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http://poligazette.com/2008/01
A marginal Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, is close to releasing for the world's viewing a ten minute movie about the Qur'an. So what.
"During a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week, Ahmad Badr al-Din
Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria, said that, were Wilders was seen to tear up or burn a Koran in his film, 'this will simply mean he is inciting wars and bloodshed ... It is the responsibility of the Dutch people to stop him.' "http://observer.guardian.co.uk
Well, how about 'what' being that the Grand Mufti of Syria is making death threats in the statement above? He's free to threaten the Western world, and we're free to ignore him. However, it'll be damned hard to ignore dead bodies and burning buildings and whatever else Muslims have in store if Wilders' film hits the aether. So whadda ya do? Do you stop Wilder's from provoking the collective insanity that is the Muslim ummah? Where do you stop? Do you ever stop? Will we in the world at large be forced to become Muslims ourselves from fear of risk of offense to Muslims if our very kuffar nature offends them? We've already allowed ourselves to be placed unwittingly in a state of high dhimmitude by our politicians and intelligentsia. Many of our fellow citizens through natural conformity to the prevailing norms of sociable conduct perpetuate the dhimmitude. So, where does it end? Does it end?
There is a rush recently to silence anyone who criticizes Islam, notably in the case of Ezra Levant, Maclean's Magazine, Mark Steyn, and many more, including the Dutch politician Aayan Hirsi Ali, co-maker of the Dutch film Submission, the showing of which got Theo Van Gogh killed by a Muslim. Now Wilders is on the verge of showing a film of his own, one the Mulsims are already protesting, one the Grand Muffy of Syria is threatening violence over.
What do the Dutch say? Here's a fine piece of analysis from the national broadcasting corporation:
Wilders and the Dutch image
Dutch woman in Bahrain fears film's repercussions
By Conny van den Bor*
22-01-2008
It has been bothering Marjo Rashid-Stals for weeks. It has been giving her stomach aches. And now that Geert Wilders' anti-Qu'ran film is about to come out she's had enough.
So she has written a letter to the Dutch government pointing out that as a Dutch citizen in Bahrain she is afraid of the repercussions the film could have for her. She is also afraid of the Netherlands' image. This is part of the letter she has written to the Dutch government:
"I'm deeply ashamed. Will I soon have to apologise for an entire country?
.
..my heart fills with fear when I think of what will happen after the release of Geert Wilders' film. What will happen with the so-called dialogue between the West and the East? What will become of our image in the Islamic world?"
Marjo feels powerless. She has been living with Arab people for years.
How should I react towards people who feel insulted by Wilders' film? How can I defend myself if I am deeply ashamed? I can only offer my excuses and attempt to explain that not all Dutch people are like Wilders. But should I have to apologise for an entire country?"
"Is there anyone left who still believes in something? I beg the government to do something before it is too late."
http://www.radionetherlands.nl
The whole piece is sentimental, a phoniness permeating its every line; and it is a call to cowardice and self-pity. The official narrator chides the reader for not doing enough to stop Wilders from being a bad person. That's the official Dutch line. If this, dear reader, is what you want from life, to be forever treated by your government like a kindergaartener, then do nothing while the government slowly but silently smothers you in blankets that will keep you immobile till the end. It is a velvet fascism. It is a fascism nonetheless. If you don't resist it, you will become enveloped in it. You might not like it.
Free speech doesn't give one the right to offend anyone. Friend, what do you make of a government that comes up with a position like that?
There is certainly a lot of free speeech going on in the Arab world, at least concerning Geert Wilders: [T]he populist MP can claim 66,000 hits on the Arabic-language version of Google, most of them concerning his controversial statements about Muslims and the Qu'ran.
http://www.expatica.com/nl
Me? I'm going to watch some video.
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