The waiting game has well and truly begun. Every day I seem to be looking around for more signs that I made the right decision. This is probably mainly to distract myself from the big issue of having to say goodbye to all my wonderful occasionallies. I am ridiculously excited about travelling with my Newfie (formerly known as Occasionally Sleeping Friend) and about the future until I picture myself having to say goodbye to any one of my wonderful friends – let alone all of them!
However it is also with a heavy heart that I read two news items in the last week that have made me braver about leaving The Netherlands. In my 11 years here I have sadly watched the country become more and more conservative. I have a feeling that the proud history of open mindedness and tolerance eventually resulted in people here being somewhat complacent and slowly things are creeping backwards without much of a fuss.
On a first reading this story made me laugh but considering how the country seems to be moving more and more towards a police state it also frightened me a little. The police here seem all too eager to fine you for anything they can and lord knows there are enough rules and regulations for them to choose from. I have always had the feeling that they are against you rather than there to make society better.
On a more serious note it seems that now it is legal to refuse to employ somebody (and possibly even sack them) in a Dutch state-funded school based only on their sexuality. A progressive, modern, tolerant country?
It’s like the end of any relationship – if you focus on the bad things the transition just might be that little bit easier.
The only advice I can offer is to enjoy your time left
and great advice it is too
For our foreign readers I should add that the gay teacher thing is a little more complicated than this. Discrimination against gays is (and remains) prohibited in the Netherlands but the law as it stands tries to find a balance with religious freedom, which is after all (and rightly so, IMHO) another basic right. The point is that the current law is unclear as to where that balance lies, and the Netherlands has been told by (amongst others) the European Commission to repair this problem, which is why they produced the current proposal. The government (and its advisory body the Council of State) say it does not change the substance of the law in any way (although it would be legitimate to ask how they know, as the current law is supposed to be unclear).
In any case, only religious schools belonging to conservative denominations (abominations?) would be able to apply the legal exception clause to the general principle of non-discrimination. And even then, “the mere fact” (het enkele feit) of being gay or living with someone of the same gender is not sufficient legal ground for a religious school to refuse someone as a teacher. They (the school) also has to prove there are additional circumstances endangering the school’s religious identity before they can sack or refuse to employ someone.
Of course, gay organisations would have liked the law to be changed in such a way that all exceptions on religious grounds are removed, but I would not automatically agree. I am not sure whether the current law makes the right
balance (I have only just read bits and pieces of the legal proposals and the Council of State’s advice), but I do think tolerance works both ways, extends to religious freedom and identity as well, and cannot (or only in a very limited sense) be imposed by law.
(I am sorry, this was *way* too serious a reply for this place… Won’t happen again, promise!)
hidh – no need to be sorry – it is a very serious issue indeed. I would definitely agree to disagree with you though. I believe this is a dangerous slippery slope. I do not think that discrimination on grounds of sexuality should be up for negotiation and the use of faith in justifying its use does not belong in a modern civilised society.
You are indeed ready to move. Enjoy the final round up and the adventure to pastures new.
Conor, you’re absolutely right the gay ban could be the start of very long and slippery slope. How many other characteristics could be banned simply because some religion or other objects to them? Schools should abide by the same laws that apply to everyone else, and if they don’t like it they should close down and stick to preaching.
A breath test for drinkers sounds good in theory, particularly here in the UK where drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour is completely out of control. But it would seriously impinge on drinkers’ freedom to get pissed and have a good time. Or would the legal limit be high enough to allow mild inebriation?
I was also reading about the clampdown on red light districts and hash shops. I suppose they’re a bit in-your-face but otherwise what exactly is wrong with them?
You made the right decision to take some time off and travel, you won’t regret it. It’s always sad to say goodbye to people though, even if it’s only for a while.
grannymar – I am ready to start grazing
nick – too true – and at the very least the state should not be funding them! The funniest thing about the breathalyser story is the quote ‘While it is illegal to be drunk in public, it is not always possible to see if someone has drunk too much’. I’m pretty sure that if you can’t see it – it isn’t a problem
I’m with you on this one. I find it truly scary to think that this sort of crap can slink its way back into society / law etc. Horrifying actually. What next?
Head off and don’t look back. Don’t be scared don’t overthink it. I was having kittens when i came here 7 years ago and now look at me….oh wait, no don’t
You can always come home (wherever you decide that is) if you don’t like it. Grab that man and head off into the sunset. You lucky things. Its really flippin exciting if you ask me. xxxx
towny – I hope those kittens aren’t great big tigers today
HIDH: I can at least entertain (but not agree with) the the argument of “religious tolerance” if the institution concerned was a private one that receives absolutely no support from the government, but I find it increasingly hard to understand why an exception can be made for one religion…but not another:
http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/dutch-news/Amsterdam-mayor_-cut-burka_wearers-benefits_56751.html
Does that mean that gay teachers shouldn’t have benefits extended to them should there be positions available in a Catholic school when all the ones in secular schools have been filled? Yes- the article above is not official policy… but certainly the impact of its presence in public discourse should be of value in assessing the social construction of our identities.
