M
meghan
Guest
Where's the incentive to integrate?
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_articl...9&story_id=5548
12 March 2004
Integration is fast becoming the dirty word of the new millennium.
It is a central element of Dutch immigration policy which is trying to force immigrants to fit in en masse.
Integration is the Dutch cure for "ethnic crime" and distrust of "people who don't think like we do". It is the government-designed oil to smooth the entry of newcomers into society and harmonise the divide between the newcomer and nati
e communities.
These are lofty, but misguided, ideals.
Learning the Dutch language and getting to know the local culture is very worthwhile. But Dutch politicians are forcing the issue in such
a w
ay that they seem to be suggesting the native language and culture of newcomers is somehow bad and o
f less importance. To integrate in the Netherlands, immigrants must thus become Dutch.
And this speaks volumes about famous Dutch "tolerance" and the nation's respect for the enriching influence different cultures can impart on the Netherlands. The Dutch nation is swiftly losing its grip on these admirable traits.
Once known as a bastion of tolerance, the Netherlands is leading a shift against immigration and this misguided approach to integration is moving full steam ahead.
The government received solid backing last week as the ACVZ advisory commission told Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk that integration courses do not breach the European Convention on Human Ri
ghts.
It also said the Netherlands was entitled to demand that immigrants successfully pass an integration course before gaining a permanent residence permit.
This is good news for a Cabi
net which re
solved last month that all non-EU nationals wishing to enter the Netherlands permanently to join their Dutch partner shou
ld be required to complete an integration course in the country of origin before they arrive.
But interestingly, people from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are exempted from having to complete an integration course in their home country because their national governments have signed treaties with Dutch authorities.
It is doubtful whether countries such as Sudan or Morocco will be allowed to sign such treaties of exclusion, an indicator of growing Dutch racism against those less fortunate.
"Warm-heartedly" though, the Dutch government is prepared to offer learning materials for foreign partners to learn about the Netherlands and
its language. But they must pay for their studies themselves ? a sure fire way to exclude poor people.
The Dutch cabinet decided last week it wants to force Dutch partners to earn at least 120
percent of the min
imum wage, excluding poorer people from marrying a foreigner. Should the proposal become law, both the partner and the Dutch national mu
st also be 21 years old.
The media lopsidedly reports on "ethnic crime", the socio-economic problems of immigrants or that long-term immigrant residents speak inadequate Dutch and have failed to integrate into Dutch society.
Positive reports such as an Education Inspectorate study indicating last year that Islamic schools stimulate integration are a drop in the ocean. The study was also instantly dismissed by the Liberal VVD which demanded greater restrictions on Islamic schools. The party's call was labelled a "witch hunt" and failed to gain Parliament support.
Despite the end result, it indicates how prejudice c
an overshadow truth.
Common sense is thus distinctly lacking in Dutch immigration policy.
Take for example Immigration Ministry plans to conduct integration exams over the phone, re
quiring would-be immigrants
to receive a PIN number from a Dutch diplomatic mission in their home country. The foreigner will use the pin number when an examiner in the Netherlands rings them to
test their grasp of the Dutch language and culture.
The pin number is designed to ensure they are not cheating by getting someone else to take the exam, but would it be nitpicking to suggest this is not exactly a fool-proof plan?
Trying to find detailed, correct information about government plans for integration is a complex task, revealing that many half-baked initiatives are being tossed around without addressing the real issues or offering adequate solutions to immigrants cast into ghettos in Amsterdam Zuidoost or parts of Rotterdam.
Instead, the Dutch opt to deport 26,000 long-term refugees becaus
e they have overstayed their welcome and offer a residence permit to just 2,300 others.
The "amnesty" will clear a backlog of cases from the immigration service IND and prev
ent them form having to deal with r
eal people. Tougher laws have also reduced the inflow of asylum seekers by more than half since 2000, thus ensuring the system will not be overburdened again too quickly.
