The Resurgence of National Pride and the Future of Europe

Stolen From Gates of Vienna

Below is the text of the speech given by Geert Wilders in Los Angeles today.

Speech by Geert Wilders
Los Angeles, June 9, 2013

Dear friends, thank you for inviting me to Los Angeles. I always like coming to the United States. There are many things that I admire Americans for. One of them is that they are unashamedly patriotic.

The American Freedom Association has asked me to speak to you about the future of Europe.

Europe is in a terrible state. Bit by bit, European countries are losing their national sovereignty. The economy is in shambles. Islamic immigrants riot and terrorize the many locals. And when people’s throats are slit in the streets, while the murderers shout “Allahu Akbar,” the authorities appease the killers and declare that Islam has nothing to do with it.

Europeans feel that the gap between them en those who rule them is growing. Many no longer feel represented by their politicians. There is a complete disconnect between the people that truly rule Europe and the people that live in it.

The blame lies to a large extent with the European Union and the weak leadership within the European countries which have signed away their national sovereignty. The EU cannot be compared to the United States. Europe is a continent of many different nations with their own identities, traditions and languages. The EU is a supranational organization, but its leaders aim to turn it into a state. To this end they are destroying the wealth, identity and freedoms of the existing nation-states of Europe.

Before I elaborate, let us take a closer look at the terrible mistake that Europe made.

Following the Second World War, Europe’s leaders mistakenly thought that patriotism was the cause of the war.

All over Europe, not just in Germany, but everywhere, they equated the defense of national identity with extremism.

Politicians told the electorate that the nation state was dangerous.

On the rooftops of Europe’s parliaments and official buildings, they flew the EU flag next to the national flag, as if the nation is nothing but a province of a Pan-European empire.

On the number plates of European cars, they put the EU flag instead of the national flag, thereby forcing people to drive around with the symbol of their subjection.

They signed away their national interests for the goal of so-called Europeanization.

Such policies could never have been possible if the ruling elite had not fallen for the ideology of cultural and moral relativism. Patriotism, which is a virtue, came to be seen as a vice.

Today, the citizens of Europe are reaping the bitter harvest of this arrogance, this refusal to stand by the ancient nations of Europe, the mothers of modern democracy, the guardians of our liberty.

• The EU stands for everything that is wrong in Europe.
• It is a gigantic undemocratic transnational monster.
• It issues legislation permeated with cultural relativism.
• It meddles in the everyday lives of millions of people.
• It has opened Europe’s borders to uncontrolled mass immigration, mostly from Islamic countries.
• And it has deprived Europe’s parliaments of a huge amount of their legislative powers.

Fitna Creator Geert Wilders Acquitted Of Hate Speech Charges

A quick recap on the controversy, shows that Geert Wilders had his life threatened before releasing his film Fitna, he has called certain governments cowards for being intimidated into not releasing his film, Network Solutions pre-censored the film out of cowardness, LiveLeak showed courage and agreed to show it, had to remove it due to threats to their staff's lives, then tightened security and protection for their staff and restored it because they refuse to be intimidated into censoring free speech and bloggers from all over have made sure the film was generated to all that wanted to see it.

Reuters:

The case was seen by some as a test of free speech in a country which has a long tradition of tolerance and blunt talk, but where opposition to immigration, particularly from Muslim or predominantly Muslim countries, is on the rise.

Instantly recognizable by his mane of dyed blond hair, Wilders, 47, is one of the most outspoken critics of Islam and immigration in the Netherlands.

His Freedom Party is now the third-largest in parliament, a measure of support for its anti-immigrant stance, and is the minority government's chief ally. But many of Wilders' comments -- such as likening Islam to Nazism -- are socially divisive.

The presiding judge said Wilders' remarks were sometimes "hurtful," "shocking" or "offensive," but that they were made in the context of a public debate about Muslim integration and multi-culturalism, and therefore not a criminal act.

"I am extremely pleased and happy," Wilders told reporters after the ruling. "This is not so much a win for myself, but a victory for freedom of speech. Fortunately you can criticize Islam and not be gagged in public debate."

Three years he has been fighting these charges and Wilders' supporters are calling this a huge win for free speech.

The Fitna film can still be seen at Liveleaks.

All previous Wake up America posts surrounding the Geert Wilders controversy can be found here.

