This picture means something to an entire generation of Dutch people.
I'm one of them.
My parents came to Holland as Moroccan immigrants.
I was born there.
Dutch passport.
Dutch better than my Arabic.
The first 18 years of my life, Holland fed me, schooled me, raised me.
The Moroccans helped rebuild Holland.
Holland gave them roads, schools, a future in return.
Fair trade.
But we never really integrated.
That's not on one side.
That's on everyone.
We learned to speak for our grandparents, because they never got to learn the language.
We brought our food.
We brought our culture. Mosques. Books and humor.
We had fun.
We hung out.
We went to each other's weddings and loved the mix of it.
And still.
We never really became one.
The politicians made sure to categorize us.
They needed us to be outsiders, while we were busy acting like insiders.
So a wall went up between neighbors.
Then yesterday a silly game with a ball put two teams on the same grass.
Two continents.
Two cultures.
Except they're not two teams.
They're teams stitched together by the same life.
The Dutch know the Moroccans. Intimately.
The Moroccans know the Dutch. Intimately.
The Moroccans in Morocco spend every summer selling to the Moroccans from Holland.
The Dutch spend every day next to Moroccans. In School. At The local butcher. The streets.
The Moroccan team is full of Moroccans carrying Dutch passports.
The Dutch team is full of their actual friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
Such a simple game.
Such a complicated story.
When I look at this image I don't see football.
I see high school.
I see pride.
I see distance.
I don't see compassion.
I see resentment.
And that's exactly how we lived in beautiful Holland.
Together. Happily.
And quietly, unconsciously, apart.
I left when I was 18.
I went back to Morocco.
I resented Holland.
For years it was me vs them.
Now I understand what I actually have.
I can read two cultures from the inside.
And I get to choose.
What I carry with me.
What I leave behind.
Because every culture has its gold.
And every culture has its rot.
The trick is knowing which is which.
Love. Be kind to each other.
Forgot to say, loads of stock available, queue for printing had only a few
Loads of the 25/26 home kit too in both authentic / replica
Have to say I’m not a fan of the new home kit, will be waiting for the away kit to buy
Last year I bought all 3 we were spoilt with how good they were
🚨I’m giving away a £50 Arsenal Gift Card
To enter you just have to be following + like this tweet
The gift card will be valid for a year so no rush to use it
This giveaway is not affiliated, endorsed by, or sponsored by anyone
I’ll announce the winner in 7 days
Good luck!✅
Mark your calendar 🗓️
We are delighted to announce that we will come together with our supporters and community for a special parade, starting from 2pm on Sunday 31 May 👇
You cannot buy this. There is no amount of money that can be pumped into a football club to make this happen.
The biggest club in London.
The Arsenal back on top, back where we belong.
Everything is flashing back in my head, the last time we won the league I was 8 years old, I’m 31 now
I’m seeing all the hardships we went through, all the banter eras
IT MIGHT BE TODAY😭😭😭😭😭