TEDxAmsterdam 2011 - Peter van Uhm

[@Deposneek]

Very inspiring talk, i listened in silence to him and that doesn’t happen often. As an ex VN soldier i fully support the generals opinion. Even after losing his own son in Afghanistan he still firmly believes in his ideals and knows how to express them on a way that is understandable and inspiring to allot of people, i can only say general van Uhm made me proud to be Dutch today, and proud i served in the Dutch armed forces.

[@UnusSedLeo-w5l]

A great story and a great speech. This general, who lost his son, knows more than most of us will ever know. Because some of us take up these arms, means others can write here what they want, take up a profession of their dreams and live in peace.

[@SSgtBlueUSMC0369]

Blessed be the peacemakers and the one who stands the watch. Semper Fi

[@friendofcoal]

This General speaks the truth from the heart. I thank him and the Captain and all who serve.

[@paladin50554]

A superb speech from someone that truly knows the price of war.

[@stefankoops7245]

i agree

[@sebastiaanzijlstra2473]

i was under his command,it was the best general and still is the best general we had..van uhm we salute you,your son will be remembered

[@Strath2k6]

Thank you, Sir. I served for 2 decades, and no one has ever made "why" as clear as you.

[@WCricker57]

It's my boss... Great speech, completely true! Reminder: he lost his Son in Afghanistan a few years ago. Deep Respect! All the best, Chief! WCricker Warrant Officer Royal Dutch Army

[@Kurou_Miyamae]

Is there an "I absolutely am amazed my this inspiring man" button? Great speech.

[@105mmgunner]

i had to stand ... as a retired troop from another country I can only watch in amazement at an increadibly Leader speak... thank you

[@BunkerGearGal]

OUTSTANDING! This should be required viewing!

[@linuxgnome]

I'm just glade that the majority of countries with guns and bombs are on the side of Democracy and peace, and not the other way around. We are dam lucky to have men like this General, who knows what it takes to keep the peace in this world, God bless him.

[@Strath2k6]

Thank you, General. You speak for all us that serve.

[@JaulLakeson]

This is one of the greatest speeches on the true nature of the Profession of Arms.

[@Bertuz1979]

The best thing about this speach is that he does not talk about his son who died in Afghanistan..... Any other American speaker would have used this fact to support his statement, but this dutch speaker is realistic enough to not use this fact, thumbs up for this man. The story is also pretty solid, this guy knows what he talk about

[@ArnWe90]

Respect and gratitude from a fellow swedish soldier.

[@JohnWillimon]

I am humbled to be reminded what freedom truly means by this man who I do not know, when I presumed to think that only my countrymen could understand it. I salute a better man then myself. Karsh

[@kskisbetterthanseals]

better than every politician. without a sheet of paper. My respect! greetings from your allies from germany!

[@58jumps]

As a combat veteran who was wounded several times I can only salute and applaud this General's service, along with his remarkable speech for its historical insight, clarity and societal value. I also have to salute and applaud the Captain's service as well. They fight so the rest of us don't have to. God bless them all.

[@mp3duk]

What a great speech!! Very inspiring!! My utmost respect for this commander and his troops!

[@651325]

Without Imgur I would have never ended up here. I think as a Dutch person I'm biased and already against guns, but I never thought about the bigger picture. Thanks

[@friendofcoal]

Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees, and sometimes you can't see the trees for the forest. It's always better to look at everything, then decide.... The Netherlands (Holland) is a very beautiful place with great people.

[@Jinka1950]

Tiny -- this kind of thinking you had is typical of someone who DOES NOT think about the big picture... typical Leftist Radicals in the U. S. A..

[@dutchbabyface]

This video makes me even more proud of our forces, and what they are doing.

[@Abbylicious]

There will always be people who still can find something negative in a perfect humble man/speach. I have nobody in the military and still have every body there. Respect for every one who gives their lives in order to trie to make the world a better place and protect there own. Moge de Here u en uw nageslacht rijkelijk zegenen. Als iedereen een beetje van dat nederigheid heeft van u, dan is de wereld al een stuk mooier! With Love...

[@Strath2k6]

Bravo, General. You speak for Soldiers world-wide.

[@thekameleon9785]

May i note that this General lost his own son in Afganistan. He is also legend.

