You know those movies where the main character is at an important point of divergence and the way he lives his life now will change the future? In those films you always get the sparkly future full of happy people and busy markets contrasted with the dark future with crime, filth, and distress. In a way I feel like I've seen the future. Obviously Hollywood has some really amazing actors and a lot of money to use to push these contrasts, emphasize the special effects, and hype up the emotions, but essentially the point is that our decisions matter, and what we do today will change tomorrow. I say we should take a look at Amsterdam to make a change for the better. We would be lucky if this amazing city could be our future.
Everywhere you go in Amsterdam there are bikes. Not the scary motor-bikes that swarm in thousands without any regard to traffic laws that one would find in Hangzhou, and not the noise-polluting, speed-happy motor-bikes that rip through Paris, either. We're talking real, old fashion, skirt-billowing around you, wicker basket on the front kind of bicycles that even have the little bell on the handlebar. Who knew we should look backwards to go forwards?
These no-noise, space-saving, eco-friendly, weight-loss educing, cardio-enhancing beauties are so popular in Amsterdam that they've become a tourist attraction. They're so popular in Amsterdam that there are separate bike lanes with separate traffic lights that have little lit up bikes rather than walking people. It's really quite adorable, actually.Not only is Amsterdam our ideal future in terms of transportation, it's our ideal future in terms of liberalism. Amie took advantage of one of those bike tours (which I opted out of because it was freezing and raining) and learned a bit about all those liberal laws that make Amsterdam so famous. I can't remember the facts. For the detailed picture go here and here. What I do remember is the big picture: in Amsterdam, where marijuana is decriminalized (not technically legal) and legally available in controlled settings (coffee shops--once you step outside with the substance it's no longer legal), a smaller percentage of the native population smokes on a regular basis and a smaller percentage has ever tried pot at all than in the U.S. where it's illegal. It's also a massive money maker in the Netherlands because it's heavily taxed and a well sought out tourist attraction. From the websites (above) we can see that Amsterdam has less substance abuse and less violence than in the United States. Drinking isn't as big of an issue, either.
Amsterdam should be our future, too, because it's a civilized, tolerant, educated, and amazingly diverse society. According to one of the guides we met on the trip, it's normal for people to speak more than two languages. He himself spoke four fluently. In a tiny city that one could walk the length of in a bit more than an hour, there are 177 different nationalities! Amsterdam is home to more nationalities than any other city in the world. That means that everyone lives together peacefully and there's always great ethnic food wherever you go! Wouldn't it be nice to live where there was food from all around the world waiting for you in one place? I'd say that my hometown is pretty diverse, and we certainly have a lovely selection of ethnic foods, many of which I heartily enjoy as home-cooked meals thanks to the superior culinary skills of many of my friends's parents. Still, though, 177 different nationalities.
It's clean, it's organized, it's harmonious. It's ideal. And we had a great time there.