Zihni Özdil

This episode was recorded in Rotterdam.   It always tickles me to meet intelligent people who attend my shows and are fans of mine. Last month after my show in Rotterdam I met Zihni Özdil and I was so struck by his intelligence, life's work and personable being that I instantly wanted to record an episode of my podcast with him to squeeze out his knowledge for the enjoyment of my listeners.    He is a social historian at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, one of the highest rattiest intellectual universities in all of Europe. He is an expert on the racial history of the Netherlands and the continuing problems that non-Dutch people face here. For those of you who have never been to Holland you will be interested in learning the word "Allochtoon" which means "Dirty foreigner" and is used to describe all non-Dutch people living in this country, even if these people have been born here.    Throughout the world the Netherlands is known as a country of tolerance but put under the microscope it is anything but tolerant to some of its darker skinned residents.    My favorite part of this conversation is when Zihni tells me he wants to be the first Allochtoon prime minister of the Netherlands. It makes me want to gain the right to vote here just so I can cast my vote for him when that day comes. I'm pleased he sat down with me to share his knowledge of the current state of race relations in Holland and what he proposes as the harmonious solution. His answer will surely surprise you.      It is my pleasure to present to you now, the future prime minister of the Netherlands Mr. Zihni Özdil!