[@varandapinto]

Thank you Sir for you clear, perfect and opportune speech. Thank you for the work of your armed forces. With you and your soldiers we can have a better world.

[@libertatispraesidium957]

He is a hero, we need these people a lot in the coming century. These are worrying times, in which we need to be proud of our values and defend them.

[@em23]

deep respect for this man and the Netherlands.

[@edovansanten]

Excellent presentation, compliments and respect!

[@BillyK058]

Much respect for our Commander-In-Chief General van Uhm. Proud to serve under you sir!

[@claybarbieri9909]

I served in my country's armed forces. And such men and women are why we have a country, and why many of us serve in our respective Armed Forces. And why, even though I served 8 years of active duty I never had to use my rifle in combat. Granted, many have needed to do since then. And for such I am grateful, my son lives in a time of relative peace, that would not exist otherwise.

[@arnold9448]

Very well spoken English Peter van Uhm! Lots of respect!

[@superduperwiiuowner]

As a US citizen, i completely agree with everything this man said. (also thanks Imgur)

[@andy4an]

he starts at 0:56 good talk. clear and appropriate information about hit views, and presented very well.

[@fredkerkhof]

More than perfect. Strong speech. Respect for this General who showed that he is a real professional, standing for HIS soldiers. The best thing what could happen to our soldiers is that the General will go into politics after his retirement. Wouldn't he be the best Minister of Defence.

[@SoYFooD2]

en voor de mensen die denken dat hij dit niet meent van uhm heeft een van zijn zoons verleren in afganistan door en berm bom en weet dus maar al te goed wat voor over je soms moet brengen, en durft toch noch zo voor zijn iedeaalen uit te komen. deze man heeft mijn respepect

[@samuelbueno7863]

I think that the excellent speech of General Peter van Uhm is particularly ilustrative for helping to understand the vision postulated by the governs which send troops to fight terrorism, violent crime and other activities which erode civil life in various parts of the world and prevent the building up there of functional democracies with western features.

[@chaser49]

This is why I love working with the Dutch Military.......Respect from the Canadian Forces

[@tomtess68]

Deep respect. Beautiful Speech!

[@MadAtreides1]

Imgur brought me here

[@martyn2533]

Nationalism and democracy brought Peter Van Uhm here

[@HoundDogBlue]

MadAtreides1 yes

[@ninjamanfella]

MadAtreides1 my username for youtube is so shit compared to imgur...

[@MadAtreides1]

ninjamanfella for me it's the other way around, my imgur username sucks hard

[@BertalSofiane]

MadAtreides1 .... same here ;)

[@mcguirejames]

I wish the Generals in my country were so well spoken.

[@Goose3011]

the longer I listen to the General's speech, the prouder I am serving for the Dutch Army

[@1canadianprepper]

Much respect for our men and women who serve our countries

[@leondouven8738]

one off the greatest men i ever knew

[@tuffk]

Great Job ,, Thank you Peter, Thanks to your father and son also.

[@SSgtBlueUSMC0369]

Still one of the best speakers ever to touch this topic! So many need to hear this and understand it. As we progress away from the gun it will leave a void that has been seen to many times around the world.

[@vincentpol]

Peace?

[@SSgtBlueUSMC0369]

@@vincentpol No, you need to watch this again I’m afraid. Peace in many places is only a dream. Failed states and governments are a danger on a global scale. Who do you enforce peace with hopes and dreams? At the end of the day it’s really simple. People sleep safely at night because someone is willing to do violence on your behalf for the blanket of security they provide. I’m all for a peaceful world do not mistake what I’m saying at all, but it takes well trained people to make that happen.

[@INFMAR1]

Thumbs up from a U.S. Marine.

[@Dutchbird757]

Excellent speech. Proud to be Dutch!

[@Kilroytheknifesnob]

Fantastic talk, wish I could meet him.

[@Cabo-Verde-bus-driver]

great leadership ! great man ! I love(d) this General !

[@FX3-UK]

If only our Dutch politicians could speak English that well and with such charisma. Bravo "mon generale"

[@ThatNordicGuy]

The fact that he sounds exactly like a Dutch Sean Connery, just made this even better!

