Na-apen (copycatting)

“You’re not going to like me now.”

What was considered normal twenty years ago is unacceptable these days.

I grew up knowing that my country, the Netherlands, had a colonial history, but we were taught in school more or less matter of fact. It was a part of our history, and we didn’t consider the implications deeply.

Today, in 2022, my daughter points me to my country’s colonial history. Just recently, the Dutch National Bank apologized for its role (financing) in our colonial history.

The times have changed, and each country has its history.

With two nationalities, my daughter ‘plays’ lightheartedly with her nationality in conversations, depending on who deserves her feedback.

Sometimes she’s Czech when the Netherlands is the subject of the conversation. Sometimes it’s the reverse.

Each country is working through its past.

In the Netherlands, we grew up with Sinterklaas and his colored assistants. When I grew up, this was considered a tradition. Today, it’s downright discrimination.

In the Czech Republic, there’s an Easter tradition of using colorful whips to softly remind women of their role. It’s colorful, it’s done with humor, but it’s still wrong.