Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tolerance and the Futility of Legislating Morality
I'm hopeful that Europe can overcome the challenge of its new ethnic mix
because of its proven track record for pluralism. While Europe has no
shortage of closed-minded, knee-jerk opinions, most Europeans consider
tolerance a virtue to be cultivated. At the leading edge of this thinking is the
Netherlands. Historically, this corner of Europe saw some of the most dev-
astating Catholics-versus-Protestants i ghting in the religious wars following
the Reformation. h ey learned to be inclusive, welcoming Jews when others
wouldn't and providing refuge to religious refugees (such as our nation's Pil-
grim founders). And, as a major maritime power during the Age of Discovery,
the Netherlands became a gateway to Europe for emigrants and immigrants
(and their ideas) to and from all over Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Based
on lessons learned from their history, it seems the Dutch have made a con-
scious decision to tolerate alternative lifestyles.
When I'm in the Dutch town of Haarlem, I'm struck by the harmony
and compromise people have worked out between tradition and
modernity, virtuous lives and hedonistic vices, al uence and simplic-
ity. People live well—but in small apartments, getting around
by bike and public transit. While the frugal Dutch may keep
the same old one-speed bike forever, they bring home new
l owers every day. h
e typical resident commutes by
