Carl Tyler's Blog :: It must be the shoes ... those wacky wooden shoes

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TimF, one more time ....

So would-be Dutch immigrants have to watch a film that includes gay kissing and topless women in preparation for the entrance exam. The message is, "if you find this offensive, don't bother coming." Sounds like a plan to me.

But apparently the Dutch don't have access to the full gamut of American cable television programming. That's right the good old USofA is part of a group of exempt nations (including Canada, Australia and members of the EU). Have the Dutch not seen Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell or any of a hundred televangelists? Bill O'Reilly or Fox News ring any bells? Do they not watch C-SPAN to see the right wing leanings of our legislative bodies, never mind Mr. President?

Now personally, I'm glad the US doesn't have a test like this. I'd rather have the wide range of opinon, good and bad, and let that melting pot simmer. But if the goal is to keep out the less-tolerant, I think you'd line up the American citizenry right behind those coming from some of the worlds theocracies.

Maybe Minister Rita Verdonk is thinking the narrow-minded folks won't bother leaving their own backyard anyway.

Comments

1 - You're required to watch the film. Not to approve of it.

I don't see the problem. It's a good way of pointing out that this society might be different from the one you're coming from. You can tell people that all you like, but showing them is much more effective, especially when there may be language barriers etc.

The goal isn't to keep out the less tolerant. The goal is to show the less tolerant that this society is tolerant, and that they might not be happy there.

As you yourself said, the film is preparation for the test. Not the test itself. The test itself doesn't appear to mention these potentially contentious aspects of the film - it's a test about Dutch geographical, political and social knowledge. Not about how tolerant you are.

I think that this is a fairly smart way of handling it. And knowing how the Dutch Right (including nationalists, also known as fascists by some) has grown by capitalising on recent intolerance-related violence, I don't think that this will reduce free speech or the range of views there.

And as for the USA being exempt - even the most right wing American is aware of something called Freedom Of Expression. I'm sure that if they tried to complain to a Dutchman about the shocking sight of breasts or gay men kissing, they'd find themselves in a debate they're probably familiar with from American society anyway.