Whatever

We live in a world clouded by political rhetoric and self righteous opinions based on strong values. Welcome to Amsterdam. The attitude is, “whatever” works for you — to live and let live.

The smell of marijuana, hangs in the air in the tourist locations. Business is brisk at the local coffee shops. The ladies of the night sell their wares in the red light district, that is bustling with crowds.

What does it say about a country in which there are legal drugs and legal sex, yet very low crime? There are almost no value judgements here. People live their lives in an open and relatively
non political environment.

Almost no extreme views, no guns, and practically no violence. The streets are safe, and the art is brilliant. The social, emotional and economic prosperity of its people seems real. Not perfect, but real.

We have so much to learn about equity and balance from the Dutch. Some day, if we are lucky and we learn, we just might get there.