Adapting

Reader comment on: The Netherlands to Abandon Multiculturalism

Submitted by J.Heerma, Apr 6, 2012 03:12

I've lived in Australia for the past 45 years. I married an Australian woman, have four children, and three grandchildren. Nearly all of my friends are Australian or English. I've never found it necessary to live as a Dutchman in Australia. My children and grandchildren do not speak Dutch (which I regret at times), but at the other hand they are 100% Aussies and proud of their country (although they are also proud of their Dutch father and his heritage). From the day I arrived in Australia I've never felt the need to push my Dutch ideas. Sometimes I compare Australia and The Netherlands. Sometimes Australia came out in front and sometimes the Netherlands. I've got some great friends in this country and there has never been any wish from my side to join clubs or communities. Except for some food preferences, my accent, and my passport, there are no signs by which others could recgonize me as a Dutchman.

This is what immigrants into the Netherlands should try to do; they should strive to become Dutch in whatever they do. The color of your skin should make little difference, as there are many people of mixed race (Indonesian, Surinam or the Caribbean Islands). Adapting causes yourself less stress.

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