A few posts ago I wrote about our invitation to a gala. Last Sunday we attended the event together with members of our parliament, some royals, a few majors and some business people. It was a wonderful event. We listened to the Choir of King's College from Cambridge singing Christmas carols. The little boy in the middle could not have been older than 6. Many times he didn’t sing at all and picked his nose, looked at his finger and wondered what do with it. This, off course was very endearing.During the following diner I looked around and noticed all people having one thing in common. We were all native Dutch and English people. No coloured people, no Muslims (which is not surprising when inviting to listen to a Christian Choir). When I look back to all the people on the network diners and meetings I was invited this year, almost 100% of them are autochthon. When you look at the leaders of our Amsterdam AEX listed companies, they are all autochthon and immigrants aren’t seen in the old boys networks as well.
This made me think of the American skull and bones network who are heavily influenced by the German Hegelian philosophy. Hegel was the culmination of the German idealistic philosophy school of Immanuel Kant. To Hegel, our world is a world of reason. The state is Absolute Reason and the citizen can only become free by worship and obedience to the state. Hegel called the state the “march of God in the world” and the “final end.” This final end, Hegel said, “has supreme right against the individual, whose supreme duty is to be a member of the state.” Both fascism and communism have their philosophical roots in Hegelianism.
Bonesmen share an affinity for the Hegellian ideas of the historical dialectic, which dictates the use of controlled conflict - thesis versus anti-thesis - to create a pre-determined synthesis. A synthesis of their making and design, where the state is absolute and individuals are granted their freedoms based on their obedience to the state - a New World Order.When I was “young” I always looked up to board members of multinationals like Lou Gerstner (IBM) and Lee Iaccoca (Chrysler) and wanted to be like them (I look somewhat different to that after the Enron, Worldcom and Ahold scandals).
Our immigrant youth needs role models outside the mosques too. I believe we need a new world order that strives for peace and humanity. But is has to be a multiform society with representatives at the top from all religions and cultures. This is the only way to prevent more retaliation and violence such as recently seen in Paris and Australia.I am sure that autochthons are not kept out on purpose. At least not most of the time. Or are they? Anyway, we need to find a way how to get the various cultures on our executive boards!
6 comments:
Good post. YEs, when leaders of corporations, education institutions and governments reflect both genders, ethnic and racial diversity... there will be a better chance for harmony (not to mention fairer distribution of opportunity).
Canada is now very diverse and there has been money spent on integrating newcomers (language, job training, etc). It's not perfect, but for the most part, there is fairness. Not at the top I suspect...
Inter marriage is another hope. I have an East Indian-Canadian friend about to marry a Chinese-Canadian friend. Not only will they have beautiful babies...they will really just be Canadian children.
Since WW II, Australia has experienced large increases in population from high fertility( known as the Baby Boomers) and migration. In 1947 the proportion of the population born overseas was 10%, but by 1991, it had increased to 24%. Hence Australia I think is probably the most multi cultural society on Earth, and it may be similiar in structure to Canada.Gary wil probably be able to comment on that better than me !!.
Our 2001 consensus indicated 25% pf persons born in Australia has at least one overseas born parent. Australia has also become more diverse as second generation populations reflect past migration and intermarriage patterns.
Hence other nationalities are generally well represented on boards of directors and hold leading civic positions. Our culture has been profoundly effected by migration, in the choice of our food, music and entertainment and making the country I hope a more tolerant society.
The recent violence in Sydney in the southern and eastern beach suburbs is in areas that have a disproportionate Anglo Saxon representation with only about 3% representative from other countries.
That concentration of Anglo Saxon nationality is primarily as a consequence of the very high real estate values.
Part of the solution I think is to ensure community involvement so that recent moves to ensure “Lebanese” are trained as ‘life savers” and integrated into the community in civic positions of influence which will help break down the tension, animosity and cultural differences that led to the violence.
Thanks for the interesting posting DA.
best wishes
Hi, I just bloged over from Grannys, who I'm trying to catch up with!
Thank you so much for this article, I'm trying to work up an article on the Bonesmen for my blog but haven't figured out how yet.
I'm sorry I'm short on time but I have added you to favourites and look forward to visiting your blog again.
Well said my friend.
As a first generation immigrant, I have given the situation in Australia and in France alot of time to study and read about them. As lindsay put it, I was surprised on the recent riots in Australia. Some ways Australia has done better than many nations in the world on diversity and harmony. What happened few weeks ago may be put in the legs of the media who are becoming more and more anti-immigrant, plus the particular place the riots took place.
France is where the problem of racial and ethnic reality must be looked at. They have what I call superiority complex, where certain people can't be French, even thought they are fourth and six generation. And when U do that to 5 million people problems will araise. Yes, community involvement is the best option. Denmark, Germany better start to thinking about both cases, and learn from them.
Thanks for your comment.
5:05 PM
Dimitri, the more I read your blog the more I like you.. great post, great hope and maybe we will see this in our lifetimes. But I wonder if the current structures will ever allow this to happen. Frankly I am skeptical, not because I don't believe it just, but because I believe the TOP does not think kindly of us rabble at the bottom and are unlikely to allow their positions to be jepardized. The Skull and Bones crowd are a bit more insular than they would even allow us to know. Frankly I don't think they really care which colors people are,, just when people of color or of different faiths are invited 'in'. They realize that something is "rotten in Denmark" and most likely are outting themselves because they have ingrained morals and ethics that they would betray if they get into bed with some of these top Commanders in Cheifs. Great post... will continue to think on this one,, as always.
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