What a week to be a citizen of the American republic, living in the midst of northern Europe's (constitutional) monarchies! On Friday morning, the British royal family will be celebrating its crown prince's wedding; and then from Friday evening through Saturday night, the Dutch royal family will be observing its annual Queen's Day festivities.

It's all utterly foreign -- the hysteria over the royal families and all their comings and goings -- but I have to confess that it's somehow fascinating, at the same time.

There's something charming about the Old World traditions... the story-book imagery... the inborn sense of familial loyalty and its corresponding national symbolism (which seem quite a different breed than the American patriotic ideals with which I grew up). Sometimes I find myself genuinely wistful for the lack of such a royal tradition in the United States of America... And then other times, I think it's just plain silly.

This weekend, though, we're going to join in the revelry.

On Friday morning, Marci is planning to make tea and scones and watching the British royal wedding with Olivia (and possibly some other lady-friends) -- essentially re-enacting the scene from her own childhood when her mother went out of her way to borrow a television (since they didn't have one of their own at the time) and share in the special mother-daughter experience of watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Marci was six at the time Charles and Diana's royal wedding, and coincidentally Olivia is also six at the time of William and Kate's royal wedding -- so it's pretty cool to see the way things line up in that regard.

Then on Saturday, we'll get to celebrate Queen's Day with a million other Amsterdammers and yet another million out-of-towners. Elliot is already planning to dye his hair orange on one side and striped red-white-and-blue on the other side (prior to a long-established plan for shaving it all off on the following day). We still don't have all our plans worked out for exactly how we'll take part in the festivities this year... But in any event, it's always a spectacle.

How are you planning to celebrate the upcoming "Royal Weekend?"

Tomorrow, the people of the Netherlands will elect their representatives for the national government.  I will not be taking part in this election -- because I don't technically count among "the people of the Netherlands."  Of course, I don't take this personally; however, I do think that it's unfortunate that I don't have a voice in a situation such as this despite the fact that I've lived here, legally, for over seven years; despite the fact that I own property here in the Netherlands; and despite the fact that our household has contributed over €100,000 in taxes throughout the years in order to support the Dutch system!  I'd say that it's the American in me who becomes so frustrated by this "taxation without representation" -- but then again, I imagine that immigrants to the United States are not treated much differently when it comes to American elections... So is the world that we live in these days.

Immigration is a particularly pivotal issue in this election.  Some of the main candidates in this election have distinguished themselves particularly in regards to their stance on immigration.  And I will be very interested to find out how the Dutch people express themselves on this particular point.  Will they side with someone along the lines of Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV (Party for Freedom), who has built a name for himself primarily by speaking out boldly against the "problems" with immigrants (particularly Muslim immigrants)?  Or will they side with someone along the lines of Job Cohen, leader of the PvdA (Labor Party), who spent years as the mayor of multi-cultural Amsterdam and developed a reputation as something of a "bridge-builder" or conciliatory "multi-culti cuddly-bear" (depending on who's perspective you might take)?  As a fair-skinned, blue-eyed immigrant, I feel like I've gotten a unique perspective on this societal issue facing the people of the Netherlands -- and I'm honestly not sure how they're going to choose.

I recently finished reading a book called "Murder in Amsterdam:  The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance," by Ian Buruma, and I feel like this book offered a very valuable complement to my personal experiences as an immigrant here in the Netherlands.  The book talks rather extensively about Job Cohen and Geert Wilders -- along with such figures as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Mohammed Bouyeri, Pim Fortuyn, and of course Theo van Gogh (whose murder just so happened to take place just two blocks from our house, back in our second year of living here in the Netherlands).  And I learned a lot about how the complex political environment surrounding this issue of immigration has developed through the years.  For any foreigner living in Amsterdam, I would highly recommend the book (though I think it could also be somewhat instructive to Americans currently working through their own set of issues related to Mexican immigration).  It's obvious that there are no easy answers to these issues of immigration and tolerance and globalization -- but it's certainly helpful to read up on things a bit.

I, for one, personally find myself pulling for Job Cohen and the PvdA in this particular election.  Not just because he seems to have a more reasonable perspective on this particular issue of immigration, but also because he's an Amsterdammer.  His party's headquarters are just 100 meters down the street from our church's ministry center, and I've regularly seen him around the neighborhood; once he even came to visit our ministry center.  I can't say that I agree with all of the party standpoints of the PvdA -- but given the implications of this particular election, I'm personally hoping that they do well tomorrow.

Whatever comes of this election, I'm guessing that we'll learn a lot about the future of the immigration issue and the will of "the people of the Netherlands" tomorrow.  For now, however, all that I can really do is wait and see...

The trash collectors' strike has finally ended.  It's nice to see the streets getting cleaned up again.

I've found it very interesting to note the public reaction to this strike.  By and large, I'd say that public sympathy has been with the trash collectors -- with the city being made out to be the "Bad Guys."  It's been framed as "poor, under-appreciated, blue-collar trash collectors" versus "stingy, heartless, evil, corporate / government monolith."  And likely due to this public sentiment, the trash collectors seem to have come away from this confrontation as the "winners," having gained more ground in the negotiations.  It would seem like most Amsterdammers would say "Good for them."  Everyone likes to see it when someone sticks it to "The Man."  Myself included.

