Dutch PM tells immigrants: Act normal or go away

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Facing an upcoming electoral challenge from a populist far-right party, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte released an open letter Monday that offered a thinly veiled warning to immigrants: “Act normal or go away.”

Rutte's letter was published in a full-page newspaper advertisement and promoted on social media by his party, the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

In his message, the prime minister said he understood there were growing concerns in the Netherlands about those coming into the country who don't integrate. “People who don't want to adapt, [who are] attacking our habits and rejecting our values,” Rutte wrote, “who attack gay people, who shout at women in short skirts, or call ordinary Dutch people racist.”

“I understand the people who think that if you so fundamentally reject our land, I prefer that you leave,” the letter said. “As it happens I have that feeling too. Act normal or go away.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/23/dutch-pm-tells-immigrants-act-normal-or-go-away/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.48344b4e6014

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Before you react negatively, consider that this is not a simple matter of xenophobia; cultural and political assimilation has been a recurring problem in Western Europe.

[nycbos]

1. The Muslim mayor of Rotterdam has expressed similar sentiments.

[PatSeg]

2. He does have a point

Last edited Mon Jan 23, 2017, 03:38 PM - Edit history (1)

You can't ask asylum and criticize your hosts' customs, dress, and values. Tolerance is a two way street. But being he is from the far-right party, I'm not sure I trust what his intentions are.

Edit: I misread the post and assumed the PM was from the far-right party. What he said does seem rational and reasonable.

[brooklynite]

5. No, the PM is Center-Right; however the far-right Party for Freedom is mounting a serious challenge.

(A general election will be held later this year).

[SwissTony]

8. He's not far-right.

He's from the VVD (De Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie - translated (by me) as The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy), as centre-right party.

You might be thinking of Geert Wilders, who is far-right. His party is the PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid - translates as Party for Freedom. Yep, you can choose your own name when it comes to creating political parties).

[PatSeg]

12. Sorry

I misread that. I'm on news overload right now. Thanks.

[LisaM]

3. I think this could be worded better.

But to some extent I think that if you move to a country like the Netherlands that has progressive values, at some point you need to accept that they exist and get along with them. I sure wouldn't want any person with fundamentalist values - home grown or immigrant - shouting at me for the way I dress.

[TeacherB87]

4. Yes!

Cue the politically correct trolls.

[Txbluedog]

6. I am Muslim and I AGREE...

and yes this could have been worded better but the central message is spot on. There are a lot of adherents of MY religion who feel that they can move to a foreign country with different values and IMPOSE their values and culture on the hosts. It simply does not work that way.

[bravenak]

7. I pretty much agree

Cant go around menacing people who took you in just because you have a different culture. If one cannot handle the change then they need to go.

[Dawson Leery]

9. He is right. Many

from the ME want to impose their ways on the native population.

[Yo_Mama]

10. Well, you can't allow people to enforce dress codes on women, or to attack gays.

No matter how genuine and deep a cultural dogma that may be in your heritage country, coming to another country means you have to respect their laws.

That's always been understood, btw. I don't know why it becomes controversial to say it now, and I don't believe it really IS controversial.

[geek tragedy]

11. those who ask to be guests should respect the rules of the hosts nt

[7962]

13. As should be the rule everywhere. nt

[ck4829]

14. Acting not normal should only be for Europeans

Is the right wing he is facing, are they 'normal', why don't they shape up, get more mainstream values, or go away?