Suze Returns

As the Dutch elections approach, The Hague is churning out political propaganda by the truckload.  The usual characters Auntie Rita and Harry Potter are campaigning fiercely. A statement made by Harry has caused some, but in my opinion not enough, outrage amongst minority groups.  He expressed his desire for Holland to go back to the ‘Golden Era’, a reference to the 17^th century when Holland was a prosperous world player.   

What de didn’t mention was that this wealth was built on the trade of slaves.  Colonialism, Cultural Imperialism or the White Man’s burden, whatever you choose to call it the Dutch went sailing around the globe looking for as much easy profit as possible.   When you think about the magnitude of the suffering, the arrogance of believing that the savages needed to be civilised or sold and the associated violence and thievery it’s unbelievable that the Prime Minister in 2006 wants to return to this period. 

Even worse, the majority of the Dutch population agree with him.  The only protest has come from the Surinamers, who experienced the brutality of Dutch slavery first hand.  The attitude of the Dutch government in the limited debate aired on the issue seems to be “Stop being so difficult about it all, it’s not such a big deal”.  I guess that was also their attitude a few hundred years ago.    

So how can this be possible?  How can a whole nation be in denial over their past atrocities? 

I think the answer lies is the history books.  I vividly remember the shame I felt at school when the teachers discussed the merciless slaughter of Aborigines, the spread of disease, the total loss of indigenous culture & traditions.   The words of Mrs. Moylan have stuck with me for 15 years.  She warned us, 

“It’s easy to identify with the victims, the aborigines.  Easy to shake your head and say, ‘Wasn’t that dreadful’. But you NEED to identify with the aggressors because they were your ancestors and we really need to learn something from this, to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again” 

Maybe not all Australians feel as ashamed of this part of history as I do, but the school curriculum definitely addresses it.  It’s not glossed over as some period we should all be proud of.   I think the Dutch, on the other hand, are in denial.  School kids are still taught about the wealth and glamour of the period without the tragedy and loss that went with it.  Sometimes it’s mentioned, but there are always excuses.  They say the Portuguese were worse, they were just out to explore the world or, my personal favourite, they had good intentions.  

The inability to be honest about Dutch history is worrying, yet it also gives some insight into the strange aversion the Dutch have to modern multi-culturalism.  Could it be that deep down, they still think foreigners are just a bunch of savages  screaming out to be taught good morals and ‘civilised’ behaviour. 

A funny look at Rita (I swear I didn’t create it myself)

Til next week.