Amsterdam coffee shops

You only think that because the vices you+ like i.e. wine, are not illegal so +you are not affected. Pretty narrow minded really. But yes, we'll not agree.

Sorry Greyhound, I've read your post in #68 and fail to see your point.

You say "it is sad that Amsterdam has become a drugs and sex tourist spot, but the problem is more to do with the criminality in people's home country rather than the legality in Holland" - okay, so what do solution do you suggest to that situation?
It's safe to assume that other countries won't openly adopt the Dutch drug policy. So are you saying that we Dutch should shut up and from now on welcome, with open arms and proud of our liberal (?) nation, the sort of people who are supposedly intelligent (intelligent enough to read the BBC news, at least) yet are not ashamed to make public statements like "If we were not allowed to make the purchase there would be no reason to make the trip" or " is their greatest draw - a symbol of true freedom"? Why would the Dutch have to show an understanding of the poor beings who are not allowed to smoke marihuana freely at home, while none of those poor beings seems to understand the impact drug tourism has on the thousands of people living near the borders, who see all that Belgian, French and German lowlife and their shady dealers flocking to their towns, towns that no foreigner upset about the proposed restrictions has ever heard of?

Let me tell you this: I have spent half my life in small town in the countryside, far removed from the RLD and coffee shops (although like anywhere, these were there if you knew where to find them) and the other half in a medium-sized town 35km from Amsterdam. I've met people from all possible social and intellectual backgrounds, people from cities, towns and hamlets throughout the country. I am not a nationalist and try to have a critical of my home country at all times, but at the same time I am undeniably Dutch and I am not ashamed of it. I have smoked marihuana a couple of times during my student days, was a chain smoker for 10 years and nowadays drink only a few glasses of alcohol per week - there you have it, I'm not free of any vices either. Heck, seeing how drugs exist even in countries where possession results in the death penalty, I even believe that the drug policy in the Netherlands might, in theory and if put into practice correctly at least, even be the least bad policy to choose.
All that doesn't change the fact that, as a Dutch person, I find it hard to take any foreign tourist seriously who makes comments like the ones I quoted above - those comments only show how unbelievably narrow-minded and ignorant those people are, and I truly feel sorry for them. And if people need free access to marihuana (or ciggies, or alcohol) to function properly or to have a good time, they are ready for rehab.

but at the same time I am undeniably Dutch and I am not ashamed of it
Well I'm also Dutch, but I am often ashamed of it, I emigrated and still am being attacked or questioned about the ridiculous drug and other policies of the Dutch government,. I have to explain I'm also against these policies, which they just ignore, it's like attacking every American about George W Bush what happened constantly (especially in The Netherlands) when Bush was still in power. Wherever possible I say I'm German just to avoid these discussions.

Aribo, I think we more or less agree with each other.

TheDevil, I think your statement says more about the people you are in contact with in the place you have emigrated to, rather than being a reason to be ashamed of your country. However avoiding these types of people is next to impossible so I understand your dilema.

Greyhound, I lived in several countries and it's the same everywhere.

If Marihuana would be legal at most places, all these problems mentioned wouldn´t exist.

oh really #76? and on what do you base that statement?

A very narrowminded discussion. If alcohol and cigarettes are permitted and harming so many people, it is just ridiculous to forbid that somebody wants to smoke Marihuana!
And I agree with No. 76. No dutch would need to feel ashamed (rather strange anyway). The drug dealers wouldn´t exists and that´s it!

The drug dealers wouldn´t exists and that´s it
Dream on, esteroides...