Death Wish?
By Mitch Berg
A Dutch politician, leading perhaps more with his heart and his rage, takes on militant Islam at its’ heart – and maybe more:
Writing in Dutch daily De Volkskrant on Wednesday, [Dutch parliamentarian Geert] Wilders said: “Ban this wretched book just like Mein Kampf is banned. Send a signal … to Islamists that the Koran can never, ever be used in our country as an excuse or inspiration for violence.”
Hitler’s Mein Kampf, published in 1925, outlines the future Nazi dictator’s racist ideology. It has been banned from sale in the Netherlands since the end of World War Two.
No, I don’t ever advocate banning books. Indeed, I recommend reading things like Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries, just so one knows what one is up against. I’m planning on finding a Koran someday soon, here, in fact.
But back to the story: while I don’t endorse Wilders’ solution, it’s a sign – along with the rebounding electoral fortunes of the CDU in Germany and the Sarkozy victory in France – that maybe, just maybe, Europe is starting to get serious about defending its culture in the face of a “multicultural” assault.
Wilders, whose new party won nine seats out of the 150 in parliament in last November’s elections, is well known for his firebrand remarks on Islam.
He has warned of a “tsunami of Islamisation” in a country home to 1 million Muslims, and has lived under heavy protection since receiving death threats from Islamist militants in 2004.
Wilders said an attack over the weekend by two Moroccans and a Somali on a young Iranian-born politician who heads a Dutch group for “ex-Muslims” had spurred him to write.
The attack on Ehsan Jami, 22, caused an outcry in the Netherlands, where the November 2004 murder of Theo Van Gogh, a filmmaker critical of Islam, by a Dutch-Moroccan Muslim militant led to an anti-Muslim backlash and exposed social tensions.
I’m a lot less worried about the Dutch than about much of the rest of Europe; the Dutch still have a sense of nationalism; they are among few people in Europe that actually treat their National Anthem the way Americans do. That means little in and of itself, but it’s a hint that maybe the Dutch will give up their national identity a little more dearly than some of the rest of the continent.
(Via Miss O’Hara)
August 16th, 2007 at 6:15 am
Mitch said: “the Dutch still have a sense of nationalism; they are among few people in Europe that actually treat their National Anthem the way Americans do.”
You mean they forget the words and can’t wait for the guy to shout “play ball!” at the end?
Is theirs also about an obscure war, set to the unsingable tune of one of the enemy’s favorite drinking songs?
“America the Beautiful,” now that should be the national anthem.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:21 am
A bishop of the Dutch Catholic Church wants Christians to start calling God Allah. Ya think they’re a bit divided over there, too?
August 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Is theirs also about an obscure war,
Jeez, I gave you the lyrics! What, I gotta do everything around here?
It’s about William of Nassau and the expulsion of the Spaniards. So I guess that’s a “check”.
set to the unsingable tune of one of the enemy’s favorite drinking songs?
It’s eminently singable – but then, so is the “Star Spangled Banner”. Although I always cheat and sing the bass part.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:18 am
A bishop of the Dutch Catholic Church wants Christians to start calling God Allah.
Catholics? You got some ‘sprainin’ to do…
August 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Bet you also go all Whitney Houston on “land of the freeee-EEEEEEE!” at the end.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:54 am
How about Minnesota’s own ELCA. Called for a partial boycott (more or less) of Israeli goods this week. They are fine with Chinese goods. Probably would buy from Syria or North Korea, but they have a problem with Jewish goods. God I’m glad I left that church.
By the way, the church is lead by a Saint Paul Democrat.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
No, I don’t ever advocate banning books. Indeed, I recommend reading things like Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries, just so one knows what one is up against. I’m planning on finding a Koran someday soon, here, in fact.
Mitch, if you’re interested in reading the Quoran, CAIR will send out a copy to anyone who requests one on their website. I send away for one a couple of years ago and got a beautiful hardcopy that weighs more than most of my law books ;). I haven’t had the chance to read much of it but I keep it on the shelf in my office and have lent it out to some of the Muslim employees who borrow it from time to time when they need a copy.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Thorley said: “weighs more than most of my law books”
Well sure, but how much could “Civil Procedure in a Nutshell” weigh?
August 16th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Couldn’t weigh much more than that copy of “Snark for Dummies” AC thumbs through on his bunk bed at night.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
“Civil Procedure in a Nutshell”
which borrows laws of physics from “Clowns in a tiny car…”
August 16th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Should totally have gone with “Personal Injury Law in a Nutshell.” Angryclown’s off his game today.
August 16th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
National Clown week was the 1st week in August. haven’t you sobered up yet?
“To call public attention to the charitable activities of clowns and the wholesome entertainment they provide for all our citizens, the Congress by a joint resolution approved October 8, 1970 (Public Law 91-433), has requested the President to designate the week of August 1 through August 7, 1971, as National Clown Week.”
Apparently all other problems had been resolved back in ’71. When do we get to see that wholesome entertainment?
August 17th, 2007 at 5:31 am
“Wholesome entertainment?” Angry don’t play dat.