Mayor Femke Halsema has this afternoon during the Abel Herzberg lecture in De Rode Hoed debate center drew attention to the “peaceful protest”. “However, just because conflict creates discomfort doesn’t mean it’s undesirable.”
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She talked about the struggle for social positions and social resistance against those in power. According to her, these are the foundations of a pluriform society. “And at the same time, you know that, social struggle and social resistance can also become destructive.”
Rabbi turned his back
She was referring, for example, to the moment when Pro-Palestine protesters on Dam Square, during a commemoration of the victims of the attack on a mosque in Christchurch, demonstratively turned their backs on a rabbi. She also sees destructive polarization against the LHBI+ community. “A lot of people say they can’t walk hand in hand anymore, that it’s much less obvious than it was decades ago.”
But according to Halsema, demonstrations, strikes and civil disobedience are often good. “Discomfort due to persistent comments, angry discussions about the correctness of the action. They are beneficial. No matter how difficult sometimes. And I can talk about that.”
Inhabitants of North
As an example she mentioned the inhabitants of Noord who feeling evicted by richer new residents. “I was there a few weeks ago. Then I sat in front of a group of residents, who also occasionally cursed, but as a driver you have to be able to handle that. (…) I didn’t actually know how great their freedom was to to resist and whether we actually pretended to resist them, so their anger was justified.”
“For a well-functioning democracy, citizens must trust the democratic process, while at the same time not trusting those in power too much,” she continued. “A critical attitude sets power in motion and keeps government and politics sharp.”
Full reading
The Abel Herzberg lecture has been organized since 1990 by the Rode Hoed in collaboration with the daily newspaper Trouw. Prominent figures give a lecture in memory of the lawyer, attorney, playwright, (chronicle) writer and essayist Abel Herzberg (Amsterdam, 1893-1989). View the full Abel Herzberg lecture by Mayor Halsema below.
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