[@ScorpyEmp21]

This man knows where he is talking about. Im in the dutch royal army myself and we do alot of diffrent stuff that other countries dont do. We give 'war' a diffrent meaning. We dont want to kill, we want to help! Our weapons decade because we dont use them so often! The Netherlands is also known with its 'Dutch Approach'. I hope we wont have to fight, all I want to do is help people in the world, and give them hope for the future.

[@billchrono]

i am a big fun of science and the progress made through science for is our best hope and may i say the only hope for a better and peaceful future, but i still see the need for people like the general, i hope for a future that people with arms are not going to be needed sadly this time is not yet here

[@teddy7528]

Eindelijk iemand die de belangrijkheid van de krijgsmacht aantoont ter handhaving van de vrijhrid en ter voorkoming van oorlog. Een krijksmacht kan nooit te sterk zijn.Si vis pacem,parabellum. Wie de vrede liefheeft, bewapene zich. Well done,general.

[@jaapongeveer6203]

Thank you Captain Verhoef for your service

[@Strath2k6]

In 18 minutes he explains why we fight. Well done, General. I would follow you, Sir.

[@bastat2shop]

a welcome change to the usual, great speech

[@calexander230]

a patriot to the Dutch

[@voordenhout]

Thanks. It is good to get some positive feedback on this somewhat surreal conversation.

[@sonparabailar]

Also brought here from imgur. Hello, from Texas!

[@Tw1stedPepper]

David Cameron and his cronies need to take a leaf out of this gentleman's book. He talks sense and actually realises with passion, that his armed forces are important and need support from every direction regardless of circumstance. In the UK we have to push and beg and start charities for this type of 'spoken' support for our troops and Armed Forces. An obvious Gentleman with a passions for freedom by the use of defence. Our current global leaders should watch this with envy!

[@sagman68]

The most important thing that is imparted in this speech is very succinct. He says "I do not like guns". Most soldiers don't like guns. They are tools. And like any tradesmen we learn how to use them.

[@993rana]

Very good military discourse. I wish in Spain, somebody expose the same speech.

[@rockel83]

Impressive speech!

[@Some2else]

Very impressive talk, usually i interrupt listening a speech several times, not so this one.

[@AJA050]

Love the Netherlands i'm proud to be Dutch!

[@ebonpaladin]

This was definitely worth watching and what he is saying is just the God-honest truth. You don't have to like or agree with the decisions made by the gov't, but the individual soldier is just like you and me, the only difference being they signed on to defend the freedoms that we so casually enjoy.

[@desertengineer1]

Excellent speech. Honest. Well said. Well supported by historic facts. No fluff. Direct. That's how it should be done. Wouldn't think twice to trade my entire 22 military years for a world free of violence, but reality is otherwise. Somebody has to do that job. I prefer it to be done by men and women of reason and heart. This guy gets it.

[@jasonnwmartin]

A brilliant example of how ignorance and inaction does not forgive complacency.

[@TTTzzzz]

Excellent!

[@geniealdrich9005]

I wish this Sterling human being could be President of the United States. God bless him his devotion intelligence courage

[@beerten202]

i like how you can hear some laughs when the gun was showed up at first like a "you cant be serious he thinks the same as the other speakers" and later on everyone is silent

[@Ruben1L]

In the begin I laughed because of his typical Dutch prenounced English (I'm Dutch too), but I really respect this man, his son was resent killed in Afghanistan. Despite this he fight for freedom and peace.

[@Shds0fGry]

@Anderasio @samgtree They have been using the Canadian made Belgian designed FN C7. It does look like the American rifle though. Also, fantastic speech.

[@Shds0fGry]

@Anderasio Correct. I was just trying to keep it simple. The Netherlands uses/used the Canadian model, including the Maple Leaf stamped on the side.

[@knarfartanis]

Proud on the Dutch army!! And wat a good story!!

[@ErikSchmidtdeSmidt]

Really great speech!

[@AntonMelein]

Great speech indeed and the general made lots of statements which are facts.....!!! QPO

[@StatusPia]

And repeat that day after day, after day and so on

[@greyfoxgaming365]

@ 1:58 does the female captain have a prosthetic leg or something? he says she suffered permanent injury to her legs, could it have been amputation?

[@robbertderouw]

Peter van Uhm, I salute you!

[@withanametocome]

I'm glad that you pointed that he pointed their violent monopoly of violence (are there non-violent ones, anyway?), it shows how common you are to his mind.

