Zacht Ei - The Economist on the Van Gogh murder

Thursday, November 4, 2004

The Economist on the Van Gogh murder

The Economist gets it largely right but shirks away from drawing any sharp conclusions:

'Despite the harsh debate begun by Fortuyn three years ago, the country suffers from little overt racism. Fortuyn himself insisted that he was no racist, and bitterly dissented from comparisons between his party and France's National Front. Many immigrant groups, such as Surinamese, Chinese or eastern Europeans, fit quite happily into the Netherlands.'

There is an implicit conclusion in the last sentence, mainly by what isn't said, but The Economist seems reluctant to voice it. The conclusion, however, is spot on: 'Many Dutch feel that the time has come for the Muslim minority to adjust to where they live and adopt Dutch values—precisely the view espoused by Ms Hirsi Ali.'

The Economist also points out that, unless the Dutch mood changes, the entire European Union might feel the backlash: 'After this week, more will feel threatened because their Muslim neighbours do not share their liberal values. Dutch hostility to the prospect of Turkish membership of the European Union may also intensify.'

19:53

permalink comment(s) (5)

Casablanca bombing link?

Letter of Mohamed B. contained direct threat of Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Western democracies are great, lumbering beasts, and always slow to see danger. But once mobilized, there is no greater force than a liberal democracy at war.

Despite the war in Europe, the US only had the 16th largest military in the world on the eve of Pearl Harbor. Churchill spent much of the 1930s trying to convince his countrymen that Hitler was a threat. But the good guys still won. Take heart. Maybe Van Gogh's murder will wake up Europe, the same way Hitler's invasion of Poland did.

Heraldblog (ip:65.30.178.241) 4 November 2004 - 15:27 uur

I agree. There's a Dutch expression stating 'the dock will turn the boat around'. Democracies can be slow to react. However, they can also be extremely effective since - when they act - they do so with the mandate of the people, rather than a lunatic trying to impose his will on the world through proxies controlled by fear and intimidation. Nothing overcomes the combined strength of individuals. I also agree that the comparison with fascism in the 30's is justified. We Dutch tend to be very tolerant of a great number of issues, but slowly we are coming to realise you can't tolerate intolerance.

Arjan (ip:82.161.93.35) 4 November 2004 - 16:17 uur

How can the Dutch, Danish, Spain, that is, individual nations fight Islamofascism when they are marginalized as EUnuchs. Europeans show their "courage" in hating nations that fight this era's fascism. Europe will, or has now, become France with different language signs on the cafes-Eurabia. More's the pity because I have loved Europe's cultural heritage. Especially the Dutch and the Danes. It takes guts to fight the natural historical partner of the Hitlerite. I salute Theo Van Gogh.

Erik (ip:68.160.217.94) 4 November 2004 - 18:55 uur

Islam's ultimate goal is to either convert, kill, or dominate all infidels. (read non-muslims). The Netherlands now has one million potential fifth columnists in its midst. Any young member of that community suffering unemployment is quite susceptible to resort to terroristic acts in the Country that gave them sancuary. Ingrates. It will take a huge number of secret service personnel to keep a close watch on a potentially homicidal community.
Is it not time that the Netherlands stop accepting more potential Jihadists, and throw out as many as it can.
I salute free speech. (a luxury non existant in most Muslim countries.)
I salute Mr. Van Gogh.
(I just read that Muslims were photographed spitting on a large picture of the murdered Mr. Van Gogh.) So much for a delightful bunch of ingrates.
Good luck. You, unfortunately, have a million potential holy warriors in your midst and the majority of Nederlanders are unarmed.

dan (ip:24.37.83.163) 4 November 2004 - 9:48 uur

I'm sorry for your loss of a good man. Please catch on to what you face. I'm not sure we have, and we lost over 3,000 good men an women.You may not believe,but God bless you all.Good luck my friends across the atlantic.World war three seems to be unfolding.Hope not.Salute

American (ip:64.12.116.5) 4 November 2004 - 7:18 uur

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The Economist on the Van Gogh murder

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