Yesterday was Dance Valley, an outside Dance festival in the Netherlands.
While it's not oficially allowed to bring or use drugs, of course many people there are using XTC. And while there is always a minority of addicts, most of them are just all kinds of regular people who like to have a big party and escape the daily routine once in a while. I know a couple who are both lawyers who go there once a year for example.
The police is there to catch the big dealers, but it's easy and kinda condoned to get a few pills in. 30000 people visited at least. And despite the bad weather there was a really good friendly athmosphere without bad things happening.
A while back, some years ago I was there too. I saw Mark Rutte, a young politician, dancing. He was really enjoying the music, the people. It was fun to see him there. In some of the years after he was there too.
But now I didn't expect him, I mean come on, he's the prime minister now, the leader of the country, meeting all the important people in the world.
Surely he can't come here anymore. It would be bad for his political career to be seen in that setting with his position and he would need a load of bodyguards.
And to my amazement he was there again, same as always, just dancing among the people I love him for that, even if I don't totally agree with his political views.
Of course there are people complaining. "Shouldn't he be running the country", "Don't we have a crisis, how can he be smiling" Ehm, because he is a human? Because he's a young single guy with an important job, who works really long hours and everyone needs a break from time to time?
Luckily most of the reactions are positive and most people found it quite funny to see him there.
Afterwards the parking lot was changed from a field into a mudpool. Many cars were stuck. Everyone helped eachother, pushing cars from total strangers out of the mud. Mark Rutte was pushing cars too.
On August 08 2011 02:16 fruchtzergeis wrote: well, italy has this too, kind of
Lol no. Rutte is a respected politician by even his politcal enemies. Most people's views of Berlusconi is that he's corrupt and abusing his position where he can
Haha, this is awesome. I just gained more respect for him as a person.
On August 08 2011 02:25 nVusPip wrote: Is it me or is there not much security for a guy that important?
From the looks of it, I don't think there is any security at all for him specifically. Makes me proud to live in a country where our PM can walk around in public like that.
Maybe some among the crowd, trying not to behave as bodygards, but not many I think, seemed just a group of friends with him. The fact that nobody expected him there is probably quite a bit of security already.
I remember a former Prime minister, Wim Kok, some 10-15 years ago traveling with his wife through the UK by bike. Just the 2 of them, no bodyguards at all lol. Times changed after that, but it's good to see this is still possible.
On August 08 2011 02:25 nVusPip wrote: Is it me or is there not much security for a guy that important?
those party's usually have a real good atmosphere though same with hardstyle parties everyone is just so friendly to eachother ^^. There probably were some body guards in the crowd though I can't imagine them not being there.
On August 08 2011 02:36 MrCon wrote: It's awesome, only because politicians need some contacts with reality, and a full of drug music festival is a perfect place for this.
Maybe, yes. It's just a part of society as any other. But it goes the other way too. Alcohol, with all it's problems, traffic deaths, aggression is commonly allowed, while these parties are still frowned upon by some, even in 2011 Him being there might make people more open minded about it.
that's awesome. I went to one of those big beach raves in rotterdam some years back (2005 or so, 30k people or so as well?) and it was great, and definitely not dangerous. and I'd be extremely surprised if there weren't civilian bodyguards present - that coupled with there being searches for guns and knives at the entrance means that this is also fairly safe. personal safety isn't really that big of an issue - what I think is more impressive with regards to the dutch political environment is that he can go there without being harassed.
On August 08 2011 02:11 Zandar wrote: Because he's a young single guy with an important job, who works really long hours and everyone needs a break from time to time?
You know, that's another good point, that in a lot of countries even being a single guy would make it impossible to be elected as the perception of being a 'family man' and grounded in an accepted 'religious morality' matter more than your strengths as a leader and as a human being.
On August 08 2011 02:11 Zandar wrote: Because he's a young single guy with an important job, who works really long hours and everyone needs a break from time to time?
You know, that's another good point, that in a lot of countries even being a single guy would make it impossible to be elected as the perception of being a 'family man' and grounded in an accepted 'religious morality' matter more than your strengths as a leader and as a human being.
Very true. Like it once seemed impossible for women, gay or black people to become leader of a country.
There are quite a few female leaders of countries. Iceland has a lesbian prime minister, the USA have a black president.
Things seem to change a little bit around the globe, slowly but steadily and I hope that will continue
cool lol although I do wonder if some of the people watching will think he's being disruptive? I dunno, I think it's nice that he wants to move and interact with the people
cool lol although I do wonder if some of the people watching will think he's being disruptive? I dunno, I think it's nice that he wants to move and interact with the people
Dunno, the girls seemed to smile exitedly when climbing the stairs, like being naughty, they were doing something they shouldn't, unexpected. And then many people in the orchestra were laughing and looking surprised. And that audience reaction when they showed up lol.
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.infofrankrijk.com/upload/Rutte%20Sarkozy.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://images2-telegraaf.nl/multimedia/archive/00787/Obama_Rutte_787648d.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.duitslandweb.nl/binaries/content/gallery/duitslandweb/actueel/uitgelicht/2011/2/rutte_merkel_dpa.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.depers.nl/UserFiles/Image/2011/201108/20110807/media_xl_908960.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.depers.nl/UserFiles/Image/2011/201108/20110807/ANP-16189997.jpg)
