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Aug 25, 2007

Geert Wilders


Pictures Left to right, Ehsan Jami, Geert Wilders, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

By Jim Fryar.

“According to Geert Wilders, one can roam the streets of Amsterdam stoned, belly full of space cakes, window-shopping hookers, en route to a monkey sex show and still be a model citizen.” Corrine Marshall. Huffington Post.

Well maybe not a model citizen, but that part may be the correspondents words not those of the subject, the article was after all rather disapproving. Apart from that the guy sounds quite reasonable, I don’t want to do any of those things but I don’t see any reason to prevent anyone who wishes to do so from doing it. After all it is none of my business.

I began researching this post on Geert Wilders, prominent Dutch Politician and leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV). As I did it I found that while the old stuff is of interest, most of the later material consists of anti-Islamic rhetoric, which tends to point to the possibility of the man being just another extreme right-winger.

He appears to be committed to freedom of the individual. His political views (and so the ones of the PVV as well) are very similar to those of murdered populist politician, Pim Fortuyn and his List Pim Fortuyn. There are strong resemblances, certainly on socio-economic issues, to libertarianism.

Wilders wants to lower taxes, decrease most welfare, raise highway speed limits and cut state regulations by making it mandatory to scrap two legal rules for every new one to be instated.

Clearly he has adopted some of the persona of Pim Fortuyn but appears to fiscally conservative in addition to having a commitment to individual freedom. Like Pim Fortuyn, he has serious issues with Islam.

The reason for this seems to lie in growing radicalism among the Islamic community resulting in the perception that there is a quiet Islamic take-over of Holland by Islamic immigrants, aided and abetted by political correctness, with it’s ‘see no evil, hear no evil, even when it’s obvious’, ideals.

People generally have no objection to some inflow of immigrants, even those who are very different to themselves. This changes dramatically however if those immigrants do not seem to wish to fit in and particularly if they advocate changing the traditions and culture of the host country to suit their own.

Add violence to the mix and prevent people speaking out with racial vilification laws as well as passive censorship by the press, and you have the formulae for seething resentment. You then have to be asking for trouble to have the state actively encouraging this.

It is obvious that the government is engaging in social engineering against the wishes of the people.

The integration minister Vogelaar caused a stir when she said the Netherlands should in the future be home to a "Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition.” A Dutch-Moroccan group praised her for her "courage," but other politicians objected, and Wilders said the minister should resign. In a recent opinion survey, 56 percent of Dutch adult respondents rejected Vogelaar's remark.

The Dutch are probably one of the most socially tolerant people in the world, closely followed by relatively liberal social values in much of Western Europe. Europe has generally welcomed migrants and refugees as part of that tolerance, however serious underlying problems have arisen through radical Islamic refusing to tolerate the culture of the host countries.

Theo van Gogh was murdered in Amsterdam on Tuesday, November 2. The 47-year-old film director and publicist was shot and stabbed several times by his assassin on the streets of the Dutch capital. Danish imam Ahmed Abu Laban, Palestinian by birth, has explained how 'Theo van Gogh provoked all Muslims by showing a naked woman.’

At this point I have to ask ‘what the hell is wrong with images of naked ladies?’ If the women themselves have no problems with those images being shown, then it is no one else’s business. If somebody objects then they can stay away and deny the producer the financial benefit of their custom, of even criticize it or urge people not to attend, but to use violence is beyond the pail.

Wilders himself has been subjected to numerous death threats in the past. Ayaan Hirsi Ali another politician and an associate of Theo Van Gough has now left the Netherlands and lives in the US has also been threatened and went into hiding at the same time as Wilders, and the leader of a group of people who have left Islam, Ehsan Jami was recently beaten up by radicals.

It is natural that citizens of any country or region to resent outsiders coming in and holding them in sneering contempt, but when the new group feel that they have the right to abuse, assault, and even kill them out of the bigotry of their own culture, then you have a recipe for disaster and open warfare.

I am reminded here of the words of Groucho Marx; “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."

