Hierarchy

Ik Heb Altijd Gelijk (1951)

"I am betrayed! I let myself being betrayed. That's just the best thing to say about it. I volunteered to go in the military. I wanted to do something! I let me being send to Indie. But when I was there, I've seen it wouldn't be anything. But no, that's not true. I've had known for a long time it wouldn't be anything. I knew it a long time before it. I knew it before I applied for it. But who would believe it? I always knew everything. I am always right. But when you're right, you have nothing."*

Ik Heb Altijd Gelijk (I Am Always Right) is the story of a dutch soldier who comes back after the Netherlands formally recognised Indonesian sovereignty. It's a time where there isn't much work in The Netherlands, the population is growing fast, but there is a shortage of houses, which make our main character point his anger at the Catholic community (with their anti-birth-controle attitude) in The Netherlands.

He gets involved with politics as he tries to deal with his past, while some say he should try to get a job and make something out of his life.

Obviously, you shouldn't take the title too seriously. With that, you have to take notice the main character is simply not the typical character you would care about. Keep in mind that Hermans actually got sued for this book because of the expressions of this main character. It's historical value is something you could really appreciate in this book, also because the depillarisation happened 20 years(!) later.

The complexity of a story that's get political while dealing with one's past may have been too far-fetched.

* roughly translated: "Ik ben bedrogen! Ik heb me laten belazeren. Dat is nog het beste om ervan te zeggen. Ik ben als vrijwilliger in dienst gegaan. Ik wilde wat doen! Ik heb mij naar Indië laten sturen. Maar toen ik er was, toen heb ik gezien dat het niks zou worden. Of nee, dat is niet waar, ik wist al lang dat het niks zou worden. Ik wist het al lang van te voren. Ik wist het al voordat ik mij had aangemeld. Maar wie zou dat geloven? Ik wist altijd alles. Ik heb altijd gelijk. Maar als je gelijk hebt, heb je niets."

Gen Y

"People are loyal to their skill, not their employer"

The next vid shows a really positive view about our generation of workers for managers. It's also be a great vid for ourselves and to show to some politicians, because we do have some problems coming up.
(Youtube link => here).



So true by the way: "No other generation has arrived to work already equipped with the same or better work tool than work provides them".