Thursday, March 16, 2006

Netherlands Entrance Exam

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.

Taking the exam costs $420. The price for a preparation package that includes the film, a CD ROM and a picture album of famous Dutch people is $75.

"As of today, immigrants wishing to settle in the Netherlands for, in particular, the purposes of marrying or forming a relationship will be required to take the civic integration examination abroad," the Immigration Ministry said in a statement.
(Read the whole thing here.)

You know, I certainly don’t want the Jihadists to win (being a dhimmi doesn’t strike me as a fun career move), but sometimes it’s really hard not to sympathize with them, even if it's just a little bit. The best recruiting tool for al Qaeda is the current state of Western civilization.