Read on Twitter
The Netherlands continues to perform abysmally throughout this crisis, we won't be vaccinating for another 3 weeks and the holidays will probably turn out to be a disaster boomerang, and for all that we have, in general, shown remarkably little self-awareness. https://twitter.com/mzelst/status/1343198938720055297
Gov't officials really amped up on the charm offensive these last few weeks, popping up on national TV every other day to look back at 'their 2020,' because yes that is exactly what you would expect competent, serious public servants to be doing during an international crisis.
On top of that Dutch CDC director Jaap van Dissel blamed frontline healthcare workers' level of education (and yes, he's implying what you think he's implying) for not implementing his guidelines correctly, which, he says are perfect, in theory.
His interview w/ national broadcaster NOS was a long series of pompous reflections, showing an inability and unwillingness to meaningfully engage with valid criticism. https://nos.nl/collectie/13853/artikel/2362050-jaap-van-dissel-blikt-terug-op-2020-dit-konden-we-ons-niet-voorstellen
Which is emblematic of the Dutch relation to criticism during this crisis, and, dare I say, more generally. Never taking it as a cue to meaningfully reconsider the status quo, but always as a reason to reaffirm & double down on rigid ways of thinking & practices.
The most telling response to constructive criticism in the Netherlands: "Why don't you leave if you don't like the way we do things here." --> Incredibly small-minded, petty and boorish.
Entrenchment might be the one thing Dutch national institutions excel in. Institutional self-protection has been swift, decisive and efficient, cynically compensating for their callous and indifferent attitude towards the job they ought to be doing.
Worst of all, there's no real widespread outrage, the reasons for which I find hard to explain or understand, and which exceed the scope of any one tweet or thread. The fact that alongside a few other nations we have become an international liability is beyond embarrassing to me
& that the Dutch gov't chose to do so willingly is unconscionable and something to be profoundly ashamed of. Health experts not directly affiliated with the gov't have for months warned against the current course of action yet were portrayed as fringe nut jobs and fearmongers.
Kind of reminds me of the GOP's response to the pandemic, but let's not open that can of worms.
But Ming, you say, what's your point? Idk, beats me, I'm just venting on here. If we're not willing to learn and grow during a once-in-a-century crisis, we're certainly not prepared to do so at any other point in time after this. And that's incredibly sad & worrying.
Inevitably some gruff and sour Dutchie will reply to this thread and tell me to shut up because 'watchers always know better than the doers.' So to spare them the effort of furiously typing that most Dutch of proverbs on their phone, I'll do it for them>
so I don't have to groan at that tired and hackneyed turn of phrase that generally snuffs out every last ounce of inspiration, excitement and passion for life.
Edit: Oops! One of the above tweets on JvD should read 'pompous series of deflections,' not reflections (obviously, because the man seems to be physically incapable of introspection, but that you already knew, of course)
