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.
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Mostly very inspiring, but at times worrisome. His "the states' monopoly on force" bit seemed a little too enthusiastic and averse to individual gun rights. Wonder where he'd come down on that one personally -- that is, not as a spokesman for his gov't.
That Pinker book he cites overly credits the rise of state power for our relatively peaceful age and gives insufficient credit to the truer cause: the broad imposition and acceptance of Western values and institutions thanks to the benevolence of the English Speaking Peoples during our "moment" of dominance.
Jan '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
The mind-set of the Dutch audience must be considered when assessing the tenor of the speech. What to us may seem conciliatory and apologetic, may sound like war trumpets to that audience. We must allow that the man understood his audience, and we should give sufficient credit to his attainment of rank to concede that he knows better than we how best to broach such a hot-button topic to a Dutch audience.
I think he did an excellent job under the circumstances. I also think we ought to invite him here to give that talk on a cross-country tour.
Edited on February 19, 2012 at 4:58amFeb '12
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
katievs
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 likethe American pride in our military, or the American sense of its being an honorable and great calling. · 15 hours ago
Except maybe in Israel.
Dec '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
I conceived the same concerns with the speech as most of the other critical commenters, that is no support for individual weapon ownership rights. It is frightening to hear someone speak of a states "monopoly on the use of violence" for the "betterment of the world".
The Dutch have fallen far in their stature as a world power since the days of sailing ships and world exploration. They seem to be a watered down, luke warm people who have no raison d'être. They have sacrificed their national character/ethos on the altar of worldliness(agnosticism/atheism, drugs, depravity). Their government has tried to suspend their national concerns to the EU. They are starting to remind me of us.
My heritage is German and I learned a little in college. I could understand Katievs and Dutch pretty well too. Dutch, I believe, is like Platte Deutch or Low German.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Grimaud:
The Dutch have fallen far in their stature as a world power since the days of sailing ships and world exploration.
Now, hang on. They are still pretty amazing when it comes to practical ingenuity. Did you catch this recent news item?
Dutch zoo fits elephant with contact lens
Feb '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
A lot of stuff there that I wouldn't have thought that an adult audience should have to have been told.
Mar '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
It is rare indeed.
All too many citizens of these nations view their militaries as, at best, a necessary evil (which they never want to have to see or associate with--certainly not have pride in or celebrate). The idea of martial virtue, even delicately expressed, is alien and off-putting to their sensibilities.
Virtually all of their active duty officers recognize the necessity for a strong defense, and many are eager to talk about their deployments. But they are only willing to do this among other military officers in the safe confines of a wardroom or officer's club. I suspect their manner and tone approximates the way that Americans returning home from Vietnam went about talking about their service.
The politics of military service and funding here is also astonishing. The structures of the state are, often enough, employed in a way that accomplishing things in a military manner is intentionally made difficult. For example, applying unionized civilian labor standards to military environments.
Mar '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Quite so. Israel's culture on this question more closely approximates the United States' than any of which I am aware.
Also, a number of nations in the Anglosphere have reasonable strong military cultures.
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
You apparently equate "adult" with mere age. [:-) After three or four generations have been infantilized by nanny state / multiculti propaganda, we need to remind ourselves that intellectual maturity is part of the definition of "adult."
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
The General deserves high marks for knowing his audience and for a compelling presentation which reconnected it to Dutch history, all while educating them on something that—yes—they should already know. But they don't.
Europeans have been indoctrinated to view their Armed Forces as Oxfam with weapons. (“Oxfam is a global movement of people working with others to overcome poverty and suffering.”)
Come to think of it, we may call it “Nation building,” but haven’t we at least partially fallen into the same trap in Afghanistan and Iraq? Which suggests this all has less to do with being European or Dutch, and instead to do with the confluence of Big Government and Secular Humanism. The latter posits man’s perfectibility and the former purports to be the tool of his salvation.
One of the General’s goals was to press his audience for support of (meager) Dutch defense expenditures. He didn’t tell them that if Uncle Sam stops being the “international community’s” High Sheriff, they are screwed. Then again, so are we.
