However the Netherlands might seem progressive it isn’t always so. The Netherlands was one of the last countries in Europe to abolish slavery on 1 July 1883. In recent years this day has come more to broad attention. A special statue was placed in the Oosterpark Amsterdam in remembrance of this day. While the descendants of the colonial trade welcome this gesture and the acknowledge of their past, the whole rememberance ceremony is not always as generous.

Today marked another low point of political and organization insight. If one minister should stay at home at 1 July it would be Rita Verdonk, minister of foreign affairs and integration. Her status of bluntness, social ignorance, indifference and lack of cultural knowledge, makes her a shame for Dutch history.

Today marked also a highpoint in Dutch protest. Not just her speech was boohed away. Much more important, when she was about to lay a garland at the statue the crowd blocked her path and she fled away. Not a hair was touched. An success example of non violent resistance. After her disappearance, the ceremony gained positive spirit, strangers complimented each other with the victory over social injustice.

Mathilde μP