Others discussing this, via Memeorandum, are National Review, American Thinker, Atlas Shrugs, Bloomberg, Jihad Watch, Zilla of the Resistance and Weasel Zippers.

.

Geert Wilders Not Guilty On All Counts According To Public Prosecution Department

Via Dutch News:

The public prosecution department on Friday afternoon stated that Geert Wilders is not guilty of discriminating against Muslims. Earlier on Friday it announced he should also be found not guilty of inciting hatred.

Prosecutors Birgit van Roessel and Paul Velleman reached their conclusions after a careful reading of interviews with and articles by the anti-Islam politician and a viewing of his anti-Koran film Fitna.

They said comments about banning the Koran can be discriminatory, but because Wilders wants to pursue a ban on democratic lines, there is no question of incitement to discrimination 'as laid down in law'.

On the comparison of the Koran with Mein Kampf, the prosecutors said the comparison was 'crude but that did not make it punishable'.

Dealing earlier on Friday with incitement to hatred, Van Roessel and Velleman said some comments could incite hatred against Muslims if taken out of context, but if the complete text is considered, it can be seen that Wilders is against the growing influence of Islam and not against Muslims per sé.

Big Win. Hopefully the judge will agree.

.

Taliban Threaten the Dutch Over Geert Wilders Fitna Film

So much for staying calm.

A few days after the anti-Islam film “Fitna” was released on the Internet, the Afghan Taliban claim to have attacked Dutch forces in Afghanistan on Sunday.

The Taliban have declared on the Internet that they launched the two fatal attacks against Dutch soldiers as a response to Geert Wilders' short film that, they say, insulted Islam.

In a communiqué posted on the militants’ websites, the Taliban said operations against the Dutch troops had been initiated, as “one of the members of the Dutch parliament produced a film that hurts Islam, and he published it with bad intentions.”

They have held protests, burned the Dutch flag and tried to tell the 1,600 Dutch soldiers to leave Afghanistan.

The film that Wilders put together was actual footage of real attacks as well as beheadings and stonings, where terrorists, using the Koran as justification, murdered innocent human beings.

Warning: The Fita Film is 15 minutes in length and has graphic images.



A quick recap on the controversy, shows that Geert Wilders had his life threatened before releasing his film, he has called certain governments cowards for being intimidated into not releasing his film, Network Solutions pre-censored the film out of cowardness, LiveLeak showed courage and agreed to show it, had to remove it due to threats to their staff's lives, then tightened security and protection for their staff and restored it because they refuse to be intimidated into censoring free speech and bloggers from all over have made sure the film was generated to all that wanted to see it.

The Taliban does not want the world to see what violent murderers they are and how they hide behind the religion of Islam to justify their killing of innocents.

In the meantime there are millions of moderate Muslims that do not use their religion to kill and denounce those that do.

.

LiveLeak Tightens Security and Reactivates Geert Wilders Fitna Film

LiveLeak, in the name of free speech and freedom of expression has allowed the controversial Geert Wilders' film to be shown and after having members of their staff physically threatened, they removed the film.

The have now tighten security and restored the film to its original URL. (Hat Tip A Blog For All)

Statement on the LiveLeak URL says:

On the 28th of March LiveLeak.com was left with no other choice but to remove the film "fitna" from our servers following serious threats to our staff and their families. Since that time we have worked constantly on upgrading all security measures thus offering better protection for our staff and families. With these measures in place we have decided to once more make this video live on our site. We will not be pressured into censoring material which is legal and within our rules. We apologise for the removal and the delay in getting it back, but when you run a website you don't consider that some people would be insecure enough to threaten our lives simply because they do not like the content of a video we neither produced nor endorsed but merely hosted.

LiveLeaks statement when they originally took the Fitna Film down said:

Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.

This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.
Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one anothers culture.
We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high.

Brave move by LiveLeak to restore the film and a welcome stand for free speech in doing so.

All WUA posts regarding this film all on one page, right here.

.

LiveLeak Staff Threatened for Showing Geert Wilders' Fitna Film- Film Shown Here

I updated and bumped the previous piece announcing the release of Fitna. I am also publishing this new article to show what has happened to LiveLeak for their stand to refuse to censor the Fitna films release.

From LiveLeak:

Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.

This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.
Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one anothers culture.
We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high.

