To be proud to be Dutch for once...

[pointythings]

In response to Donald Trump's predictable scrapping of aid to NGOs who provide sexual health services internationally, the Dutch minister for international development has announced she is setting up an international fund to replace this money. She is in talks with counterparts across the world. Today I am proud to be Dutch. Someone is standing up to the Republicans' culture of misogyny at last...

I hope it will be possible to donate money - I will be so in thete.

[Snifftest]

That is great.

[Twoevils]

Why only 'for once' I've always found the Dutch generally awesome.

This is particularly awesome though

[JoeyJoeJoeJuniorShabadu]

I love the Dutch too. Love Holland.

[WhirlwindHugs]

I hope other countries decide to contribute too, it's a great idea!

[Lorralorralaughs]

here here. I think the Dutch are an amazing nationality. I read this recently, and it totally re-inforced everything I already thought.

www.fastcoexist.com/3067390/why-are-dutch-kids-so-much-happier-than-american-kids

Plus, you have fantastic architecture, a low crime rate, have a fantastic attitude towards elderly people, everyone cycles everywhere, almost everyone speaks fantastic English and every single Dutch person I have ever met has been friendly, warm, caring...and loads more superlatives........

I want to live there one day.

[littlepeas]

I thought you were going to post the Donald Trump video! Also a reason to be proud to be Dutch!

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/24/dutch-tv-trolls-donald-trumps-america-first-speech-welcome-video/

[EZA15]

I second what whirlwind said.

[weebarra]

I think you should be proud of being Dutch all the time. Currently trying to learn Dutch ready for our summer holiday!

[pointythings]

I am mostly quite proud to be Dutch. I just don't like to flag wave. And our football team are appalling at the moment... And we have Geert Wilders.

weebarra good for you. It isn't an easy language.

[DJBaggySmalls]

Fantastic news, thanks for sharing

[user1475253854]

That's brilliant. YAdefinitelyNBU.

[stuckinny]

What a brilliant idea.

The whole situation here is making me feel sick. My 'saving for a house' fund has now become my 'escape' fund!!

[user1484317265]

Why are you proud to be Dutch? Are you the Dutch minister? Did you do what she did? Did you have anything at all to do with it? Did you even vote them in?
Are you ashamed to be Dutch if a minister does something wrong?

Your nationality is a simple accident of birth. Be impressed by what they did, but proud is just weird.

[Graphista]

You should be proud. I lived there years ago and would love to go back. This is fantastic news.

[StripeyCover]

The Americans voted him in, so nationalist preening on behalf of the Dutch is irrelevant! I getting really fed up of women trying to "dis" him in this apolitical way. Misogynist, racist, whatever insult you can think of rather than having a reasonable political debate. I think actually it amounts to a smear campaign, something liberals have been very good at in recent years. If you don't agree with them basically, you're scum and they are angels of course. Completely mad and pretty low, and politically on a low a level as it gets.

[BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington]

Well done the Dutch! And of course it's fine to feel proud. Nothing 'weird' about it.

[BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington]

Chin up Stripey. You have a lot more anti Trump sentiments in the days, months and years to come. So buckle up baby!

[Isetan]

Hmm, it's an election year in The Netherlands isn't it. This is opportunism that probably won't amount to much because there isn't the appetite for more foreign aid spending in Europe. Sorry to burst your bubble.

[Isetan]

I mean seriously, this won't even be on the agenda post election when there will no doubt be tortuous months of wheeling and dealing to get a cabinet together.

[TheNiffler]

[TheNiffler]

Oh, and I'd be proud to be Dutch too, fabulous lot that you are. It's fine to be proud; the Dutch as a collective are what makes their country great, not one or two people, or their government.

[steppemum]

waves at pointy.
married to a Dutch man, waves flag.

[GnomeDePlume]

Who could not be proud of a country which has hagelslag for breakfast!

[TheMysteriousJackelope]

Stripey The Tea Party took politics in an extreme right direction. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. They are the ones who started the US down this road. If they had been open to political discourse (Ted Cruz reading Green Eggs and Ham during a 31 hour budget filibuster was hardly political debate for example) the US would not be in the politically torn up state it is now.

Anyway Donald Trump wanted to shake everything up. He's got what he wanted. The Republicans got what they voted for. They should be happy. I thought they wanted to stick it to the liberal elites. Seeing their distress should make them smirk with pride not get all hot and bothered over people exercising their rights to free speech.

I've also noticed that the people who complain about the Women's Marches on my Facebook feed are huffing about the amount of trash left behind and the occasional cussword that appeared on some signs. That doesn't look like political debate to me, just general huffiness at the left expressing their views in a coordinated way - for once.

[Iris65]

My partner is a Dutch guy - he and his family are great. I love the culture and the country but the language doesn't sound as nice as French, Italian or English! It is easier to learn than German though.