EDL not wanted in Amsterdam

What could have been a violent nightmare for the Dutch people turned into largely a day of peaceful demonstration of solidarity. The English Defense League could have showed up in large numbers and smashed up Amsterdam, but instead their march was relegated far away from the center of the city. Only about 60 EDL showed up and Tommy Robinson’s minivan got smashed up. So much for fighting the phony problem of “Islamisation of the Netherlands” and the non-existent “European jihadists” with the so-called “European Defense League.” What also helped was the Ajax football club, which told its supporters to reject racism and fascism in their city. NIET IN ONZE STAD! (NOT IN OUR CITY!) was the chant from Ajax supporters – and Ajax supporters worked to keep EDL and its supporters out of their pubs, giving the feeling of the EDL  not being welcome in Amsterdam.

"My street is safe. The PVV is dangerous."

What also helped make the EDL feel unwelcome was the police presence, as well as Wilders himself denouncing the demonstration.  Just as in Bradford on 28 August, the climate was made uncomfortable by a separate anti-fascist rally that had over 1000 people. This show of solidarity on the part of Amsterdamers – and especially the Ajax football club – should be remembered and repeated in the future. The football clubs should step up, as well as other parts of civil society, and tell the radicals that their hate, discrimination and violence is not welcome anyplace in the Western free world. (also see Hope Not Hate page on Amsterdam event – Nederland Bekent Kleur Facebook page).

Maas=mesh, but not sure why? Dutch is like that sometimes, but the message is clear!

And for those who make fun of  me being a learner of Dutch, know that I am learning everyday, and have been since January. With the exception of two words, I can read all the signs and most newspaper articles on this event without Google translators. It took me two years of study of Spanish in high school to be really fluent and after one semester of French, I was still a beginner.   Also – I have seen no such fluency in de Nederlandse taal out of Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller. These radical Islamophobes don’t appear to care about learning  de Nederlandse taal, just as they don’t care about the Dutch people, their democracy and free country, their great, but troubled  culture and national identity.  The greatest respect for a people like the Dutch is to learn their language,  which I devote everyday to doing.

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