Planning to move ? Dutch Immigrants Must Watch Racy Film

By BRUCE MUTSVAIRO, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 54 minutes ago

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The camera focuses on two gay men kissing in a park. Later, a topless woman emerges from the sea and walks onto a crowded beach. For would-be immigrants to the Netherlands, this film is a test of their readiness to participate in the liberal Dutch culture.

If they can't stomach it, no need to apply.

Despite whether they find the film offensive, applicants must buy a copy and watch it if they hope to pass the Netherlands' new entrance examination.

The test — the first of its kind in the world — became compulsory Wednesday, and was made available at 138 Dutch embassies.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_on_re_eu/netherlands_testing_immigrants;_ylt=AiEsn2i_ko2tx.d7NgE93GFWbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

Back in 1990, I attended a conference in the Hague. We had frequent lunches in
the nearby beach town of Schevinengen (sp). The second thing I noticed were the
casinos above the boardwalk. My comment: I never have to go anywhere else!

:evilgrin:

south Carolina

with "Also Sprach Zarathustra" as the soundtrack?
And do the guys do anything else?

Wish they'd use that as a tool before they'd let you stay in Indiana...

I mean, I get it, but it's still odd.

American bureaucrats would never do anything so straightforward.

either liberal ideals and values of free and open sexuality are worth supporting or they are not

i am glad that the netherlands feel their ideals are worth supporting

seems stupid to encourage immigration by those who would undermine those values

It's a good idea and very practical. An immigrant should be made aware of what the dominant culture is truly like, don't like it? Don't show up; after all, when you join into the melting pot, it's polite to melt a little.

But I wish it were a bit more consistent, they exempt US citizens but the there are plenty of homophobic and sexually repressed individuals here as well who are just as capable of murder.

If they *force* me to watch naked women at the beach, can I start earning credit now?

If you want to know what it feels like to be truly free try spending a few weeks there.

It's weird to think of The Netherlands as a liberal country when you live surrounded by really really conservative Dutch people.

We have a similar 'rite of passage' in New Orleans. ;) :D

I mean really - if we're so gung-ho on freedom of speech, everyone should have to watch a movie like that!

They've opened their home to us if we ever feel the desire to emigrate. We could and would if it ever came to that. And next time it'd be for good.