I left the original LiveLeak embed on the previous piece because when it is clicked, the message above is what comes onto the screen instead of the movie.

Once something is released on the Internet, the genie cannot be put back into the bottle though.... sooo, here is FITNA still live from DailyMotion, who still has it online though right here.





It can also be embedded from Daily Motion here.

They may have threatened LiveLeak into surrendering to protect their staff, but they cannot threaten us all, so we will continue to make this available in the name of free speech. LiveLeak did a wonderful job of getting it out there...their job is done, now the rest of us must take up the free speech battle.

Geert Wilders' site is up and running and he too is showing his film.

By showing this film we are taking a stand for free speech and are refusing to be intimidated by those that would violently threaten people for exercising their right to free speech simply because it may offend some.

[Update] More on Geert Wilders and Fitna from, CentreRight, Michelle Malkin, Washington Times

More buzz online over at memorandum.

[Update] Pat Dollard puts it a little more bluntly than I did, but he is taking the same stand.

More to come as it develops...

.

Geert Wilders' Fitna Film Released- Liveleak Version Shown- UPDATED AND BUMPED- LiveLeak threatened

[Update] March 30, 2008- The link to the movie is active, as one site deactivates or removes it, I am updating the link to yet another active one. So the links may change but I am making sure before changing it that the one I am linking to is the same original film. Thank you for your patience which allows me to keep a running active link for readers to see the film for themselves to judge.

[UPDATE] TWO different embeds below for the move--Due to threats against LiveLeak, they have a message relaying the type of physical threats they have had to endure for having the courage to host the Fitna video and have been forced to remove it for the sake of their employees safety.

It is all over the web though and you can get Torrent downloads here and tons more here.

DailyMotion still has it online though right here.



[End Update]

[Update #2] (YOUTUBE version removed from this article because they keep removing it from their site, the Daily Motion version above is still active.)

They may have threatened LiveLeak into surrendering to protect their staff, but they cannot threaten us all, so we will continue to make this available in the name of free speech. LiveLeak did a wonderful job of getting it out there...their job is done, now the rest of us must take up the free speech battle.

[End Update #2]

Original post March 27, 2008--


LiveLeak has two versions of the controversial Geert Wilders' short film that has just been released despite repeated attempts to stop its release.

The English Version is below and below that I will link to the other version.

(UPDATE)3/31/08- LiveLeak restored the film after taking it down for their staff's protection, they tightened security and it is active once again.

It loads slowly due to traffic, so have patience. Please be aware there are very graphic scenes in this film.



H/T Michelle Malkin.

It is a 15 minute film showing the violence associated with the Koran.

As MM explains it ends with the image of a hand about to tear out the murderous verses of the Koran and a sound effect of tearing (with a caption explaining that the sound was actually the sound of a page being torn from a phonebook)."

Other portions shows a Jihadist declaring they will rule the work, "We will take over the USA!!", "We will take over the UK!", "We will take over Europe!", and "You will defeat them all and you will get victory!".


The Netherlands' version can be found at LiveLeak here.

The short film does make a very powerful statement about verses from the Koran and how they are used to justify violence and murder in the name of religion.

With that said, there are millions of Muslims that do not use their Koran to murder and slaughter people, to behead them or stone them to death, but those that do, the extremists, are hijacking the whole religion.

[Update] LiveLeak has issued a statement regarding Fitna:

LiveLeak.com has a strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing freedom of speech as so far as the law and our rules allow. There was no legal reason to refuse Geert Wilders the right to post his film (Fitna) on LiveLeak.com and it is not our place to censor people based on an emotive response. We in no way endorse Geert Wilders, his views, nor the views expressed within Fitna. To many of us involved in LiveLeak.com some of the messages therein are personally offensive. That being said, our being offended is no reason to deny Mr Wilders the right to have his film seen. Pre-emptive censorship or a discriminatory policy towards freedom of speech are both things we oppose here on LiveLeak.com. A person has a simple, clear choice about whether to view this film. No one is being forced to view it and nor is it being broadcasted on every channel on their television set. If you click on media simply to be annoyed, it is pointless to blame others for your choice.

