Cogs can think.

I never quite understood this.

No matter how much Obama wants it, Turkey has no place whatsoever in the EU. My reasons for being against Turkey in the EU have nothing to do with it being an mainly Islamic country. I don’t give a rat’s ass whatever people believe, and a nation’s prime religion has little to do with what a country might contribute to the EU.

So, what are the reasons? First, the Armenian Genocide. As long as Turkey keeps on denying that it happened, and persecuting those that talk about it, they can suck a big fat EU cocksicle. Obama is a big fcuking hypocrite: so, we are not allowed to deny the holocaust (luckily it’s illegal here to do so), but it’s okay for Turkey to deny the Armenian Genocide? Give me a fcuking break.

Second, the situation with the Kurds. I am a proponent of an independent Kurdistan, as I am of the strong belief that every people has the right to take care of themselves, and run their own country. The way the Turks persecute, oppress, and massacre the Kurds is totally fcuking unacceptable. Again, Obama is a hypocrite on this one.

And, of course, there’s the geographical issue. Turkey = Asia. For all I care, the set up an Asian Union, model is after the EU, so that Asia and the middle east can get their fcuking act together on their own. I dont want MY tax money to go to that total mess.

That’s it. Turkey is a glorified third world country with an opessive regime, a horrible human rights situation, no free speech, and it’s not even a European country. What’s next, rogue state Israel in the EU?

I spent my initial months in Amsterdam under the impression that I was living in a quasi-socialistic system, built upon ideas that originated in the brains of Marx and Engels. This was one of the puzzling features of the Netherlands. It is and has long been a highly capitalistic country — the Dutch pioneered the multinational corporation and advanced the concept of shares of stock, and last year the country was the third-largest investor in U.S. businesses — and yet it has what I had been led to believe was a vast, socialistic welfare state. How can these polar-opposite value systems coexist?

[…]

There is another historical base to the Dutch social-welfare system, which curiously has been overlooked by American conservatives in their insistence on seeing such a system as a threat to their values. It is rooted in religion. “These were deeply religious people, who had a real commitment to looking after the poor,” Mak said of his ancestors. “They built orphanages and hospitals. The churches had a system of relief, which eventually was taken over by the state. So Americans should get over ‘socialism.’ This system developed not after Karl Marx, but after Martin Luther and Francis of Assisi.”

The best article I have EVER read about my own country - and it’s written by an American living in Amsterdam. If you ever want to get a good idea of how a modern welfare state has NOTHING to do with “socialism”, this is it.

Charlie Sheen is fcuking awesome.

That is all.

I just want to express my condolences to the family of the the man who performed the attack. They are in just as much pain as the families of the victims, but we often seem to forget that, because it’s convenient to do so.

Let us please remember that we are not savages.

Karst Tates, the man who performed the attack yesterday, has died in the hospital last night.

We will never know exactly what drove him to commit such an act of horror.

Worse yet, justice won’t be served. He got away scot-free.

Slowly, really, really slowly, the events of today start sinking in. The dust settles, and the time arrives to start processing the things that happened.

The Queen addressed the people later during the day, in a speech that was totally unlike Queen Beatrix. She’s a perfectionist, and not very comfortable with talking directly to a camera - which is usually why her TV speeches are practiced and teleprompted to death. During the speech today, we didn’t get to see our Queen in the way we know her - statuesque, strong, proud, efficient - but someone resembling an old grandmother, visibly shaking and very emotional. She was talking straight from her heart. Very touching.

The events of today could mean the end of Queen’s Day as we know it. Queen’s Day is an holiday of the people, where the entire Royal Family visits a town, and they get so close to the people you can talk to them, touch them. In the past, we’ve seen people kiss the Queen, we’ve seen a woman jumping on the back of Prince Claus’ bike, riding along for a while. The Royals honestly enjoy this day every year, laughing, dancing, and talking to people.

During the day, the entire nation is holding parties, markets, and other activities. These events are planned months and sometimes even years in advance, especially in the town the Royal Family is visiting. I’m just so angry that all those people who have worked so hard to make today a special day, people who’ve been looking forward to this day all year long, had to see it end in such a gruesome way.

The image that will stick with me forever is that of a 4 year old girl. Two ponytails, rosy cheeks, happy orange clothing. She was looking around in despair, tears rolling down her face. She’d probably been looking forward to this day for a long time, her mother promised her that she’d see real princesses! Not the Disney nonsense that the rest of the world has to settle for, but real ones! I can see her all excited in the morning, impatiently asking her mother every five minutes when the princesses would be here. Would they be wearing princess dresses? Will there be horses?

And for her, the day ended in tears, literally.

What kind of monster would do such a thing?

Update: Death toll raised to 4. 17 Injured, 5 severe.

—

I’m still in shock.

Today, during the Queen’s Day festivities in Apeldoorn, an attempt at the lives of the Royal Family was attempted. A car drove straight through the cheering audience, attempting to hit the open bus carrying the members of the Royal Family. It missed the bus by a small distance, and sped on to hit a monument a few yards down the road. The purpetrator actually hit the gas when driving through the audience. Two people have been killed, 21 are injured, 6 of them severe.

Queen’s Day is a national holiday where everyone goes out and celebrates the Queen’s birthday. It’s a day where society becomes one, and boundaries based on nationality, colour, or religion vanish. Everyone is happy, even those that do not support the Monarchy. The country becomes one.

Everything was broadcast live on TV, and I saw it all happen. The imagery, both still and moving, are absolutely horrifying, so I advise people with a weak stomach and children to not follow the next few links or watch the embedded video.

Post-attack photos, post-attack video.

One thing I want to say is that I am EXTREMELY proud of the police, paramedics, and fire departments. The efficiency with which the attack has been handled by the authorities is mind-blowing. Paramedics were on the scene basically instantly, the massive crowds were guided away, screens wee put in place to block everything from view, and so on. Hats off to all those people who were involved in taking care of the wounded and dead.

If you’re not Dutch, then it’s really hard to grasp just how much of a shock this is. Queen’s Day is a day of the people, and we set all our differences aside and have fun together. This is not just an attack against the Royal Family, but against everyone with Dutch blood running through their veins. The perpetrator was not a muslim (yes, we have to state that these days, it’s sad, I know), and we have no idea on the why of this attack.

REALITY CHECK.

Hundreds of thousands of people die because of normal, regular influenza every year.

There have been 8 confirmed deaths because of swine flu.

Conclusion: we are all acting like a bunch of fcuking retards.