Excuse me, but WTF?
[The town of] Staphorst, in the so-called Dutch "bible belt" of eastern towns where religion holds sway, approved a ban on swearing by 13-4 council votes.
To me, people who use an occasional, well-placed curse word are a lot less objectionable than the pious assholes who never know when to take fucking no for an answer. So to the dickwads who make up the Staphorst council I'd like to say, Holland is not a theocracy — deal with it or move elsewhere. You tried this very same shit two decades ago and the Dutch courts struck it down then on free-speech grounds. What part of NO don't you understand, the N or the O?


All international reports I've read about this somehow neglect an aspect which is mentioned in the national reporting: that even Staphorst considers this a symbolic measure. Which basically means there's nothing to goddamn fucking worry about. Move along here, nothing to see.
Posted by: Arjan | Friday, June 03, 2005 at 03:14 AM
I think the people in Staphorst probably didn't have to ponder about the N or O in NO, because the didn't get "NO, but NEE voor an answer ;)
Posted by: jessica | Friday, June 03, 2005 at 08:12 AM
I am not religious myself and I do not live in Staphorst.
Moreover I am using curse words all the time.
On the other hand I do not consider it a good habit. I met somebody once who is never using any abusive language and after a while I start appreciating it.
Therefore I think the national government should do the very same thing as the Staphorst Municipal council.
Posted by: Otto Akkermans | Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 05:51 AM
Hadn't realised Holland had a bible-belt. If that's the case, then shouldn't it go without saying that the inhabitants use only the most sanitary vocabulary?
Of course I could be fucking wrong!
Posted by: John Palubiski | Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 11:01 AM