We do not intend on defending the content of Fitna, only our choice to allow it. Anyone has the full right of reply on LiveLeak.com. Any person or organizations are free to post their opinion and, dependent on said response falling within both the law and our rules, we will afford such responses equal exposure. There are undoubtedly better ways to spark a discussion but this film is now out there and we believe we should all grasp this opportunity to create an open dialogue and discussion on this subject.

[Update] According to SwissInfo news, demonstrators took to the streets before even seeing the film.

Dutch News reports that experts say, "the film can hardly be described as as insulting the Muslim faith."


[Update] Jawa reports that Wilders' site is down as is his party website.

[Update] I will list others showing this as they come to my attention.

PoliGazette, by Michael van der Galien, is showing the film.

The Jawa Report, snapped shot, A Blog For All, Jammie Wearing Fool, Hot Air.

.

Geert Wilders' Fitna Movie Trailer.

[Update] 3/27/08- FITNA has been released, see full 15 minute film here.

Hat tip to Jawa Report.

Geert Wilders created a film to show the atrocities that Islamic extremists commit using their religion to hide behind.. actions that have been condemned and denounced by moderate Muslims that just wish to practice their faith in a peaceful manner.

Wilders' life has been threatened, countries have bowed down in fear of retribution if his short 11-15 minute film is shown and a company called Network Solutions has violated his free speech rights by pre-censoring his film and disabling the site he bought to host it, before it was every published on the site. This led to a Czech group offering to host the film for Wilders.

Here is the trailer of his film, uploaded to YouTube by Jawa Report.



The blowback for Network Solutions for their violation of free speech as well as their practice of pre-censorship, is still being felt, as of now there are 383 news stories, dozens of cases of people canceling Network Solutions' services and emails still being sent to them complaining of their actions.

Network Solutions can also be reached by e-mail: webmaster@networksolutions.com

Via phone:

In the U.S. and Canada call:
General Support
1.888.642.9675
Technical Assistance
1.866.391.HELP (1.866.391.4357)

Outside the U.S. call:
1.570.708.8788

Also: Network Solutions Horror Stories reports that you can reach the executive Center at 1-570-708-8700, just ask for Rick at ext 8162 or Kim at 8162.

Contact form for General Support.

Contact form for Technical Support.

.

Network Solutions Censors Geert Wilders' Film and Czech Party Offers to Host "Fitna"

[Update] 3/27/08- FITNA has been released, see full 15 minute film here.

Yesterday we discussed Network Solutions and their pre-censorship of the Geert Wilders' film Fitna as well as providing contact methods to call or email Network Solutions.

More on that today.

Geert Wilders is set to release his controversial film, Fitna, which supposedly is be shown on a split screen, with verses and suras from the Koran on one side and examples of Sharia law being carried out on the other, including a beheading and a stoning.
The Wilders' film has been the subject of much controversy and Wilders is under protection for threats to his life because of the short film called "Fitna".

NetWork Solutions, which is a website name registrar has pre-emptively censored and disabled a site registered to provide an outlet to the Wilders' film.

They did this the day before the film was to be released.

Prior to the site's being closed down this weekend, its only content was a picture of a gilded Koran along with the text "Allahu Akhbar," (God is Great), and the words "Geert Wilders presents Fitna - March 23, 2008".



What is seen now when you click the sites URL, http://www.fitnathemovie.com/ is this message:

This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy. Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation. For more information about Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy visit the following URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/aup.jsp

This pre-censorship action, as it is being called in the media and blogs across the web, has sparked questions and massive amounts of phone calls and emails to the Network Solution's company, some of which have been reported on blogs. Others have canceled their accounts hosted by Network Solutions in response to what they are calling censorship.

Network Solutions is not just seeing criticism from American media and bloggers, but this has made a splash in Spanish and German news and/or blogs as well.

Susan Wade, spokeswoman for Network Solutions, said, "In this situation with the dialogue that’s happening throughout the world we’ve made the choice to suspend the site as of last night. This site is suspended so people can’t see the content right now…”

The Dutch film-maker is still planning on releasing his 15-minute movie by the end of the month, despite the fact that the one Website that has agreed to promote the anti-Islamic film has been temporarily shut down. The movie is entitled “Fitna” and nobody really knows any details on it, except maybe for the Dutch film-maker’s view of the Qur’an as being fascist.

Wilders' statement after the Network Solutions action was, "If necessary I'll go hand out DVDs personally on the Dam."

It looks like he will not have to do that after all though.