The problem I have with Geert Wilders is that he appears to be seeking the populist option in seeking to create a division between the Dutch people and all Islamic people or may be seeing things this way, when really it is a matter of crime, not a race issue. It appears that a majority of Islamic immigrants are happy to live in harmony with the rest of the people, and the activities of Wilders is only likely to exacerbate the problems caused by a minority.

The solution in my opinion would be to enforce the law on any one who commits any crime and if they are immigrants, boot them back to whatever country they came from. If they are then persecuted in their own countries, then it is not the problem of the former host; they had their chance and abused the privilege.

The rest should then get the message.

5 comments:

  1. I don't think Wilders is "just another extreme right-winger." He is simply over-reacting. The same thing happened to me when living in San Francisco. The leftwing lunacy was so outrageous that I became an ultra-conservative reactionary. As soon as I left SF and moved back to the USA, I found my natural easy-going liberalness again. Amsterdam is just as nuts as SF.

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  2. The Quran(Koran) Concerning other monotheist faiths:


    Not all of them are alike; a party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Verses of God during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin good and forbid wrong; and they hasten in good works; and they are among the righteous. And whatever good they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knows well those who are God fearing. 3:113-115

    And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture, those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account. 3:199

    Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve . 2:62

    Say: "O people of the Scripture : Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but God, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides God. 3:64

    And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."Nay,-whoever submits His whole self to God and is a doer of good,- He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but God will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment. 2.111-113

    If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them 4.124



    The Quran(Koran) Concerning who we fight or don't:





    As for such who do not fight you on account of faith, or drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to deal with them with equity, for God loves those who act equitably. God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as fight against you because of faith and drive you forth from your homelands or aid in driving you forth. As for those from among you who turn towards them for alliance, it is they who are wrongdoers. 60:8-9

    Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged, and verily, God has indeed the power to aid them. Those who have been driven from their homelands in defiance of right for no other reason than their saying, ‘Our Lord is God.’ 22:39-40





    The Quran(Koran) Concerning freedom:



    2:256 There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing.

    16:82 But if they turn away from you, your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message .

    6:107 Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught besides Him; hence, We have not made you their keeper, nor are you a guardian over them.

    4:79-80 Say:'Whatever good betides you is from God and whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper."

    11:28 He (Noah) said "O my people! think over it! If I act upon a clear direction from my Lord who has bestowed on me from Himself the Merciful talent of seeing the right way, a way which you cannot see for yourself, does it follow that we can force you to take the right path when you definitely decline to take it?°

    17:53-54 And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner. Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe .... Hence, We have not sent you with power to determine their Faith.

    21:107-109 (O Prophet?) 'We have not sent you except to be a mercy to all mankind:" Declare, "Verily, what is revealed to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow down to Him?' But if they turn away then say, "I have delivered the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the promised hour is near or far."

    22:67 To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord. You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still dispute you in this matter, `God best knows what you do."

    24.54. Say: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message).

    88:21 22; And so, exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.

    48:28 He it is Who has sent forth His Messenger with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to the end that tie make it prevail over every religion, and none can bear witness to the Truth as God does.

    36:16 17 (Three Messengers to their people) Said, "Our Sustainer knows that we have indeed been sent unto you, but we are not bound to more than clearly deliver the Message entrusted to us.'

    39:41 Assuredly, We have sent down the Book to you in right form for the good of man. Whoso guided himself by it does so to his own advantage, and whoso turns away from it does so at his own loss. You certainly are not their keeper.

    42:6 48 And whoso takes for patrons others besides God, over them does God keep a watch. Mark, you are not a keeper over them. But if they turn aside from you (do not get disheartened), for We have not sent you to be a keeper over them; your task is but to preach ....

    64:12 Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver the message.

    67:25 26 And they ask, "When shall the promise be fulfilled if you speak the Truth?" Say, "The knowledge of it is verily with God alone, and verily I am but a plain warner."



    The Quran(Koran) concerning justice:



    "And among His signs are the creation of the heaven and earth, and the variation in your language and your colors; verily in that are signs for those who know" (30:22).

    "Satan seeks only to cast among you enmity and hate"(5:91).

