Quote:
Originally Posted by brit
- socially on issues like abortion, drugs, gay marriage where it's not enough to have individual choice - people want bans for everyone or from the opposing side they object to those things being "forced" upon them.
|
Very good post Brit IMHO. I have highlighted this point, because here there is a big, big difference between the US and Holland. I will and cannot judge about other countries. Neither will I say, that we Dutch are right on this issue, because I feel we not always are right.
First of all there is a big mis-judgement about the drugs policy in our country. Yes, it is more liberal and yes, you can buy soft drugs in dedicated "coffee shops", but all unders strict rules. Hard drugs though are prohibited just like in any other country.
Yes, abortion is legalized, but again under strict regulations. I understand in the USA it is different per state, correct? The big difference is the (how can I say it) way people protest for or against it.
Gay marriages: Holland was the first country to legalize gay weddings. I can assure you a large percentage of our population is against it. Because of religious reasons or just how people look at it.
It was basically pushed through parliament by the left wings parties in exchange of some other issues. Personally on this subject I can understand how many people are protesting against it.
I will not even touch the subject of euthanesia...
Holland is a very liberal and tolerant country on many ethic issues. I think even sometimes too tolerant.
However, if I look back to the US, the National anthem say "land of the free" but on these ethic issues, people do not seem to be that free.
I don't know the reason. Is it cultural, because of religion or political dominance by certain groups?
Let me make it very clear that in no way, I want to insult any of our US BM's, I just try to observe and try to explain how many people in Holland and (as I learned) other Euro countries think about the US in general and some issues.