Geert Wilders
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has issued a statement urging the Dutch governemt to take steps to silence Geert Wilders.
http://www.oic-oci.org/topic_detail.asp?t_id=5464
In response, the Dutch foreign minister has told the OIC to stuff it.
http://www.refdag.nl/nieuws/binnenland/rosenthal_neemt_afstand_van_oic_oproep_1_574952?localLinksEnabled=false
“The Dutch government dissociates itself fully from the request to silence a politician. The Netherlands have a very high regard of freedom of speech,” (Foreign Minister Uri) Rosenthal said on Wednesday.
Wilders has since called on the country's prime minister (whoever he or she is) to join in that rejection.
http://www.geertwilders.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1758&Itemid=1
What is clear is that the OIC and other groups will maintain a steady stream of demands for Wilders to be silenced, prosecuted, or handed over to someone else for prosecution for so-called hate speech. The Dutch government and the other European nations have a moral duty to defend Wilders in no uncertain terms.
I disagree that Wilders engages in hate speech. His case, however, highlights the difficulty of enforcing laws against so-called hate speech. In this country, there would be no serious discussion of prosecuting or silencing Wilders. Ultimately, even hate speech is constitutionally protected under US law. People can disagree on what hate speech is. What is preferable is to debate it and condemn it publicly. If one thinks that Wilders is engaging in hate speech, they have the right to condemn him. They don't have the right to put him in jail or silence him. (I am speaking of US law.) European nations have tighter restrictions on some forms of speech, but if they are truly free, the demands of the OIC must be rejected.
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3 comments:
Gary, don't be a paranoid fear-mongerer. Sometimes I think you would be happier if the Dutch DID suppress Wilders. Call it "political Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy."
Wilders is a crazy lunatic, only a few orders of sanity more sensible than our own homegrown George Lincoln Rockwell.
However, the Dutch government is correct to tell the OIC to stuff it. And they did. Maybe their countries run on different principles. Anyone visiting their countries would do well to be apprised.
All Feisal's horses and all Mobil Oil's men couldn't stop the broadcast of "Death of a Princess" - a much more serious piece of work - and nobody should be able to suppress Wilders just because he makes no sense.
Siarlys,
Have you ever taken the time to listen to a Wilders speech? I have including in German. He makes perfect sense.
I've read and watched all you posted. I can see why you think he makes sense. After all, you brand people by ethnicity and religion in the same way he does, wholesale, and wrap it up in the same style of paranoia.
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