Comments on: Tulip Revolution: The Dutch Vote it DOWN

By: incognito

incognito — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 00:20:03 +0000

“The national bird of France is the rooster. So call it the ‘Chicken Revolution’.”

Good one John. I was thinking yellow’s not taken yet, but you beat me to the punch. In French, the national rooster is Le Coq. So would it be “La R�volution de Coq”?

By: Eurobabble

Eurobabble — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 19:03:52 +0000

“Eurobabble, that is really meant more as a joke. Lighten up, pour yourself a beer.”

In which case I apologise. I’m currently drinking that beer.

By: hey

hey — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:58:15 +0000

i seem to recall that the kyrgyz revolution has used the name "tulip", with georgia using rose and ukraine using orange. maybe "polder", "dyke" (snicker), "dubel zel", "marijuana", or "blond" (for both beer and the preponderance of blondes in holland). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_Revolution http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3785139

By: John

John — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 15:49:54 +0000

The national bird of France is the rooster. So call it the ‘Chicken Revolution’.

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:50:14 +0000

Eurobabble, that is really meant more as a joke. Lighten up, pour yourself a beer.

By: Eurobabble

Eurobabble — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 13:30:17 +0000

“Has Bush’s policy of spreading democracy started a global wave of democratization so big it is now even sloshing into Europe”.

Incredible. In the end, after congratulating the Dutch for being able to choose for themselves, it has to be about America and Bush’s foreign policy.

By: Daran

Daran — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 07:15:38 +0000

Hilarious. I’m going to email this quote to some of my friends.

By: pierrem

pierrem — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 01:24:14 +0000

Add my congratulations to the people of the Netherlands.

The Dutch have a 300 year history of tolerance and representative government. The notion that they would just swallow this steaming pile of you-know-what offered up by the Bruxelles curia as though it were a communion wafer is ludicrous.

All Europeans, especially the Dutch and my Polish relatives (and even my worthless French relatives) deserve a real constitition (should they desire it) carefully stipulating the respective powers of the EU and the national governments, not this compendium of socialist bureaucratic doggerel that guarantees only greater power and lusher sinecures for a deluded and out-of-touch elite.

Above all the EU needs a real means of representative control, and an upper house equally apportioned by nation, not by population, to guarantee that the rights of smaller countries are not trampled.

And fresh Oranjeboom in Amsterdam is better than any German beer (take that Ralf).

By: G. Hamid

G. Hamid — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 01:23:11 +0000

How about for the French: “The Cheese Revolution”?

By: James R. Rummel

James R. Rummel — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 00:29:20 +0000

So, the Tulip Revolution belongs in the same category as the Orange Revolution, the Rose Revolution, etc.

I think we should have some protest babes if it’s going to be a proper modern revolution. So far, all I see on the news is some pics of a dour old woman casting her ballot.

James

By: Lex

Lex — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:44:45 +0000

Yeah, but Orange is taken, and there was a “rose” so “tulip” works.

By: Doug Sundseth

Doug Sundseth — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:33:42 +0000

“Tulip Revolution”?

It seems to me that the Netherlands has a rather better claim to “Orange” than the Ukraine, but by whatever name, I applaud the self-determination.

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:22:14 +0000

Maybe you all knew this, but if not here's a comment (I assume accurate) from Zach Ei, which reinforces Lex's point: "Has Bush's policy of spreading democracy started a global wave of democratization so big it is now even sloshing into Europe?" The comment by "Miira":

Countries that have rejected the charter: France, NetherlandsCountries that have ratified the charter:BY REFERENDUM: SpainBY PARLIAMENT: Lithuania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, SloveniaCountries still to decide:BY REFERENDUM: Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, BritainBY PARLIAMENT: Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Malta, SwedenCzech Republic hasn't decided whether to hold referendum or parliamentary vote.

By: Sulaiman

Sulaiman — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:05:38 +0000

French … Blue, Blanc, Rouge Revolution.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:05:18 +0000

Clear and simple: European cooperation, yes. European Constitution, no. I agree, though, with all the Dutch politicians who now cry, “Victory for democracy!”

Some politicians just need to get knocked around before they get it.

Treat yourself well. Vermeer is good, but the best blond beer I know is still Korenwolf.

By: Boudewijn

Boudewijn — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:03:08 +0000

we know you do and you’re welcome :o)

By: Lex

Lex — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:50:44 +0000

Mike and Boudewijn, the blond beer it shall be.

“…some form of co-operation with the rest of europe but not like this.” Right, exactly. That is just common sense, one of the great virtues of democratic electorates.

You guys struck a blow for the future and the freedom of Europe and the world today. Bravo, and thanks from all of us Yanks who want only the best for the people of Europe in the future.

By: Boudewijn

Boudewijn — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:44:40 +0000

“whatever the motivation …”
The vast majority of the dutch (including me) want some form of co-operation with the rest of europe but not like this. We think it’s going way too fast and there we’re also afraid we won’t have much (any?) influence in Brussels. The majority of the dutch, and the rest of the eu, are opposed to a turkey membership, yet the EU continues to negotiate with them. There has been no referendum when brussels wanted to expand the eu with the eastern-european states. We almost doubled in size, and all of these countries are much poorer than we are. The dutch also really dislike the euro, which was forced upon us (no referendum).

“I think I am going to go out and buy some Dutch beer this weekend.”
I agree with Mike, the blond is very good :-)

By: sith_mike

sith_mike — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:26:30 +0000

hell yea we voted NO! and Blond beer is good :)