Geert Wilders

[akaihyo]

Seems to be an interesting man, if you know of this Dutch politician it is probably from his short film Fitna, you know, the anti-Muslim one. I saw most of it before it got pulled down and it certainly seemed anti-Muslim and anti-political violence to me but not especially offensive.

Some information on him here and opinion about the release of Fitna here. He strikes me as brave and a little crazy but sincere and dedicated in his beliefs which, broadly, are pro-Western and anti-non Western. I certainly feel that I align with him more than his critics which is troubling but at least he is trying to force debate. He raises valid points yet his opposition just want to either shout him down or ignore the issues, which is disturbing as they should be accepting his right to speak on these issues if nothing else. But I fear that "head in the sand" behavior has been raised to an art form in current politics.

Comments

[aleksanteri.livejournal.com]

"I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

- Voltaire

[akaihyo.livejournal.com]

Exactly, but that idea seems to have been lost in current politics. "I disagree with what you have to say, therefore I will denounce you and try to have you jailed for hate speech."

The only way to fight bad ideas is with better ones and free speech is designed to allow all ideas -good, bad and indifferent- to compete.

[aleksanteri.livejournal.com]

The current political climate is easy to blame, the truth is freedom of speech has been under siege for a long long time.

I always felt freedom of speech was in place to protect those who need it, nowadays it seems to serve those who don't really need it, only those who wish to take advantage of it.

[akaihyo.livejournal.com]

That is true, but we cannot fight for freedom of speech in the past, only in the present.

It has to protect all or it is not free speech. (And who is to judge who "needs" free speech?) Better to let idiots and crazies stand up and shout, and then ignore them, then to try and stop them in the first place. Trying to suppress radical speech just gives it weight it does not deserve.

[cmccurry.livejournal.com]

The amusingly ironic part is that Geert has been proven right on the points he raised. Unfortunately, his security had to be ramped up since peaceful protesters might want to raise their voices at him.