[@nnmartin94]

This is the literal opposite of why the US people think they need assault rifles.

[@davischong6078]

kaminoneh bhoot think he's talking about the way how many advocates of hi-powered rifles explain why they would like legalization of such guns.

[@nnmartin94]

kaminoneh bhoot Are you comparing 2015 United States to 1940's Europe? Are you comparing modern politics and arms to circumstances in the 1700's? You're uneducated, unrealistic, and delusional, everything I expected. The word is ignoramus by the way.

[@szelag]

nfinitiduck Really can't agree with that. Ironically, same could have been said of the British Empire vs. a handful of colonials in the 1700's. Or of Vietnamese farmers vs. the US Army in the 1960's and 70's. Don't be naive.

[@paraphiliac]

+kaminoneh bhoot You expect American citizens to unite under any cause? The US population would rather fight each other over religion, race and ignorance. Lets just pretend the US population did successfully unite and overthrow the government, what then? In no way could i ever see the population successfully install a new better government, it would fight amongst itself, with each faction trying to gain control for themselves. In theory i understand the right to bear arms, but there is a lot that makes sense theoretically. Add human nature to many of them theories and everything becomes a mess.

[@nnmartin94]

Tom Szelag Not even remotely the same. The US has comprehensive and systematic knowledge of the layout of itself, unlike either of those outdated examples. It's because the British Empire was so out of its element in a different continent/uncharted territory that they were defeated and even so with great cost and aid from the French Navy. Similarly in Vietnam, the US forces were spread thin with the Cold War, and natives were much more acclimatized and familiar with the land. The US army has trillions in budget for the most decimating weapons that regular citizens couldn't hope to defend against. We are living in a world of drones, and I guarantee you no rifle can take out a drone, and your eyes can't even see drones upwards of 30k feet. These are facts. You're better off going with the home protection argument, which is far more defensible.

[@daanjasper1]

@grieske You mean the monument for peacekeeping in Roermond?

[@desertengineer1]

@daetech I think he is referring to Weber's theory that the application of violence must have legitimacy from the state, essentially the "well regulated" militia argument that violence must be carefully applied through law.

[@Catweazle45]

Bravo ! Great speech !

[@Endelvelico]

I'm also a military, father and free citizen from Portugal. Unfortunately ours politicians and general public don't respect our own Armed Forces or care about ours 50 years old rifles (this is not a joke) and that's sad because Portugal stands for almost 900 years mainly due to ours military ancestors will and sacrifice. Like George Orwell said "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

[@withanametocome]

What do you mean by 'its own military'? Are you implying that an arbitrary land enclosure can own property and/or human beings? How does that work? Thanks in advance.

[@1980Moray]

Great speech Sir.

[@aubreysonnenberg]

The thinking soldier - salute!

[@Foundation13]

What are you going on about? I live in Rotterdam and let me tell you; there is no brainwashing of naive Dutch people by North African immigrants. I think Dutch people in general are way to sober and stubborn to accept foreign values that would lead to violence. Van Uhm just made a great speech about how violence is applied nowadays and with which purposes. And I agree with all of them.

[@withanametocome]

And how can an arbitrary enclosure be 'occupied by foreigners' or be 'a sovereign nation'? What properties do its soil and seas have to have in order to be sovereign? To what violations and torts do those soil and seas have to be submitted to in order to be 'under foreign occupation'? Thanks in advance!

[@RenataGreenberg]

@ramsesmuc this is the wisest comment to the video i have read on this page. thank you

[@PaulRomeo27]

Respect for the General,Napoleon Bonaparte had once said" I better have an army with Sheeps and a Lion as leader than an army of Lions with a Sheep as leader!!

[@AlexDerossard]

You can't bring peace with a gun, you will only bring instability. However you can defend with a gun to preserve that what you already have.

[@NRAGreer]

It's all ways for the good to stop evil. When the evil people are dead in are world.Then we all will be free.Good all ways wins over evil.

[@whenonhightheheavens]

A good demonstration of Hedley Bull's international theory and Carl von Clausewitz's theory of war.

[@thesilvernymph]

Amen.

[@bljpaulus]

Great speech.

[@adotholland22]

yehhhh love the usa en en the dutch,,,