The Dut
ch are faced with socio-economic problems and community polarisation, but band aid measures will not stop this country from bleeding overnight.
Trying to maintain social cohesion, reducing ethnic crime and combating discrimination are valid goals, but blindly wanting the Netherlands to remain uniquely Dutch by forcing integration down an immigrant's throat is xenophobic and deprives them of dignity.
The Dutch should study how to best welcome new arrivals ? very many of whom want an opportunity to better themselves and by so doing contribute to society.
Either way, a Justice Mi
nistry spokeswoman said the Netherlands stands alone as the only country forcing immigrants to do integration courses in their country of origin. This is a dubious honour.
Neither
"tight-border-controls" Britain n
or the "anti-terrorist" US request immigrants to complete integration courses when they arrive, but Germany is poised to legislate this year what is expected to be compulsory integration courses for fore
igners in Germany.
Will Dutch intolerance thus spread to its neighbours?
Islamic veils are banned in France, the US demands its new citizens prove their command of the English language and American general knowledge, while Australia controversially refused boat people stranded off its west coast to come ashore in 2001.
And a European Commission survey this week showed that 80 percent of EU nationals are in favour of stronger immigration controls. The Bureau Gallup survey also said 79 percent of the Dutch backed stronger controls.
Anti-immigra
tion sentiments are therefore not unique to the Netherlands, but are worrying in a century that will be shaped by an internationally-mobile population.
Forcing people to integr
ate robs them of their cultural heritage, self-wort
h and national identity.
Voluntarily getting along with your neighbours and integrating and adapting to a tolerant, foreign society is rewarding, but trying to fit in with an increasingly anti-immigrant Dutch community
is not.
And as another government advisory commission pointed out last week, the Dutch are not even offering extra incentives to integrate, such as discounted course costs or shorter waits for a permanent residence permit.
Should immigrants thus adjust and take on Dutch morals and standards to integrate, becoming as intolerant as the Dutch are becoming?
No, not on your life.
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_articl...9&story_id=5548
12 March 2004
Integration is fast becoming the dirty word of the new millennium.
It is a central element of Dutch immigration policy which is trying to force immigrants to fit in en masse.
Integration is the Dutch cure for "ethnic crime" and distrust of "people who don't think like we do". It is the government-designed oil to smooth the entry of newcomers into society and harmonise the divide between the newcomer and nati
e communities.
These are lofty, but misguided, ideals.
Learning the Dutch language and getting to know the local culture is very worthwhile. But Dutch politicians are forcing the issue in such
a w
ay that they seem to be suggesting the native language and culture of newcomers is somehow bad and o
f less importance. To integrate in the Netherlands, immigrants must thus become Dutch.
And this speaks volumes about famous Dutch "tolerance" and the nation's respect for the enriching influence different cultures can impart on the Netherlands. The Dutch nation is swiftly losing its grip on these admirable traits.
Once known as a bastion of tolerance, the Netherlands is leading a shift against immigration and this misguided approach to integration is moving full steam ahead.
The government received solid backing last week as the ACVZ advisory commission told Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk that integration courses do not breach the European Convention on Human Ri
ghts.
It also said the Netherlands was entitled to demand that immigrants successfully pass an integration course before gaining a permanent residence permit.
This is good news for a Cabi
net which re
solved last month that all non-EU nationals wishing to enter the Netherlands permanently to join their Dutch partner shou
ld be required to complete an integration course in the country of origin before they arrive.
But interestingly, people from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are exempted from having to complete an integration course in their home country because their national governments have signed treaties with Dutch authorities.
It is doubtful whether countries such as Sudan or Morocco will be allowed to sign such treaties of exclusion, an indicator of growing Dutch racism against those less fortunate.
"Warm-heartedly" though, the Dutch government is prepared to offer learning materials for foreign partners to learn about the Netherlands and
its language. But they must pay for their studies themselves ? a sure fire way to exclude poor people.
