Mierenneuken writ large

The Dutch have an expression: mierenneuken. Literally, it means “ant-fucking” (the Dutch are nothing if not straightforward).  The English translate this as “nitpicking”, that is, the practice of meticulously searching for minor, even trivial errors in detail.

And now, the full weight of the Dutch governmental process has brought into being a ban on the wearing of the burka in public places that seems to me to be the very epitome of fucking ants.

Thankfully, some manifestations of public life in the Netherlands have recognised this law for being what it is, a pernicious waste of time, money and energy over 150 religious women in a population of 17 million.