Politics

Burqini

Akufu — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:38:00 GMT

So the Netherlands have this great new party: the party for freedom (PVV). Which in the great tradition of newspeak actually means party against freedom. Fleur Agema, MP for the PVV, uses the apparently copious time of the Dutch parliament and secretary of state of Sports for questions about a "new" threat to our society and its precious values:

The Burqini.

This swimming attire for women covers the whole body, much like a wetsuit does, so allowing Muslim women to, for example, go to the beach and swim in the sea.

What is Agema's problem with the burqini? Well, she thinks it is unhygienic and unsafe and unwanted.

Unhygienic - the mind boggles. why would a burqini be more or less hygienic than a thong, a speedo or this; wholesome wear? This "argument" in particular speaks volumes on the level the PVV thinks of Muslims. And unsafe? Whose safety is she worried about, the Muslim women dragged down by the weight of their clothes? Ha, I doubt she could care less... Unwanted? Meh. I don't agree with the secretary of state that the Burqini will contribute to integration necessarily, as it will emphasise differences rather than overcome them, but at least it will reduce segregation in some respects, no?

Hey, at least the Burqini offers the best protection against sun burn, and perhaps jellyfish, and it could be a fab solution for those that do not feel at all comfortable in a regular swimsuit or bikini. Ideally everybody should make up their own mind about how much skin to show. But I guess we are far from that perfect world where patriarchy, religion, sexism and bigotry are non-entities.

Oh, as for parliament, please don't waste my dear tax money on more of this piffle, it's not like there aren't any real problems left to solve mmmmmkay?

WTF is up with NL?

Akufu — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:54:00 GMT

I kept quiet (on this blog) when the Dutch Parliament decided to keep blasphemy illegal. But What. The. Hell. is up with that?

I tried to ignore them talking about the ongoing sexualization (what does that even mean?) of Dutch society - rampant nudity OMG!

Mingle² - Online Dating

But with today's discussion on outlawing violent video games and the fact that my blog is only rated PG, I have only this to say:

Shitfuckcock.

Now I am off to spend some quality time with Spartan 117.

The cost of free speech

Akufu — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:35:00 GMT

I am not really following Dutch news in detail anymore, but sometimes Dutch news will pop up even over here. I am talking, of course, about the Dutch government's decision of revoking Ayaan Hirsi Ali's protection. Some reactions to the news have been a bit crass (Outch, Dutchbashing!) if not pure Godwin.

But I too wonder about the motivation of the decision to end Hirsi Ali's protection. Rushdie and Harris speculate it may be to placate Islamic radicals (how disingenuous of them), to send a message that it is better to STFU (maybe...) or thoughtlessness. I think it is much simpler than that.

Money.

This stingy attitude is maybe the Essential Dutchness ™ that Balkenende, the Dutch Prime minister has been looking for, but he is penny wise, pound foolish. The potential cost of no protection is very high. Not only for Hirsi Ali of course, who could end up paying the highest price, but it would be an affront to free speech. In defending Ms Ali we are defending one of the very ideals that make the Netherlands what it is. Or is Balkenende telling us that is in the past now?

Just another bumper sticker

Akufu — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:35:00 GMT

This one... ach what can I say. I would envision it, but then I would get depressed... Why can't we all just try to get along, eh? [/ darn hippie]

Envision world peace through military supremacy

Angry again

Akufu — Thu, 03 May 2007 05:20:00 GMT

Like Stephen Colbert I get most of my inspiration from pure unadulterated rage. But it is hard to get angry when you have this view:

Yes folks, this is real.

So what to do? Well, turning on the news^* usually does the trick. So I saw a press conference with president Bush. He got asked a question about the upcoming Iraq conference:

President Bush, because I have a question on that, your Secretary of State is going to a conference in Iraq where the Foreign Minister from Iran is going to be present. Do you expect her to have conversations with the Foreign Minister of Iran? What will she talk about? And if she does have a conversation, is there going to be a change of U.S. foreign policy? Thank you very much.

His answer:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Should the Foreign Minister of Iran bump into Condi Rice, Condi won't be rude. She's not a rude person. I'm sure she'll be polite.

WTF is up with that "Condi"? I am so fed up with this, I almost feel sorry for her. Though I would not agree with her even on the colour of the sky, she has worked really hard and has achieved an amazing position. Only to be referred to as "Condi". Like she is his cutie secretary.

Can you imagine her referring to the Commander in Chief as "Georgie"? Does he call the VP "Dicky"?

Ok maybe he does.

But apart from the condescending sexism, it does not paint a picture of a professional government. Then again, this is probably the very very very least symptom of their unprofessionalism. To keep in the same metaphor, it is but a glaze on their Rembrandtesque masterpiece of ineptitude.

^* Can I just tell you how much I miss the BBC? Internet is fine and dandy, it keeps me up to date, but there is nothing like BBC World News on tv while doing house hold work or have a quickie dinner or somesuch. Fox news is unbearable and CNN is becoming a Fox-deux. Thank God for NPR on the car radio. It keeps me sane. That and the above view of course.

