the 'Joods Marokkaans Netwerk Amsterdam' (JMNA) will strive to turn intolerance in society into a climate of respect.

Dutch parliament wants to ban images of skimpy clad women on TV and TV networks such as MTV feel the heat. They are now considering alternative options.

A State of Conjunction or Disintegration?

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen wants more TV programs such as soap operas in which Muslims, atheists, natives as well as non-natives are portrayed as fellow Dutchies.

According to Cohen, in the eighties Dutch TV series "Zeg eens A" has had a substantial impact on emancipating homosexuals and the acceptance of mixed couples.

He says: "In America programs such as Cosby Show and Oprah Winfrey have meant much more for the emancipation of black Americans than any law has.

Do you guys thinks he's got the right idea?

Let's talk more about the motives behind this.