Netherlands: Former PM calls for liberation from Islamophobia
Ruud Lubbers spoke in Groningen last Thursday during a congress on integration and identity. According to the former Dutch prime minister and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Netherlands requires liberation. The first was from the Nazis in 1945, the second from the Cold War in 1989. We are now trapped in our own fear of Islam. The liberation from this fear is up to us.
The congress in the Mennonite Church was held in honor of American sociologist Marilyn Brewer. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Groningen (RUG) and specializes in improving relations between culturally diverse groups.
Lubbers also argued for the return of spirituality in politics and society. He emphasized how much he's learned from the Dalai Lama. Unlike his party-member prime minister Balkenende, Lubbers met in the Tibetan spiritual leader in the Netherlands.
In addition to Lubbers, author Kader Abdolah (who also received an honorary doctorate from RUG), author Naema Tahir, and mayor Jacques Wallage were also guests in the congress.
Source: DvhN (Dutch)
Ruud Lubbers spoke in Groningen last Thursday during a congress on integration and identity. According to the former Dutch prime minister and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Netherlands requires liberation. The first was from the Nazis in 1945, the second from the Cold War in 1989. We are now trapped in our own fear of Islam. The liberation from this fear is up to us.
The congress in the Mennonite Church was held in honor of American sociologist Marilyn Brewer. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Groningen (RUG) and specializes in improving relations between culturally diverse groups.
Lubbers also argued for the return of spirituality in politics and society. He emphasized how much he's learned from the Dalai Lama. Unlike his party-member prime minister Balkenende, Lubbers met in the Tibetan spiritual leader in the Netherlands.
In addition to Lubbers, author Kader Abdolah (who also received an honorary doctorate from RUG), author Naema Tahir, and mayor Jacques Wallage were also guests in the congress.
Source: DvhN (Dutch)
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