Apr '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Certainly an interesting talk. If you'd like to see a truly inspiring speech, may I suggest Gen. Mark Welsh's address to the cadets at the US Air Force Academy last November. It's long - about an hour - but riveting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBpxB5zgnY
Jun '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
katievs
They're really very close. Dutch is almost between German and English, I think. · 10 hours ago
And lo these many years I thought Dutch was a throat disease.
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Ha, I know how you feel. There we were padding around in our slippers and threadbare robe writing slapdash Dutch and making obscure references to movies without explanation ("everyone there knows me, they won't care") when suddenly we're whisked to the main arena where the likes of Rush and Rupert are scanning the big stories. I guess that's a good lesson.
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Crow's Nest
The politics of military service and funding here is also astonishing. The structures of the state are, often enough, employed in a way that accomplishing things in a military manner is intentionally made difficult. For example, applying unionized civilian labor standards to military environments.
When you say "here", CN, where do you mean? Where are you, if I may ask?
My impression from conversation with normal, intelligent Dutch people is that they look on American militarism as something essentially backward. They wish we would learn from their example that reasonable people can get along with each other through discussion and negotiation.
Makes me crazy. Because, of course, they could have their discussions and negotiations at all only thanks to the American military standing between them and the USSR for all those decades.
Edited on February 19, 2012 at 3:19pmMay '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
Severely Ltd.
Ha, I know how you feel. There we were padding around in our slippers and threadbare robe writing slapdash Dutch and making obscure references to movies without explanation ("everyone there knows me, they won't care") when suddenly we're whisked to the main arena where the likes of Rush and Rupert are scanning the big stories. I guess that's a good lesson. · 1 hour ago
Exactly. I mean, how embarrassing to have Rush know lame my Dutch is!
Mar '11
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
When you say "here", CN, where do you mean? Where are you, if I may ask?
I'm stationed in northern Europe on a NATO billet at the moment. I've been here about 12 months and I'll be here another 12. My job brings me into routine contact with a number of members of NATO--but especially the Germans, British, Dutch, Norwegians, and, on occasion, Danish and French.
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
If you have not taken 50 minutes of your life to watch this video, you will be the poorer for it.
Herkybird: Certainly an interesting talk. If you'd like to see a truly inspiring speech, may I suggest Gen. Mark Welsh's address to the cadets at the US Air Force Academy last November. It's long - about an hour - but riveting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBpxB5zgnY · 2 hours ago
Oct '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
katievs
... normal, intelligent Dutch people ... look on American militarism as something essentially backward. They wish we would learn from their example that reasonable people can get along with each other through discussion and negotiation.
Reasonableness, discussion, negotiation . . . do they remember where Anne Frank was when she wrote her famous diary? Or where she was sent to from there, and died? You'd think a national experience like that would concentrate the collective mind on certain bedrock principles. Then again, not all Dutch regretted what happened to their fellow citizens.
One really has to swallow hard when modern day Europeans tsk tsk us for “militarism.” Not that we have a right to some holier than thou rejoinder … every nation has its disgraces. But the idea we have some unique sin upon us, coupled with selective European memories concerning why they now can engage in such high-mindedness, can provoke a gag reflex. When you look at their paltry defense expenditures, it’s enough to make Ron Paul seem quite sensible. But for the fact it’s manifestly enlightened self-interest that keeps us in, NATO membership is second only to the UN on the Index of Leading Causes of Infuriation.
Feb '12
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
I wish our US military and government would consistently make the same cogent, sane argument for peace through strength and for safety through the spread of individual freedom. This man's speech was impressive on many levels. Thanks for the access!
May '10
Re: Why I Chose a Gun
raycon: If you have not taken 50 minutes of your life to watch this video, you will be the poorer for it.
Herkybird: Certainly an interesting talk. If you'd like to see a truly inspiring speech, may I suggest Gen. Mark Welsh's address to the cadets at the US Air Force Academy last November. It's long - about an hour - but riveting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBpxB5zgnY · 2 hours ago
52 minutes ago
Thank you. I would have missed it. And, you're right, I would have been poorer for it.