    O you who believe! Stand out for justice, as witnesses to God, and even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be rich or poor. An-Nisaa’ 4:134

    "O you who believe! Be the maintainers of justice and bearers of witness for God's sake though it be against your own self, parents and relatives" (4:135).

    "O you mankind! We have created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you know each other. Verily the most honored in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous" (49:13).

    O you who believe! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety and fear God, for God is well acquainted with all that you do. 5:8

    And thus We made of you a justly balanced community that you might bear witness to humankind and the Apostle might bear witness over you. 2:143

    O you who believe, observe your duty to God with right observance, and die not except in a state of submission (to Him). And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of God, and do not separate, and remember God's favor unto you: how you were enemies and He put love between your hearts so that you became as brothers by His grace: and how you were upon the brink of a fire and He saved you from it. Thus God makes clear His revelations unto you so that you may be guided" (3:102-103).

    "The believers are nothing else other than brothers, Thus make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to God that you may haply receive His mercy" (49: 1 0).





    The Quran(Koran) Concerning propagation:




    Invite (all humankind) to the path of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation and argue with them in the most kindly manner, for, indeed, your Lord knows best as to who strays from His path, and best who are the right-guided. (16:125)

    Had your Lord so willed, all those who live on earth would surely have attained faith, will you then compel people, against their will, to believe? 10:99

    And We have not sent you, but as mercy to all the worlds. 21:107




    The Quran(Koran) Concerning Jesus the messiah:



    When the angel said, "Mary, God gives you a good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, -high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be, "lord" said Mary "How shall I have a son, seeing no mortal has touched me? "Even so, he said "God creates what He will". When he decrees a thing He but say to it, "Be", and it is. (Al-Imran 3:45-47)

    "Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him, and they said, "Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother a woman unchaste. Mary pointed to the child; but they said, 'Hoe shall we speak to one who still in the cradle, a little child. And he said, 'Lo, I am God's servant, God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet Blessed He has made me ,wherever/may be; and He has enjoined me to prayer, and to give the alms so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up alive. "Maryam 19:29-33)

    Islam is peace!

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  3. Patrick;
    I guess that when people want to kill you for opinions that you have expressed, it tends to harden your opinions.

    I think there is more to the guy than just another extreme right winger, but his language of late tends to paint him that way.

    Mohamed, thank you for your comment;

    In any religion there will be extremists and bigots, I have always maintained that there is no reason why, with tolerance and understanding we can't live in harmony.

    I have little time for Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or any other extremists who try to force their beliefs on others. I have serious concerns about threats of violence to those who disagree with any people.

    I have no issues with the very reasonable passages that you have provided, I quite like them.

    Others of your faith however appear to be finding passages, which do not reflect these values and are using them to advocate other measures.

    Late last year the Mufti of Australia, sparked anger among the wider community for referring to women dressed in the normal style for this country as 'uncovered meat' while attempting to justify the activities of Lebanese rape gangs. 50 women were raped.

    His comment was “If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred”.
He said women were “weapons used by Satan to control men. 
It is said in the state of (adultery), the responsibility falls 90 per cent of the time on the woman. Why? Because she possesses the weapon of enticement”.


    I don't believe that this attitude reflects the attitude of the majority of your faith, but when a person of that stature makes that utterance, it gives the wider community the impression that they do.

    Australia has had a long and harmonious relationship with our Islamic community, and I hope that does not change.

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  4. Here is my take on Ayaan Hirsi Ali ...

    http://madhabirfy.blogspot.com/2007/08/unreliable-narrator.html

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  5. Irfan, Thank you for your comment.

    When I started the post I was mainly interested in the libertarian sentiments expressed by Geert Wilders, which I found when I was researching were mainly old statements, while the more recent ones have tended to concentrate on Islam.

    I have in the past repeatedly made the point that it is unhelpful to lump all Islamic people together with the extremist elements, many live together with us quite peacefully. This appears to be the tactic of some of the right. Making pariahs of them will push the youth towards those who would use them as cannon fodder for their extremist ideals.

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