Why I Chose a Gun
In Texas there are plenty of folks that like guns and shoot them often. Some even carry them concealed. There are also quite a number that have been under fire; we've got a lot of retired and active duty military here. But in the Netherlands, nearly no one is familiar with guns, how to use them, nor have they ever been in the presence of one.
I found this talk (also below) surprising for that reason. This is probably the first time I have ever heard a Dutch person cogently explain the need for strong defense forces. If you watch it, note the obvious discomfort the audience experiences.
I have two tangential connections to the talk. First, my grandfather fought in the Dutch resistance in WWII against the Nazis, and was captured for a time by them. Also the son of a farmer, he was one of the few that knew how to drive and how to shoot. Second, the event is being held in the theater in which I first saw Schindler's List, when it was also filled with uncomfortable Dutch people.
The Dutch tend to abhor violence, and even ignore it if they can, but General van Uhm certainly gives them a good reminder that he and his defense forces can't and why the country remains safe to this day.
- Comment (46)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments:
Oct '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
I watched to awesome TED talk online, great stuff, altought I have a problem with it, which is that the General seems to include a concept of global jurisdiction in his rhetoric and it sounded to me like ''We need guns not only to defend this country, but to promote liberal democracy abroad'', my problem being with the second part of it.
Sep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Unfortunately, that seems to be ingrained into the European mindset. They hated it when that cowboy American George W. Bush talked about it, but it's okay if it comes under the auspices of the UN or EU or (maybe) NATO.
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
I ended up watching the whole thing. He was a little too apologetic about the need for firearms, but as you point out, this is Europe today. Affection for guns is, if not criminal, then certainly a thought misdemeanor. He seems an earnest, good fellow, but I couldn't help but be struck how he repeatedly stressed that all his efforts were to produce 'a better world', and his intonation was uncannily reminiscent of the Operative--a self-confessed monster--in the movie Serenity. I'm sure Europe dreams of being as powerful as The Alliance. Then they could civilize those cowboys across the Atlantic.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Ik hou van Holland!
Mij man komt uit Brabant.
Sep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Katievs,
Edited on February 18, 2012 at 4:04amIk ook! Mij vader komt uit Fryslan en mij moeder is in Groningen geboren. Ik heb in Amsterdam gestudeerd.
Sep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
corrected above
Edited on February 18, 2012 at 4:04amSep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Severely,
When I think about it, it really surprises me how "far" the Dutch have fallen. In the not so distant past, the General would have been a staunch Calvinist, and thus would never have assumed the world could become a "better" place on this side of heaven. Not too many Dutch people would be so gauche as to believe in God anymore though.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Ik ook! Mij vader komt uit Fryslan en mij moeder is in Groningen geboren. Ik heb in Amsterdam gestudeerd. ·
Wat leuk! Wij wooden drie jaren vlak bij Den Bosch. Maar, het was een jaar of tien geleden en mijn Nederlands is erg afgevallen, ben ik bang. Helaas.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
DutchTex: Severely,
When I think about it, it really surprises me how "far" the Dutch have fallen. In the not so distant past, the General would have been a staunch Calvinist, and thus would never have assumed the world could become a "better" place on this side of heaven. Not too many Dutch people would be so gauche as to believe in God anymore though. · 0 minutes ago
I was pretty lonely there, religiously. But there are pockets of renewal. And some truly wonderful, deeply virtuous people.
Mar '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Your surprise that a Dutch general would support a strong defense is one that I encounter very often when attempting to explain to family and friends the disparity that exists in Europe between members of the armed forces of various NATO countries and the way their populations at large perceive the military and a strong defense (partly through conditioning and example set by their elites and media).
The Dutch, as just one example, have a very capable and professional (but small) Navy.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Crow's Nest: Your surprise that a Dutch general would support a strong defense is one that I encounter very often when attempting to explain to family and friends the disparity that exists in Europe between members of the armed forces of various NATO countries and the way their populations at large perceive the military and a strong defense (partly through conditioning and example set by their elites and media).
The Dutch, as just one example, have a very capable and professional (but small) Navy. · 5 hours ago
When my Dutch inlaws heard that our son was thinking of the military, they were horrified, in their amiable and discrete Dutch way.
I've never encountered there anything like the American pride in our military, or the American sense of its being an honorable and great calling.
Sep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Crow's Nest:
The Dutch, as just one example, have a very capable and professional (but small) Navy. · 7 hours ago
They'd better have! Naval skill was a big reason for their outsized (based on the country's pop and size) impact historically on world exploration. Of course, the Dutch captains also invented the unfortunate practice of keelhauling as a disciplinary measure.
My husband is a USNA grad and taught Naval history for shore duty. He really enjoyed learning about the Dutch and the sea after we met.
Edited on February 18, 2012 at 4:46pmSep '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
katievs
Ik ook! Mij vader komt uit Fryslan en mij moeder is in Groningen geboren. Ik heb in Amsterdam gestudeerd. ·
Wat leuk! Wij wooden drie jaren vlak bij Den Bosch. Maar, het was een jaar of tien geleden en mijn Nederlands is erg afgevallen, ben ik bang. Helaas. · 13 hours ago
Ik beoefen bijna nooit. De man van mijn zus komt ook uit Fryslan een dus spreeken eidereen Fries. Behoeve ik en mij moeder. Eric en ik gingen naar Nederland vier jaar geleden op vakantie. Ik kan het sprekend hel snel weer leren, maar het schrijven is niet zo best, as I'm sure you can tell...
Feb '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
By trying to read your Dutch out loud, I can pretty much understand it -- I studied a little German also. Interesting.
May '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Saw this speech a few months ago after a recommendation from a friend who is stationed in Europe. It was very well done, if apologetic, but as noted the culture on that continent is very different than ours when it comes to availability of firearms for personal defense. I'm not sure if the General changed any minds; even if not I applaud his reasonable explanation of why force, and the tools to project that force (weaponry) are needed so that good men can persevere in the modern world.
May '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Yeah, he's all for guns, but not for the little people. Only for the people in the police and the military who are special.
Dec '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Dutch,
In France and Germany the police have guns and the citizens do not. In America both the police and the citizens have guns. In England neither the police nor the citizens have guns (or aren't meant to).
I think we can characterize these countries by this single fact. France and Germany are Statist. England is Utopian. America is rational Republican.
Does this help?
If yes I will try to write more.
Regards,
Jim
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Bang!
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
If I had imagined for an instant this might be moved to the main feed, I would have checked my Dutch with my husband first! :(
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
They're really very close. Dutch is almost between German and English, I think.