Let government is not only committed to Maerten and Oopjen – Reformed Daily

The commitment of the government to Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit together hold stands in stark contrast to the lax commitment of the government for contemporary couples, argues Gerard van Rossum.

On July 2, the famous wedding portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit for the first time in the Rijksmuseum. The two by Rembrandt painted portraits were purchased in 2015 for 160 million euros. The portrait of Maerten Soolmans is owned by the Dutch state and that of Oopjen Coppit is owned by France.

It is striking how many efforts have been made by our government led by Prime Minister Bussemaker to these paintings to the Netherlands fetch. The Lower House has undertaken diligently dealt with. Much time spent on diplomacy and consultation, and eventually came one agreement: the paintings should always be shown together and hang it in turns in the Louvre Museum and the Rijksmuseum. That’s something beautiful. When you think of the cultural and historical value of the paintings are all these efforts also understandable.

Selfishness

In this project amount invested and the determination that the wedding portraits can not be separated , lead me to the following considerations. The efforts of our government, headed by the Minister, to hold Maerten and Oopjen stand in stark contrast to the lax attitude of the government regarding marriage, divorce and family.

There are in our time developments explaining why so many married couples giving in this time. The media and advertising tell us that you have to engage yourself in the first place and to stand up for yourself. Under the heading of assertiveness is a lot of “taking space” shown behavior in our society. We see in the media a huge ego means pointedness, and they let us breathe this spirit of selfishness. Miscellaneous vloggers pointing the cameras constantly self. Life is seen as presenting a great self portrait.

How different is that in marriage. Marriage is primarily a learning experience for me as a man or woman. You will of selfish, made serving. Above the entrance of the Gouda town hall, where still married by going outside when they have given their consent, are the significant words: “Audite et alteram partem” “Listen also to the other side!” The stained glass window in this City Hall is telling. The window depicts “love” as described in 1 Corinthians 13. How about serving and listening in marriage and society? Are standards such as patience, faith and sacrifice even encouraged?

The hold together by Maerten and Oopjen promised and requires the fulfillment of that promise by the parties concerned. Holding together of a man and a woman also requires a promise and covenant of marriage, and those who enter into such an alliance, have to adhere to the covenant. That is, first the intention of the spouses themselves and it is primarily their responsibility. But there are no more responsible? How is it possible that companies like Second Love, who propagate correctly infidelity, given all the space of the government to encourage the keeping of a promise does not count anymore.

Wig

Would for the government, which focuses on the individual, not be worth it to invest (to start 80 million) in keeping people together entered into a marriage covenant? Admit it, only Oopjen in the Louvre, or just Maerten in the Rijksmuseum, which would still be a bare idea?

The argument that positive attention to marriage and family is not a task for the government, may the light of this whole Maerten-and-Oopjengeschiedenis not be sustained anymore. Why does that effort for a piece of matter and not for something as beautiful as the marriage of men and women who live right now? At the very least the propaganda of companies such as Second Love, trying to drive a wedge into marriages can be curbed.

How many children of divorced parents are Saturday with mixed feelings staring at the life-size portraits, thinking of the whole divorce affair of which they are the victims?

Poster

Finally, a proposal to the readers of this newspaper. Perhaps it is possible to start an action for placing advertising posters along roads and at stations. Something which previously by Mr Van der Staaij has been done in this area.

The design for the poster is obvious. Take a married couple and picture them as Rembrandt did, or perhaps in a contemporary setting. The poster can be included as possible text: “Love Frist, we stay together!”

The author is married nineteen years and works in education.