International Women's Day 2007

Akufu — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:10:00 GMT

To honour International Women's Day (go here for a brief history) (yes it is still Women's day over here, my stupid blog software is very Euro- nay UK-centric in its time perception) here is some news pertaining to Teh Female:

Dutch Council for Public Health and Health Care says: seduce women to have children earlier in life.

Women, especially those with a higher education are having babies later and later in their lives (at 29.4 years on average), and this brings with it some health risks for both mother and child, as well as a risk of reduced fertility.

May I recommend subliminal messages in TV-shows popular with early twenty-somethings. Say... a flashing screen with the word BREED?

Come on, there is no need for "seduction", just provide the information, and I am sure that the ladies are perfectly capable to make their own decision, mmmmkay?

In other news, a poll by a news radio channel and a polling agency showed that many companies are not all that interested in employing womenfolk in top positions. That is, 40% don't care either way (which is good!), 16% would like more women at the top and about a third don't want more women at the top. Well, that is not because there are already too many women employed as managers, as according to this article the Netherlands are bottom feeders in this list, with only 27% of private companies having females in a management position.

Even more interesting is the opinion shared by an amazing half of those polled that women that do arrive at the top, do this thanks to their looks.

Who did they poll I wonder, Neanderthal Inc.?

...

Whatever.

I barely have time for my first

Akufu — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:58:00 GMT

So now the EU is branching out to Second Life?
I can definitely see myself getting lost in an MMORPG like World of Warcraft, but this holds nothing for me. Here's what I think about Second Life:

The emperor's new clothes is what it is.

Stagnation

Akufu — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 19:53:00 GMT

The emancipation of women in the Netherlands is stagnating, according to the Dutch Emancipation Monitor 2006. Only 54.1% of the female professional population has a job. The average work week for women is no more than 24.9 hours. (Some statistics for the UK and the USA for comparison)

That is not enough, in most jobs, to be financially independent.

Emancipation is about having equal opportunities and freedom of choice. And (financial) independence is a big part of that.

Apart from dependence, there are other reasons why temporary pausing a career or working part time is bad in the long run. The resulting gap in the CV will unfortunately mean that it is that much harder for women to pick up their career, when their kids are old enough for school. Also, the years they lack in work history, result in lower pay compared to men their age. And part time work has its own set of problems, not least the difficulty of getting a promotion to a higher function.

According to the Volkskrant article a large percentage of childless couples show a similar gender based work distribution. Clearly then, women are not only thought to be better at child care, but also at housekeeping? I can see the fulfillment in raising children. But a sparkling clean house is just a sign of a wasted life. The percentage of housekeeping time done by men has risen by 1 (one) percent in ten years, to 36%. If he works full time, he's not coming home to wash clothes, iron his shirts and clean the loo, now is he? I don't blame him however, as I wouldn't in his situation, unless my partner is working full time too.

Now I can't believe that this is a conscious and voluntary choice for all women. Though if it is, I'll just have to suck it up and deal with it. Freedom of choice, right? But before jumping to that conclusion, lets make sure there really is such a thing as equal opportunity, through affordable daycare and deconstructing stereotypes. But who knows, maybe there is something special about Dutch women that makes them more docile traditional? According to the last paragraph in the article:

Young adults have started thinking more and more traditionally. Since 1991, young women and men (20-29) are increasingly, of the opinion that family suffers if the woman has a full time job. The same goes for the thought that the woman is the most qualified for raising young children.

What a load of poppycock. I wonder where this trend is headed.

Déja vu all over again

Akufu — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:20:00 GMT

Election results are in.

It's just like 2003!

Except for some details; all the ~~xenophobes~~ Fortuyn voters have jumped to the right wing Party of Liberty of Geert "crazy do" Wilders. Liberty is used in a very special way here.
And the socialists won big. I am curious what effect that will have if any, on coalition negotiations.

This cartoon, though 2003, can be reprinted today:

The Christian Democrats again are the largest party. Though their party is called Christian Democratic Appeal, I still have to discover what appeal they have.

I predict that this cartoon will be applicable too:

Why is it that Jan Peter Balkenende, the dullest man alive, wins elections; again? This will be, what, his fourth tour in government and in all these years he has not shown one glimmer of vision or passion or wit.

I voted!

Akufu — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:51:00 GMT

Via the internets and I liked it! Does that make me a geek?

But is it safe?

Not less than using a voting computer, I am sure. There are a couple of double checks built-in that, if anything, enhance a feeling of trust.

So... now I have to wait a long time to see what is going to happen. This is my second election abroad, the last time was in 2002. Which was surreal. Please don't do that again, eh?

One last thing:
SGP, the fundie Christianist party was the only party that had no indicator of male/female for their candidates... why? Are they hiding the women? Or are they playing coy about the fact that they still have no women on their list?