The Dutch cabinet decided last week it wants to force Dutch partners to earn at least 120
percent of the min
imum wage, excluding poorer people from marrying a foreigner. Should the proposal become law, both the partner and the Dutch national mu
st also be 21 years old.
The media lopsidedly reports on "ethnic crime", the socio-economic problems of immigrants or that long-term immigrant residents speak inadequate Dutch and have failed to integrate into Dutch society.
Positive reports such as an Education Inspectorate study indicating last year that Islamic schools stimulate integration are a drop in the ocean. The study was also instantly dismissed by the Liberal VVD which demanded greater restrictions on Islamic schools. The party's call was labelled a "witch hunt" and failed to gain Parliament support.
Despite the end result, it indicates how prejudice c
an overshadow truth.
Common sense is thus distinctly lacking in Dutch immigration policy.
Take for example Immigration Ministry plans to conduct integration exams over the phone, re
quiring would-be immigrants
to receive a PIN number from a Dutch diplomatic mission in their home country. The foreigner will use the pin number when an examiner in the Netherlands rings them to
test their grasp of the Dutch language and culture.
The pin number is designed to ensure they are not cheating by getting someone else to take the exam, but would it be nitpicking to suggest this is not exactly a fool-proof plan?
Trying to find detailed, correct information about government plans for integration is a complex task, revealing that many half-baked initiatives are being tossed around without addressing the real issues or offering adequate solutions to immigrants cast into ghettos in Amsterdam Zuidoost or parts of Rotterdam.
Instead, the Dutch opt to deport 26,000 long-term refugees becaus
e they have overstayed their welcome and offer a residence permit to just 2,300 others.
The "amnesty" will clear a backlog of cases from the immigration service IND and prev
ent them form having to deal with r
eal people. Tougher laws have also reduced the inflow of asylum seekers by more than half since 2000, thus ensuring the system will not be overburdened again too quickly.
The Dut
ch are faced with socio-economic problems and community polarisation, but band aid measures will not stop this country from bleeding overnight.
Trying to maintain social cohesion, reducing ethnic crime and combating discrimination are valid goals, but blindly wanting the Netherlands to remain uniquely Dutch by forcing integration down an immigrant's throat is xenophobic and deprives them of dignity.
The Dutch should study how to best welcome new arrivals ? very many of whom want an opportunity to better themselves and by so doing contribute to society.
Either way, a Justice Mi
nistry spokeswoman said the Netherlands stands alone as the only country forcing immigrants to do integration courses in their country of origin. This is a dubious honour.
Neither
"tight-border-controls" Britain n
or the "anti-terrorist" US request immigrants to complete integration courses when they arrive, but Germany is poised to legislate this year what is expected to be compulsory integration courses for fore
igners in Germany.
Will Dutch intolerance thus spread to its neighbours?
Islamic veils are banned in France, the US demands its new citizens prove their command of the English language and American general knowledge, while Australia controversially refused boat people stranded off its west coast to come ashore in 2001.
And a European Commission survey this week showed that 80 percent of EU nationals are in favour of stronger immigration controls. The Bureau Gallup survey also said 79 percent of the Dutch backed stronger controls.
Anti-immigra
tion sentiments are therefore not unique to the Netherlands, but are worrying in a century that will be shaped by an internationally-mobile population.
Forcing people to integr
ate robs them of their cultural heritage, self-wort
h and national identity.
Voluntarily getting along with your neighbours and integrating and adapting to a tolerant, foreign society is rewarding, but trying to fit in with an increasingly anti-immigrant Dutch community
is not.
And as another government advisory commission pointed out last week, the Dutch are not even offering extra incentives to integrate, such as discounted course costs or shorter waits for a permanent residence permit.
Should immigrants thus adjust and take on Dutch morals and standards to integrate, becoming as intolerant as the Dutch are becoming?
No, not on your life.
