British satirist Rory Bremner describes welcome note from Bush to Obama: “Welcome, Mister Osama, you might find some helpful things here. I’m afraid the Middle East is a bit of a mess, the economy is screwed and I’m afraid that Afghanistan is not looking too good. But on the plus side, Laura’s put some flowers on the kitchen table.” Watch this video.
The former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, once said: "You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose".
Best lines from president Barack Obama's inaugural address - if you'd ask me...
“...and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”
“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
And my favourite quote - “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”
Congratulations, citizens of the USA and the rest of the free world! It looks like we have a bright new American leader who is able to inspire his people in these difficult times. May God bless, guide and protect him, his wife and their daughters.
Click cartoon to enlarge. Source
I've heard about Barack Obama's victory in Iowa. I am not an expert on foreign politics and as a Dutchman I don't have a vote to give away in these elections - but the fact that there will be a newly elected President in the USA soon will affect all people of the world, so let me share my modest opinion with you. Personally I don't want to see a comeback of the Clintons in the White House. It's about time that a black man or woman becomes the next American president. I don't know enough about Barack Obama yet, but I am impressed by the way he is campaigning. I only visited Mike Huckabee's website so far. To be honest, I'd never heard about this Republican candidate before. I've had a look at the video clips on his website and he seems to be a decent guy. It looks like the former governor of Arkansas, a Baptist pastor, is a good father, husband and crisis manager (can you see the connection?) because he showed some real leadership in the aftermath of the Katrina disaster, while other government officials seemed to be powerless or paralysed, as if the people of New Orleans didn't matter to them. Bass players are always calm and collected - that's a plus for Mike Huckabee too! He also lost a lot of weight - which shows that he has at least some personal discipline. And he loves animals, because he hugs bees, eats fishes and chases deers.
I don't know whether my American blog friends want to be open about their political preferences, but most Dutch people don't mind discussing these things openly. We have many political parties in our country and as long as we respectfully can agree to disagree, that's just fine.
Two things really bother me and I'm just wondering what you think of these topics. First, I can't see how so many Americans can be pro-life and support the death penalty. In my eyes that is very inconsistent. Check this if you want to know just one important reason why I am against the death penalty. Second, I just can't see why American people can buy heavy guns and ammunition as if these things were some cool gadgets or fashion accessories. There are too many trigger happy people on this planet - that's what I think.
PS Today's Verse of the Day offers sound advice to all candidates and voters: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
The American language of today still contains some Dutch words. With the game kolf the word 'golf' stuck, with skating the word 'skate' from schaats. The Dutch seafaring tradition brought the words 'skipper,' 'marine', 'hoist,' 'yacht' and many others some by way of (British) English, some directly into American speech.
Some linguists believe that the word Yankee is actually a corrupted form of the Dutch name Jan-Kees (1, 2).
There are more 'American-English' words and names with a Dutch origin. Do you want to have some examples? Dollar = daalder (= old Dutch currency), boss = baas, waffle = wafel, cookie = koekje and Santa Claus = Sinterklaas.
The ancestors of Franklin D. Roosevelt, US president from 1934 to 1945, arrived from Holland in New Amsterdam in about 1649.
Various historians have argued that the American Declaration of Independence (1776) was inspired by the 1581 Plakkaat van Verlatinghe, in which the Dutch had once rejected the authority of the King of Spain. When the Dutch abjured the Spanish king in the year 1581, they had the same 'legalistic' approach as the Americans later and they declared to the world:
'As it is apparent to all that a prince is constituted by God to be the ruler of the people... and whereas God did not create the people slaves to their prince, to obey his commands, whether right or wrong, but rather the prince for the sake of the subjects... And when he does not behave thus, but on the contrary oppresses them... they may not only disallow his authority, but legally proceed to the choice of another prince for their defence...'
Aren't these words reminiscent of Jefferson's text in the American Declaration of Independence? (3.)
"In love of liberty and in the defense of it, Holland has been our example." Benjamin Franklin
The Dutch in America
The USA and the Netherlands
I am now reading a very interesting book written by a Dutch journalist, Max Westerman, who lived and worked in the USA for 25 years as a reporter for Dutch TV stations and as a correspondent for several newspapers and magazines. (He also wrote articles for Business Week, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal).
In 13 essays Westerman gives an overview and description of the American society and way of life (the American dream), politics, economics etc. He also dedicated one chapter to Dutch immigrants in the USA and the Dutch background of 'American' places, ideas and words. This chapter is called: 'You Ain't Much If You Ain't Dutch' - I would never say that, of course! :-)
Westerman writes that many things - like free entrepreneurship, religious and political tolerance, and the basis for the American constitution are inspired by the Dutch immigrants. He also writes that the American history books often neglect these facts and that they all focus on the English Pilgrim fathers and 13 British colonies - without mentioning the biggest one: Nieuw Nederland which was taken over by British soldiers in 1664. Westerman mentions the research by Charles Gehring about the Dutch history in the USA - fascinating stuff. Check this article and have a look at this web site.
This book inspired me to search the Internet for some more information about the Dutch influence on American history. Of course I welcome everyone's thoughts, questions and opinions on this subject - just leave a comment or send me an e-mail.
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