This is a defining moment for Europe. It is when people have to decide what side they are on. All those ‘human rights’ supporters who tell us endlessly that we can only defend our society against terror if we remain true to its values now must decide whether they are going to defend Geert Wilders against the attempt to criminalise him for exercising his freedom to speak in defence of life, liberty and western liberalism - or whether they are going to run up the white flag in the face of Islamist totalitarianism enforced by its already enslaved western dupes.
Commentary and analysis on American politics, culture, and national identity, U.S. foreign policy and international relations, and the state of education - from a neoconservative perspective! - Keeping an eye on the communist-left so you don't have to!
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Netherlands at the Crucible of Liberty or Slavery
The decision by the Netherland's Court of Appeal in Amsterdam to prosecute filmmaker and legislator Geert Wilders for "incitement to hatred and discrimination" is a blow to Western ideals of liberty and tolerance. Wilders is being silenced for speaking the truth in his short film, "Fitna." Here's this from Melanie Philipps, "A Defining Moment":
Don, I haven't read anything about this injustice elsewhere, but will look around,,thanks for calling attention to this injustice,,but remember the netherlands is not America,,,Not that we won't change to fit the PC.....stay well...
ReplyDeleteThanks you, Philippe:
ReplyDeleteI deleted Repsac3's comment because it was taunting, aggressive, and totalitarian.
Wilders is not racist. He does not attack Muslims in "Fitna." He attacks the verses in the Koran which are used by Muslim extremists.
The nihilist left, folks like Repsac3, will demonize and distort to fit their grand agenda of submission of tradition to "progressivism."
It's freaky, actually.
No ... Philippe.
ReplyDeleteYou always leave the most gracious comments. Hope all is well over there for you, with your job changes, etc.
Well, though I think that cowardly (& a little ironic, in light of the subject of the post) permit me to try again, with my main point, and little to nothing about the man in question or what I think of him.
ReplyDelete------
I don't agree with prosecuting hate speech, here or there... ...unless it's tied to another crime. Saying or writing a bigoted slur is offensive. Yelling it at a person while beating them up, or writing it on their person or their home, in an effort to frighten them out of your neighborhood, is a crime.
I can appreciate that the Dutch have these laws, so I guess Geert should be prosecuted. The laws exist, as a Dutch public official, Geert had to be aware of them, and the facts seem to indicate a strong possibility of his guilt according to those laws, but I still think those laws ought to ultimately be abolished, in favor of public recrimination of those ideas that the public finds bigoted, and continued prosecution & sentencing enhancements for crimes perpetrated in the name of bias.
I hope he succeeds in getting the laws changed, and I guess I hope that he does get off, on that basis.
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Hope this version passes muster.
Mr. Geert,
ReplyDeleteIf you need a place to crash for a while or just need to get away you can find room in board here in America. I'll even let you stay in my guest bedroom until you can find a producer for your second movie.
And don't worry, most Americans own firearms including this one. So don't let those threats bother you. Besides, they generally don't go over very well around here.
Looking forward to you leaving Europe.
I've never seen Fitna nor have I ever heard of this Geert Wilders fellow but as one of "those ‘human rights’ supporters who tell us endlessly that we can only defend our society against terror if we remain true to its values" I wholeheartedly support his right to deliver any message he wants. If he's broken the law then he may have to pay for that but that doesn't mean the laws aren't wrong.
ReplyDeletePeople who say that they celebrate freedom but are then cowed by religious nutball thugs are rank pussies. Remaining true to your values is more important in the face of danger and terrorism. If I'd been blogging at the time I would have published the Danish Muhammad cartoons proudly, not because I agree with their every message but because I won't have religious assholes bully me with terror.
I may not agree with Wilder's message (and if Don digs it that's a pretty good bet) but I am vehemently against hate crime legislation and censorship; in fact, I was going to say that anybody who would commit violence against Wilders or anybody else because of his film can fornicate themselves (fornicate was not the word I was going to use) but I'm not allowed to say that on this site.
And Philippe, I was a little harsh with you a few days back when you started going all Christian conspiracy theory on us and I apologize for it. I'd had way too much Pinot Noir and was feeling a bit riled up but that's no excuse. You are indeed one of the most gracious and polite people commenting on this site, and that's coming from someone who's momma beat manners and graciousness into my hide for eighteen years.
Expose the koran for what it really is and you are accused of "incitement to hatred and discrimination". Protest and carry signs saying "death to all infidels" or "death to all that insult islam" and you have done NOTHING wrong. Uhhh----WTF is the story?
ReplyDeleteReply to: American Power: The Netherlands at the Crucible of Liberty or Slavery
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