Missing the Humanitarian Values of Europe

JTW Comment by Nermin Aydemir:

"Missing the Humanitarian Values of Europe

How different can people perceive by looking at the same thing. I realized this once again when talking with my old neighbor, in Rotterdam. I was magnifying the modern buildings of the city, and was seriously surprised as noticing his eyes full of tears. For me, the high-rise buildings of the modern life meant high ranks in business life as well as the improvement of humanity. On the other hand, the same made my old neighbor to remind the Nazi bombing to the city in the Second World War. Indeed, why cannot we see any the ancient buildings in the streets of Rotterdam? The Nazi invasion had defeated the South of the Netherlands so much that only two buildings could survive. Besides, experiencing the most disastrous war in the history of human being, Rotterdam has long been known with its tolerance and liberal values. In fact, suffering this terrible case made the people in Rotterdam prone to peaceful coexistence much more than many cities did in the world. Nevertheless, the attitudes of the new generation differ from the classic attitudes of the inhabitants of Rotterdam to a considerable amount. To illustrate, immigrants are no longer welcomed in the city. The members of the Executive Council of the municipality of Rotterdam have always followed a political line, which was quite moderate to foreigners. It was highly surprising when Pim Fortuyn, with his racist policies succeeded to get 17 of 45 Council seats in 2002.(1) Mr. Fortuyn frequently used the argument that “Netherlands was full”, which later became the slogan of all racist movements in the country. Although got annoyed when labeled as a racist, Mr.Fortuyn was prominent with opposing everything which did not belong to the “original” Dutch culture. Opposition against immigrants and Islam were the backbone of his party program. Furthermore, he was expelled from his former party “for suggesting that Article 1 of the Constitution, which bans any kind of discrimination, should be changed”.(2) It is highly remarkable that the statue of Pim Fortuyn has been put up in a city of which is long been known the most permissive city of the country of multiculturalism."