northAfter about twenty minutes I had to hit the pause button and stop the old president for a moment. It was just unfortunate to hear Biden and Trump arguing in their evening election debate. And angry too. Hot waves through the neck. Especially because of Trump, with his superlatives. Best this, best that, never this and always this. That superior tone, I can’t stand it.
What a difference to our Mark Rutte, who was in the youth news he rated his tenure a modest six. Or not, he thought it was half past six.
Humanity can be divided in many ways, but one of the most interesting to me is the difference between hackers and charmers. Some immediately take the blunt ax when they want to do something, angry, threatening. Corners of the mouth down. Others rely on your smile and try to plead their case in a friendly way – being charming and understanding can go a long way. Not so far.
Like Rutte. He did not become the new head of NATO by waging a woof campaign, but through clever diplomacy. And that is how the oilman’s softer title often sounds after years of Teflon Markie. Also during his farewell interview at the youth news a warning for local slippery conditions was appropriate. But if you give kids a positive image of politics, you couldn’t have a better ambassador.
Rutte was cheerful, pleasant and honest. At least: why wouldn’t anyone believe him when he says that he would have liked to have warned the Mark Rutte of 2010 to take the rumours about the benefit affair seriously from the very beginning? What good is cynicism now that the national misfortune has been recognised by everyone?
Questions from schoolchildren
Rutte was visited by some schoolchildren from Torentje who asked him questions. Including ten-year-old Ella, for whom Holland was always Rutteland. She said something that moved the Prime Minister. That is to say, she has never felt insecure and until now she has always enjoyed it.
A child of beneficent parents will, of course, see this differently.
Both things are true.
Biden and Trump pushed each other again. But after a few minutes I finally gave up. He is relieved when Biden, fortunately, gives a good answer, he doesn’t get lost in his one-liners. But even more shameful is the way Trump talks about the events of January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the Capitol after he questioned Biden’s election victory. How he doesn’t know that the prince will hurt him.
It speaks of multiple truths.
In any case, I saw no reason why I should continue to go through this unpleasant retrospective experience. I learned nothing new. At best, I was even more surprised that these two candidates are apparently the best that America has to offer.
Love sweet love
And I went to YouTube because I heard a Burt Bacharach composition in my head. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. The only thing we don’t get enough of is singing Jackie DeShannon. She is very right.
Epilogue. The husband comes in, hears me singing and says: What your husband needs now is a sandwich with cheese. I laughed. And make him a sandwich with my best Teflon pan. Live the normal everyday life.
Four times a week, Renate van der Bas and Maaike Bos write columns about television.