This firestorm in the media and blogs continued into today and according to Spiegel Online, a Czech Republic Party has offered to screen it if Wilders can't find another outlet.

The Czech Republic's small National Party offered to release the film on the Internet using one of its servers, in a message posted Sunday on its Web site.

According to the Czech Party that is making this offer to Wilders, it is, "a response to the Islamist terrorists destroying European countries by extortion and attacks."

The continue by saying that they offered to help Wilders with this release, "in reaction to the media's blatant concessions to Islamists."

No one but Wilder himself truly knows the content of the film to be released and other than his words, no one can even prove if there is a film at all.

The questions raised by Network Solutions preemptive censorship, is not whether Wilders' film might be offensive, if it even truly exists, but what is being asked across the Internet, is how could Network Solutions disable a site quoting "complaints about content", when there was no content other than what was shown above, published on the site at the time that they disabled it?

In a previous Spiegel Online piece, they asked if Wilders hadn't already accomplished what he set out to do without even having to publish his film.

All this leaves Wilders is the Internet -- unless, of course, he decides not to show the film, which no one has seen and of which no one can say whether it even exists. The truth is that the "provocateur" has already achieved his goal. Wilders has managed to portray the Dutch and the Europeans as cowards, shouting "we capitulate!" before the battle has even begun.

Is Spiegel Online right and has Network Solutions just further proved Wilders' point?

.

Network Solutions Practices Pre-Censorship On Geert Wilders' Film Site

[Update] 3/27/08- FITNA has been released, see full 15 minute film here.

[Update] 3/25/08- Czech Party Offers to Host "Fitna"

[Update below]

The highly controversial release of the short film created by Geert Wilders, has just entered a new stage of controversy.

NetWork Solutions, which is a website name registrar has pre-emptively censored and disabled a site registered to provide an outlet to the Wilders' film.

Prior to the site's being closed down this weekend, its only content was a picture of a gilded Koran along with the text "Allahu Akhbar," (God is Great), and the words "Geert Wilders presents Fitna - Coming Soon."

When you click on the site now, this is what you get:

This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy. Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation. For more information about Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy visit the following URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/aup.jsp

The problem here was not the content, because the Wilders film had not been released yet.... the problem was Network Solutions letting themselves become a pawn for political correctness because people that did not want the film released pre-emptively complained about what they had "heard" the film would be about.

Geert Wilders' film, which supposedly will be shown on a split screen, with verses and suras from the Koran on one side and examples of Sharia law being carried out on the other, including a beheading and a stoning

Susan Wade, spokeswoman for Network Solutions, said, "In this situation with the dialogue that’s happening throughout the world we’ve made the choice to suspend the site as of last night. This site is suspended so people can’t see the content right now…”

The Dutch film-maker is still planning on releasing his 15-minute movie by the end of the month, despite the fact that the one Website that has agreed to promote the anti-Islamic film has been temporarily shut down. The movie is entitled “Fitna” and nobody really knows any details on it, except maybe for the Dutch film-maker’s view of the Qur’an as being fascist.

In a Washington Post article, a few relevant questions are asked about this censorship, or "pre-censorship" decision on the part on Network Solutions:

To me, this raises the question of what Network Solutions would do if dozens of people who'd registered domains through the company spontaneously decided to mirror the controversial movie once it goes live. Wade declined to speculate on such a situation, saying the company would respond to each complaint on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, there must be other sites registered by the company that host content that violates the company's AUP or would be seen as offensive to some individual or group.

If it's not patently illegal material, where does a registrar draw the line? Is Network Solutions opening a can of worms here?

Network Solutions has put itself in a bind here by allowing themselves to be intimidated into censoring material before that material is known or seen, thereby censoring a persons right to free speech and freedom of expression before anything had even been published.

To contact Network Solutions to make your feelings know about this type of pre-censorship, I am listing the contact information below.

Network Solutions can also be reached by e-mail: webmaster@networksolutions.com

Via phone:

In the U.S. and Canada call:
General Support
1.888.642.9675
Technical Assistance
1.866.391.HELP (1.866.391.4357)

Outside the U.S. call:
1.570.708.8788

Also: Network Solutions Horror Stories reports that you can reach the executive Center at 1-570-708-8700, just ask for Rick at ext 8162 or Kim at 8162.

