| I think I am not alone in saying that Wednesday makes me angry, scared and sad. Almost a quarter of the Netherlands voted for a racist party. The left is smaller than ever. There will come a time when we will have to analyse this further, but for now the most important thing is to hold on to each other now. You are not alone. As Frans said last night: we are not letting anyone go.
It is very tempting to become passive from results like this. To quote my favourite artist (Frank Turner): "Can't I just spend the next four years getting wasted? Maybe if I drink enough whisky shots I can face it“.
But that, of course, is not an option. This result means the left is needed more than ever. We need to show ourselves more than ever. In politics, on the streets, towards our friends. Wherever racism rears its head, we must be the counter voice. So let this make us combative. Let us together make a fist for solidarity, equality and hard left policies. Or, as the same artist sings:
"I'm going to spend the next four years getting outraged
So every single day let's find a brand new way
To let the motherfuckers know that we can't be swept away
I'm going to spend the next four years on the barricades" |
