Took my boys for a walk this morning down Tulip Lane. Sad sight actually as the tulips have just about met their peak. Our TulipTime festival or celebration of Dutch Heritage, doesn't begin until the the 5th of May and runs through the 13th. TT follows on the heels of Cinco de Mayo often over Klompen the Mexican festival. I personally would rather hear a good Mariachi band and eat good Mexican food than the Dutch crap. (OK, I know I am prejudice against Holland and it's conservative, 'i want to tell you what to do' ways.) Actually for many, many years the motto at our local High School was 'You ain't much if you ain't Dutch'. What does that say to our very large Hispanic population not to mention the Asians and other minorities as well as other people of European ancestry? Our Superintendent finally said that would no longer be the motto. Good for her.
TT actually does boost our economy a bit, while exploiting the children of our local schools to march in a 'Children's Parade' and brings visitors from far and wide to hear the likes of Lawrence Welk Music shows and eat traditional Dutch foods such as Pea Soup and Pigs (saucijzenbroodjes) in the Blanket. Hummm... anyone ever been to Amsterdam? Members of our Dutch community frequently forgets that they are not really Dutch other than by blood lines that go back to VanRaalte because they left the 'liberal, we like all people' country of the Netherlands.
I know I should give the community a break as I love everything German and it's OK to be proud of one's heritage, but don't use it to exclude anyone.
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