Contact form for General Support.

Contact form for Technical Support.

[Update] The Jawa Report called and reports the conversation he had with Network Solutions.

Bloggers have joined in a blogburst type actions against Network Solutions which includes:

Macsmind

Michelle Malkin

Klein Verzet

Ironic Surrealism

GeistesWelt

News Bleat

Chip Bennett

Red State

Clint’s Blog

Salibiyyah Blog

Tel Chai Nation

A Future in Freedom

Stop the ACLU

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

Spanish Pundit

Stecki’s Blog

Civilian Irregular Information Defense Group

.


.

Has Geert Wilders' Mission Already Been Accomplished?

[Update] 3/27/08- FITNA has been released, see full 15 minute film here.

An interesting piece in Spiegel Online today which to make a long article short declares that Geert Wilders' film, which supposedly will be shown on a split screen, with verses and suras from the Koran on one side and examples of Sharia law being carried out on the other, including a beheading and a stoning, has accomplished more before its release than it could have accomplished by being released.

Excerpt:

A few days later, the Dutch foreign minister asked the EU to support the Dutch position. He said that the Dutch believe in freedom of expression, but are against portraying all Muslims as extremists. At the same time, the "terror alarm" in the Netherlands was raised to its second-highest level. The government of Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende appealed to Wilders to abandon his plan to broadcast the film. On the one hand, Balkenende said, "constitutional freedoms must be defended, while extremism and terrorism must be fought." On the other hand, he continued, "we must consider the consequences of our actions and may not endanger the things that are valuable to us all."

Wilders reaction was clear. "The cabinet is falling onto its knees before Islam and capitulating," he said, characterizing Balkenende as "an anxious man who has chosen the side of the Taliban."

According to Spiegel, that is but one example of one point Wilder was trying to make.

All this leaves Wilders is the Internet -- unless, of course, he decides not to show the film, which no one has seen and of which no one can say whether it even exists. The truth is that the "provocateur" has already achieved his goal. Wilders has managed to portray the Dutch and the Europeans as cowards, shouting "we capitulate!" before the battle has even begun.

Spiegel explains the full scope of what the mere "thought" of his 11 minute film being shown has induced and considering that Wilders' Wilders is under 24-hour police protection and has slept in a different place every night since Islamic Web sites first began calling for his beheading.



These signs bring up an interesting point.

What would happen if those signs said "Behead those that insult the bible"?

Mel Gibson (Passion of Christ), Tom Hanks (DiVinci Code) and anybody that wrote, produced or acted in those or any other movie, no matter how long or how short, would have been threatened to have their heads cut off?

Which of us would have tolerated that?

Yet, the EU, Denmark, the Netherlands and multiple others not only allow the threat to intimidate them, they have already capitulated.

As The Lede points out today, the violence perpetrated by extremists over the famous Muhammed Cartoons, has many Europeans "fed up", and rightly so.

“At the time, in 2006, there were good journalistic reasons for other newspapers to publish the cartoons because few people had seen them then, so they were news,” he said. “Now the journalistic justification is almost nonexistent because everyone knows what they look like, so it’s more about solidarity than about news.”

I can guarantee you that when this film is released, despite the fact that the pathetic capitulation of the Dutch, Netherlands, EU and anyone else that will allow themselves to be intimidated by those that threaten violence against those that use freedom of expression, the film will be shown.

If not in public formats, Wilders can be assured that via YouTube and any other number of Internet video resources, his film will go viral immediately.

The fact is that although there are millions of Muslims that practice their religion peacefully, moderate Muslims, there are also extremists that are hiding behind the guise of religion to maim, torture, riot and behead people.

That is a fact that cannot be disputed and the more people that bow down to the extremists for fear of offending the moderates, the more encouragement they are giving the extremists.

Spiegel is right, Wilders has accomplished much before he has ever released his film, but there is something more to be accomplished.

Spotlighting the nature and violence of the extremists.

The intimidation comes from the threats, but that soon leaves the front pages and although I do not relish the thought of hundreds of deaths as a result from one man's 11 minute film, I do acknowledge his right to highlight and shine a glaring spotlight on violent extremists that hide behind the religion of Islam to commit their horrendous acts, and I believe the fury that will result from the films release will show the nature of these extremists and make the point that so many of us have been trying to make to date.

