Expat Journal

Elections and Discrimination

In the Netherlands, there have been elections, and the results have favored, if one can say so, the far-right candidate Geert Wilders. The slogans are always the same, identical worldwide: "Netherlands for the Dutch," just as "Italy for Italians" and "France for the French."

In the international women's group chat, our wonderful language teacher sent a message: "25% of the Dutch voted for him, but 75% did not. Remember that you are welcome here." The numbers have shifted a bit; voter turnout has decreased, and they have too few seats to govern alone. Negotiations for power-sharing have already begun, and it is likely that nothing significant will happen, with new elections expected in a year.

What the pandemic has taught me is that anything is possible. Tough times, discrimination, fear, uncertainty come, and there is no place on Earth where you can go to avoid them. On the night of the elections, my daughter asked me, "Mom, did you vote?" I can't; only Dutch citizens can vote. She quickly understood, "I can't vote for the Dutch government?" Of course, you can, you can become a Dutch citizen and do so. But will it still be the same tomorrow?

Our children, the children of anyone who is a migrant, do not know they are "foreigners." They don't realize it until someone points it out to them. They feel they belong to where they live; it's home. On the morning of the results, I took my daughter to school and felt like a special observer, as did my international friends. It was probably just a feeling. If the problem doesn't concern you, you don't even see it. My friend, who is Turkish, said "I wonder among all the people we know, who doesn't want us here?"

Probably no one; racism is not directed against those you know: that person is good, dear, and their children are well-behaved. It's against someone else. And how do you distinguish the good from the bad? I thought. You can't. So, you discriminate against everyone.

The point is that, in a democracy, no one should be thrown out. No one should be discriminated against. Yet we do it every day, even among those who experience discrimination.

Yes, because each of us enjoys some kind of privilege, and we all find ourselves on a scale, depending on what and how many we have. We are white, European, wealthy, highly qualified. Then, you hear some racist remarks against you, and you realize that you are not immune either.

The Italian far-right celebrated the Dutch election results, forgetting that not long ago today's winners wrote that Italy should not receive European funds.

Each of us should feel like a foreigner at least once in life, not just during a vacation in a resort, but truly foreign: not knowing the language, without friendships, with a home to build. Putting on those uncomfortable shoes and walking for a few miles would help understand that those who migrate did not do it for an easier life.

The better option is never the easiest path.