These seem to be the main motivating forces behind taking the time to write to us: you want to know more, we (or world events) have made you mad, or you want to your voice to be heard.
This week you have written in questions from eyeglasses to ice, and comments from praise to fear and from anger to hate.
It is always good on a cold, grey Monday morning to start with a bit of praise, especially when it is for one of the team that works hard to keep the flow of information going. Pearl Braun-Nowygrod wrote:
“I love Georg Schreuder, and his tongue-in-cheek reporting. Heads must roll... ... and behinds must be washed. Beautiful! By the way I recommend RNW to my students.”
It's because of that team that creates, reports and produces programmes, reports the news, translates the wires, writes the news analyses that become our dossiers and keeps all of it published and up to date, that the following mail was a bit of a surprise. Pauline wrote:
“How often do you change the news on your website? I've been visiting everyday, and except for the top of the first page, there are very few changes.”
The short answer to that is: continuously. Admittedly, sometimes the flow is slowed down due to holidays or illness, but, on the whole, it is incredible how fast things do move and change on the website. However, maybe it is the way the site works that may also give that impression.
The large top left box is a new article or programme that is being highlighted. The line of articles or programmes under “Recommended” can include older items, but those that are felt to still be important to our listeners/readers. Those that are under 'Discussion' are those that have caught the attention of our readers/listeners, and the large central box changes as new articles, news, and programmes are published. Once they have been highlighted on the front page, they are replaced rapidly. Therefore, many of the new articles and programmes, as well as the Dossier files, are added to on a constant basis and new material may be found on the specific pages for the news, dossier or programme.
This is, of course, not including the huge and ever-growing archive, sometimes at your request. A couple of weeks ago, Feedback published a query on an old programme about Walraven van Hall, Banker of the Dutch Resistance. As a result of the query, the programme was added to the archive by Web Editor, Theo Tamis. Mr Wildeman wrote again:
“Thank you Mister Tamis. This documentary is representative of the best work of Radio Netherlands made available to CBC Overnight. In sharing it, I am reminded of the many people of Dutch background or connection I am fond of, and of the Jewish people who might also enjoy such a programme. Thank you again for once more making Walraven VanHall available to those who appreciate the work and character of such a man.”
The character that allows people to stand up to oppression, or against the prevailing tide of public opinion is alive and well today. And, it can sometimes be read in the comments and concerns sent in by our listeners/readers. Like the following, sent in by Sandra [edited]:
The character that allows people to stand up to oppression, or against the prevailing tide of public opinion is alive and well today. And, it can sometimes be read in the comments and concerns sent in by our listeners/readers. Like the following, sent in by Sandra [edited]:
“I would really appreciate it if you, or someone who works for RNW could write an article based on this website I have recently found. It is very scary but it should wake people up in the Netherlands as to not allow hatred to grow as it is in the USA. Perhaps awareness and shame in the USA needs to be more public. I believe a lot of this anti-immigration rhetoric spread to Europe from USA.”
While Feedback choose not to publish the website as we do not support the spreading of, or incitement of hatred, the mail has been sent on to interested producers. Sandra's mail seemed to be a good one to include, to give a bit of balance to another, related debate.
The spreading of, or incitement of, hatred is the central question around the trial of Dutch MP Geert Wilders for just that, and we have had record numbers of responses to our coverage of the trial (see individual articles).
has also received some distressed comments by supporters of Mr Wilders, such as the following from Violet Jacob [edited]:
“I can't understand, Geert Wilders understands Islam better than anyone in Western World, its a wake up call to all Western World. This man is great, he has the courage to stand up for what he believes! ... I am just a women who knows some English and I have read a lot about Mr Wilders and I will not shut up till he is free, I will do whatever I can to let people know.”
“I can't understand, Geert Wilders understands Islam better than anyone in Western World, its a wake up call to all Western World. This man is great, he has the courage to stand up for what he believes! ... I am just a women who knows some English and I have read a lot about Mr Wilders and I will not shut up till he is free, I will do whatever I can to let people know.”
And, publishing your voice is one of the things the RNW can do to encourage debate and the exchange of ideas. However, the requests of the following listener/reader are beyond the remit, or indeed desire, of an independent broadcaster. Emily Watson wrote:
“What are you going to do to help Geert Wilders? Terrorists have it better in your country than a nice man like Geert Wilders, who only speaks the truth. You must get people out and demonstrate. It's WRONG for Geert Wilders to be prosecuted.”
“What are you going to do to help Geert Wilders? Terrorists have it better in your country than a nice man like Geert Wilders, who only speaks the truth. You must get people out and demonstrate. It's WRONG for Geert Wilders to be prosecuted.”
The short answer to what will we do to help, is that we are an independent news gathering organisation and it is not our place to either help or hinder – simply to report. Neither are we in a position to call people out to demonstrate, but in the spirit of open discourse, we have published your call here.
Of course some questions, and the answers, are much more straight forward, like the following question that came in (in Dutch) from Martin Cleaver, who informed us he was a translator for RNW long before the advent of the web. He asked:
""While the Eleven Cities Race still hangs in the balance, owing to poor ice conditions, organisers elsewhere in the Netherlands are gearing up for local races on natural ice." What is 'natural ice'?"
According to Translation Desk Coordinator Iain Macintyre:
"Natural ice" is used in a skating context to mean the ordinary ice in streams, lakes or canals which have frozen by natural processes - as opposed to the artificial ice created for skating rinks and the like using refrigeration.”
And finally, Lucinda Mami was simply curious when she wrote:
“A few weeks ago you had an article concerning the invention of new eyeglasses, please can you provide me with the address of that company or the inventor?”
“A few weeks ago you had an article concerning the invention of new eyeglasses, please can you provide me with the address of that company or the inventor?”
The inventor is Frederik van Asbeck, and the article was “Dutch glasses set to bring better vision to a billion people”, highlighting the invention of “a pair of glasses which allow the wearers to correct their eyesight themselves.” Lucinda's request has been passed to the reporter, Sebastiaan Gottlieb.
No matter what motivates you to write, we appreciate it when you do.
No matter what motivates you to write, we appreciate it when you do.
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