Too many countries have bowed down to the violent threats of the extremist Islamics and the time to make a stand, is now.

With Wilders' film.

Others discussing this:
michellemalkin.com, The Lede and JammieWearingFool

.

Pending Film Release Prompts Dutch Terrorism Watch

[Update] 3/27/08- FITNA has been released, see full 15 minute film here.

What if you could take a look into the driving force of your enemy? What if you could take a glimpse into the motivating, driving factors that make your enemy hate you and want to destroy you? What if you could access that information, but chose to ignore it?

In 1925, there was a book published that, if given more credence and scrutiny, could have been used as an instrument to stop the greatest onset of crimes against humanity that the world has ever seen. Oddly enough, those who could have done something to stop the movement inspired by the book and it's author pretty much ignored it or had no idea of it's existence. In the years following the first publication of this book, and it's second publication a year later in 1926, the world saw the rise of one of the most brutal and oppressive regimes in our history on this planet. The book was called Mein Kampf; the author, Adolf Hitler.

Under the leadership of Hitler, Nazi Germany rose from the ashes of depression in the years following The Great War and became the single most powerful military industrial complex in Europe. The rest, as they say, is history.

But what if, as we step into the realm of infinite possibilities of things that could have happened, someone had taken Mein Kampf seriously from the outset and had made the right moves to stop the rise of Hitler and the National Socialist Party? What if, as we continue to ponder the possibilities of infinite parallels and things that could have been, someone had taken Stalin as a more credible threat and forestalled his rise to power through murder and subterfuge in the Soviet Union?

What if we had the information at our disposal today to stop a growing threat to civilization as it spreads across the face of our planet? What if we could take a look inside what motivates extremists to strap bomb vests to their bodies and detonate them in groups of innocent civilians? To drive vehicles laden with explosives through military checkpoints and the drivers kill themselves as they try to take out the soldiers at those checkpoints? What if we had this information, and ignored it?

Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders is going to release a film in the Netherlands that deals with these issues, by exploring the very passages of the Koran which incite the hatred and violence of extremist Muslim factions, in a film to be released this month. Needless to say, the world of Islam is less than eager for the film to be released, and the Netherlands are on high alert for acts of terrorism.

Less than a year ago, (National Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Tjibbe) Joustra scaled down the threat level to "limited," saying Islamic terror networks in the Netherlands had crumbled in the face of tougher law enforcement and a lack of leadership.

Terrorists from Pakistan and Afghanistan were directing actions in Europe "and in some cases, sending their own attackers," said the coordinator. These attackers "are more professional than the homegrown variety and less visible to the intelligence and security services," he said.

This won't be the first film released by a Dutch film maker critical of Islam. In 2004 director Theo van Gogh was killed after release of his film "Submission," a fictionalization of the abuse and subjugation of women in Islam, prompting the films screenplay writer, Muslim critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali, to flee the country and live in the United States under 24 hour a day security.

It remains to be seen how the film will be received in the Western world. However, one need not peek into a crystal ball to foretell what the reaction of militant Islamic fundamentalist groups will be; hence the elevation of the threat warnings within the Netherlands.

Demonstrators in Afghanistan have burned the Dutch flag to protest Wilders' plan to release the 15-minute film, titled "Fitna." He says it will describe the Muslim holy book as "fascist" because it is used by extremists to incite violence and preaches oppression of women and homosexuals.

The Dutch government has said it is powerless to ban the film because of the country's constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said the government is worried about repercussions from the film and by threats to Dutch nationals abroad.

There are, of course, those who will denounce this comparative of the Koran to Mein Kampf. They will argue that the Koran is a holy book, and the fundamental documents of a religious movement, and that Mein Kampf was, at best, a sort of autobiography and outline of the ideas behind the rise of a Teutonic Empire, at worst a book of political theory. They are more than free to do so. I welcome them to try to make the arguments that the two books have not inspired similar responses from their target audiences. However, I would strongly suggest, and indeed hope, that those who wish to bring forth such arguments and rebuttals have first hand knowledge of the subject matter OF those two books. One need not play one of the three roles portrayed by Jack Nicholson in "Mars Attacks" to see the aliens announcing "We come in peace," all the while walking around with their ray guns and disintegrating any human in sight, to understand that what one says and what one does may not convey the same message.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


.