It was so Dutch: a national speech by Prime Minister Rutte, divided into three broadcasters at the same time: NPO, RTL and SBS. More than eight million viewers heard the whistling and whistling noises of a bunch of dissatisfied citizens “that do not take the virus seriously”, Rutte pointed out, and spoke imperturbably and paternally. Unforgettable television.
Following on from talk show “M”, Dominee Gremdaat (alter ego of Paul Haenen) thought that construction workers should immediately make the Torentje soundproof. It remains our “Oval Office”, even though French Prime Minister Macron called it “so small” in March 2018. But a plan for thorough insulation will probably not easily pass the Dutch monument guard.
Very Dutch was also the fact that those protesters simply stood there and were not injected into the Hofvijver with high pressure by ME. See, we still have a democracy. A red and white ribbon deposit was also not applied beforehand. Just do it, say.
Piece of hope
Former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes told M that Rutte could have edited hard images in his speech for more urgency. She was referring to the first wave body bags from Italy and New York. On the other hand, she missed an explanation about the vaccine, for perspective. “Where is that piece of hope?” Now I learned from my father that “a piece” only refers to cake and should not be used further. Moreover, Rutte made it urgent enough with his story about the six thousand corona patients on the IC who would otherwise have died. “This is really no ordinary flu.” He also talked about “light at the end of the tunnel” in 2021. Kroes could find the rest of the piece of hope at “The Coronavirus: Facts and fables” after the news at the NOS.
Professor of immunology Marjolein van Egmond explained there that the vaccine only temporarily instructs your immune system on how to tackle the virus, and then it is broken down again. “It only stays in your body for a short time. This new method is perhaps the most natural way of generating defense, as your body itself also does in case of illness. ” We will need a lot more of this kind of information about the vaccine in the near future.
Until then, politicians and others like to use metaphors to express the seriousness of the situation. Beau van Erven Dorens spoke in “Beau” (RTL) about “Rutte’s infamous hammer”. Healthcare minister Hugo de Jonge said he has used “almost everything from the toolbox”. Entrepreneurs must close their business, but the support package can breathe, said Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra. The more loss of turnover, the more support. Breathing along, that sounds poetic for something MKB-Nederland chairman Jacco Vonhof called “a catastrophe in slow motion”.
Good idea, Christmas for the two of us
Words and promises fall short. Only Pastor Gremdaat seemed to be spilling the words out of his mouth. “Everything is closing, but we ourselves remain open,” he preached. “We are solution-oriented. No cooking pleasure, but also no cooking stress, no family tensions. Good idea, Christmas for the two of us. ” And after the vaccine he outlined “a summer full of festivals, hugs, love, sex, belief in a healthy, balanced society.” Well, there was the hope that Rutte could not express in his position.
Renate van der Bas and Maaike Bos write columns about television five times a week.