I too think that the scales have started to tip here…and not in a direction that indicates a genuine balance of universally applicable rights. It’s one thing to value freedom of speech and to permit individuals to voice an opinion, but it’s an entirely different matter when the statements being made present an inflammatory statement that appeals to a growing demographic and infringes upon what are held to be ‘common values’. Seizing onto the rights of an individual and neglecting to respect numerous other communities which exist to varying degrees within a broader ‘Dutch’ identity does great damage to the mosaic of multiculturalism that once attached itself to this country. I’m well aware that these arguments have been raised numerous times by people ‘who don’t fully understand the Dutch system’, but after interacting with a respectably large and incredibly diverse number of Dutch students for the last two years, it’s disheartening for me to see how defensive the majority is on this instead of engaging in genuine self-critical reflection on these issues. I think that’s the kind of complacency that Conor was referring to, and I worry that the failure for that kind of reflection to be taking place within a purely academic setting (the ‘hotbeds of radicalism’ and engines of social progression in almost every other western country!) doesn’t bode well for either the public or the political sphere here.
Dearest old-OSF, so glad to see you bite the bait!
(I slipped in the word ‘identity’ especially for you) 
Seriously, however, you are barking up the wrong tree. First of all, I am not in the least defending current government policies on immigration issues – I think you know me well enough to know that, but for the unsuspecting
reader your reply seems to suggest the contrary.
Second, I think your comparison (of the exception for religious schools with policies towards muslims) backfires in the sense that it rather underlines my own point, that tolerance works both ways and applies (within certain boundaries) to all views, religions and communities: gay and straight bigots, christians and muslims, atheists and religious people, etcetera. If there is anything *I* think is typical for the current atmosphere in the Netherlands, it is indeed growing intolerance but towards anyone and anything religious – be it muslim as in most of the cases, or, *as in this case*, christian.
Wilders especially of course, but only a little more moderately so many of the main stream parties including an astonishing number of (so-called) liberal intellectuals, seem to be converging on some sort of state dogma with detailed and enforceable prescriptions of the (“our”) “western” “enlightened” values which members of this society are told to live by. Well, I loathe Wilders’ views, I loathe state dogma and thought police, and I loathe the total and utter misunderstanding of Western philosophy that conceived these views.
And for clarity’s sake: Tolerance *does* *not* equate acceptance of views, perhaps even the contrary. What it does entail is acceptance of existence and mutual respect, as the basis for (at least) peaceful coexistence and (hopefully) meaningful dialogue.
So this is why I argued that it is a good thing *in principle* that Dutch law provides for a certain balance between the right of religious schools to protect their identity and the right of individuals not to be discriminated against. As I said, I do not necessarily agree with the way Dutch law *implements* this principle. More specifically for the case Conor wrote about, I would *probably* draw the line between the possibility not to hire someone (which could be allowed given there are stronger arguments than just someone’s sexuality alone – as the law requires), and the possibility to fire someone (which should not be allowed because it does considerably more harm to individual interests).
Finally, on a sidenote and not necessarily in disagreement with your view, I would argue that it should not make any difference whether a school is state-funded or not. Funding and policy are separate issues. We have agreed long ago to make education a public good, which e.g. warrants the setting of common standards, but that does not mean that schools have to be funded publically per se (although they tend to be in most countries). Cf. health insurance, which is public policy in NL but privately funded (if only the US Congress would understand the difference…).
I understand what you are saying and largely agree however I really fail to see how this case is intolerance against christians as you wrote. It may well be intolerance against bigotted christians but you know what, I’m okay with that
I hope your last day at work went well! Good luck with the move!
From the outside, the Netherlands has been ’slipping’ for a long time into a more conservative state, good time to go adventuring Connor and you’re right, this may make the transition easier. Frankly I don’t know why anyone needs to declare their marital status, religion or sexuality for a job. It’s just not relevant. I don’t have to tick a ‘heterosexual’ box when I’m interviewed!
Safe to say you’re ready to move then.
With the time left, you should go out with a bang!
OldOSF – well said
corcaighist – still a way to go before my last day – I just like to draw things out
baino – too true – I really hope that there is a big storm of protest
teaser – hmmm you are right – time to get my thinking cap on
i suggest indoor fireworks lol
and let me know when and i’ll burn my holy toast press in protest.x
I envy you with the traveling thing.
And take heart, no matter how far right the country goes, it will still be far more progressive than here in America, meh. I mean, if you’re looking for cold comfort and all.
I totally agree it is awful what is happening here. However, everything goes in ups and downs, and bad changes (as well as good ones) will happen. What keeps it right (or not) is the attitude of the people living in this country.
In other words, if everyone protests (long enough…), this will force a change. If no one protests, this trend will go on the way it is going now. Usually it takes some time before a boundary is crossed that makes people realise it has gone too far.
Unfortunately, this tendency to become less tolerant is going on much longer than I would have expected… I wonder when the turnaround comes, and who will start it…
where will you be going? ireland? surely they are even less tolerant of gays? or have things really changed that much.
that’s shocking. shocking. but it does help you in your resolve. good luck and i look forward to dispatches from south america.
towny – ohh I could never get you to sacrifice your holy toast
fat sparrow- very true – it’s still miles ahead of many places
no one – exactly my views!
emmak – I’m going to skip about merrily until I find somewhere I want to grow roots in
laurie – I can’t wait to start writing them