This article first appeared in Eagle Rising.
This week, Geert Wilders returned to the Netherlands after his visit to the US, where he was the featured speaker at the Garland, Texas Draw Mohammad event that was attacked by two jihadists. Wilders, of course, lives under tight security in his home country where he is under constant threat of death.
On his return home, Wilders stated that he will double down on his efforts to educate the public on the threat of militant Islam.
http://gatesofvienna.net/2015/05/i-will-push-the-pedal-a-little-further-down/#more-36315
If Wilders, Pam Geller, Robert Spencer and Ayaan Hirsi Ali are doubling down in the wake of the Garland attack, we also must double down on our support of these figures who have put their lives on the line. We cannot allow the threat of assassination to silence us. Just the attacks and the threats speak volumes about the nature of the ideology we are confronted with.
Ironically, Europeans like Wilders also face the threat of prosecution for speaking out about militant Islam. Wilders has already been acquitted once and is facing a possible second prosecution. Other Europeans face the same threat. Free speech in Europe has more limitations than here in the US.
I pray for the safety of Wilders and the others who were at Garland. This easily could have been a second Charlie Hebdo had those gunmen made it into the hall. Garland should be a wake up call for America-as if we should need one.
Wilders, Pam Geller, Robert Spencer and Ayaan Hirsi Ali
ReplyDeleteWhat a cast of characters. Wilders is a rather successful demogogue, Geller is a a bored wealthy socialite who finds it entertaining to keep herself in PMS rage mode 30 days a month, Robert Spencer is a hack, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali had some bad experiences that sent her into the arms of people who are happy to use her for their own ends. I couldn't put them all in a category except that Islam is their common foil, and that's not much commonality.
Its a good thing Wilders isn't half so determined as Herr Shickelgruber, because except for his having chose a different target, his politics are taken from the same template.