But it's recently occurred to me that, in this case, "The Man" is us -- the citizens of Amsterdam.  That is:  the government is made up of publicly-elected representatives who have been charged with the task of managing the money that is collected by our taxes, right?  So that means that it was effectively us (the citizens of Amsterdam) against the striking trash collectors.  So even though our streets are getting cleaned up again now (which is definitely appreciated), we ended up being the "losers" of the show-down.  It will ultimately mean either higher taxes for us, or budget cuts in other areas of municipal government.

Strange shift in perspective, huh?  Am I missing anything, in thinking through the scenario (other Amsterdammers seem to be significantly better-informed in things like this)?  Or if I've got it correct -- that our interests really were more tied up in the government's side of things -- why do you think it is that we "sided" with the trash collectors?  I'm just curious.  Again, I'm very appreciative to have the trash collectors back on the job.  But I'm just confused about if I should really feel like a moral victory was won or if I should feel like I was unfairly coerced into making concessions (via my elected officials)... Strange the way that all of these things work.

Tomorrow is my first opportunity to participate in Dutch democracy.  I'm not sure if it's because I've now been officially registered in the country for a certain number of years now, or if it's because I'm now a property owner, or what -- but I'm going to vote for the municipal elections tomorrow.

The only prolem is that I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to vote.

I've tried a couple of the different on-line "stemwijzer" (voting test) sites, plus I've read a number of the printed materials put out by the government and by the parties themselves.  But all this has done is help me to decide how not to use my vote.  That is, I'm pretty sure that I will not be casting my vote for the CDA, who has chosen to make the main thrust of their Amsterdam campaign a "Big Brother" like camera system to capture any wrong-doing that might happen throughout the city... And I can't really see myself voting for the Party of the Animals (making animal rights the primary issue) or the nationalistic PVV (a sort of anti-immigration party, like the 21st Century Dutch version of the 19th Centry American "Know Nothing" party)... But who should I vote for?

I'd be very open, if anyone had any advice they wanted to pass along to me.

For me, I'm voting primarily as (1) a follower of Jesus, (2) an immigrant, and (3) someone who naturally tends to prefer a less invasive form of government (i.e. someone who could tell the leerplichtambtenaar to relax a little bit).  But are there really any parties who tend to combine these issues?  Open to religious freedom, and even cooperation between the church and the government... But also more liberal in its views on immigration and immigrants' rights... While still entrusting power to the people, more than to the bureaucracy???  Do these terms ring any bells, for those of you who might be more familiar with the Dutch political system?

I've got some ideas for how I might use my vote, if all else fails.  I'm not going into things totally ignorant.  But if there are any last-minute pieces of advice that could be thrown my way, I would certainly appreciate it.

As a general rule, young Amsterdammers are independent thinkers, fiercely committed to fair trade, generally ideologically opposed to "globalization," and by most all accounts quite liberal.  Yes, I'm trucking in stereotypes a bit here -- but I think most would agree that Dutch young people are generally the type of people who would show up wherever the G8 Summit might be taking place and protest the "Evil Capitalist Elite."  You know the type that I'm talking about, don't you?  They are politically active, they think green, and they are almost categorically against any sense of "The Man."

So I think it's ironic -- and a little bit funny -- that young Amsterdammers also seem to be crazy about Starbucks.

I find it ironic because Starbucks seems to epitomize globalization (with hundreds of franchise locations around the world -- and an almost inescapable corporate presence in so many cities)... they seem to serve as something of a poster child for American Capitalism (with large amounts of liquid being sold at hefty prices)... and -- while they do seem to be more committed to social responsibility and ethical business practices than many other world-wide businesses -- everyone still knows (deep down, though they don't always like to admit it) that Starbucks is the personification of the "evil mega-corporation" that could very well serve as the front for Dr. Evil's quest for world domination.

I don't know why it's taken Starbucks this long to make any significant inroads within the Netherlands (rumors abound on this subject) -- but a couple of years ago, a Starbucks appeared on the inside ("for passengers only") part of Schiphol Airport.  A year later, a Starbucks popped up outside of the gated area, where anyone could access the establishment (presumably while picking someone up or dropping someone off).  And now, within the last couple of months, Starbucks seems to have struck a deal with the Dutch National Railroad, putting Starbucks stores within several of the main train stations throughout the country (including Amsterdam Centraal Station).  And now, there are long lines of young Amsterdammers lining up to spend their €6 for a small cup of espresso-based beverage... while still holding fiercely to their anti-global, anti-corporate, anti-American sentiments.

Doesn't this seem ironic and incongruent to anyone else?

I don't understand it.  I don't condemn any position on the spectrum, given that I, too, don't want to have anything to do with promoting slavery or injustice in the developing world -- but I do enjoy a good Caramel Macchiato whenever I can get one. :-)  But I am fascinated by the apparent contradiction and subtle hypocrisy that creeps into the picture in situations like this.  How does Starbucks do it?  I think they have to be geniuses!  They trade with the best of the mega-corporations on Wall Street, but they simultaneously find friends among the protesters and progressives in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  How do they do it?  They're geniuses, I'm telling you.  Either that, or we're all dupes...