Zacht Ei - Dutch people united in their defense of freedom of speech

Friday, February 10, 2006

Dutch people united in their defense of freedom of speech

According to a survey by Dutch tv channel RTL a staggering number of 84 percent feels that Ayaan Hirsi Ali should film Submission part II. Yes, that's staggering. The same survey concluded that only 36 percent of the Dutch have positive feelings towards the film (43 percent neutral, 20 percent negative). 88 percent of those questioned think the film should be allowed under the principle of freedom of the press (so there's apparently at least 4 percent of the Dutch population that feels the film should not be made, but think it should be allowed anyway. Odd.).

Mind you, 73 percent of the Dutch expects a backlash from the Islamic world, with 56 percent reckoning there will be a boycott of Dutch products, which fortunately means more liquorice for us. (BTW, the latter number isn't in the hyperlinked article, but was transcribed from the tv broadcast.) This makes the results of the survey all the more important, since it means that those questioned stand by their principles even though they're aware of the probable consequences. It's good to know the Dutch people are more courageous than their government.

Meanwhile, here is some television footage of Muslim youngsters torching Danish flags in Limburg, a province most Dutch wish wasn't part of the country anyway. (Just joking, dear Limburg visitors. You bake great cakes.)

19:33

permalink comment(s) (1) trackback(s) (2)

Onwards Muslim soldiers

Free Zacht Ei advice

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Dutch people united in their defense of freedom of speech:

» THE RIGHT TO OFFEND from Peaktalk
A transcript (in English) of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's speech in Berlin earlier this week in the Dutch NRC Handelsblad, entitled The Right to Offend. It comes with the usual unpolitical frankness that has become Hirsi Ali's trademark. Good for the... [Read More]

Tracked on February 10, 2006 11:32 PM

Tracked on February 10, 2006 11:33 PM

Amsterdam, Holland demonstration Saturday February 25 in support of Denmark and Free Speech - Saturday February 25

Call for demonstration at Dam Square on Hollandâ€™s Remembrance Day

Compiled and translated from the weblog Nekklachten

Everybody who wants to support Freedom of Speech:

Come to Dam Square in the center of Amsterdam on Saturday February 25 at 13:00 oâ€™clock.

The purpose of the demonstration is to show the politicians that the Dutch are sick and tired of the religious frenzy around the famous Jyllands Posten Cartoons, and even more tired of the demands for restrictions of our Freedom of Speech.

We shall not tolerate as much as 1 millimeter of restrictions of our rights to free speech.

The demonstration will be a signal of solidarity with the people of Denmark, and is also a message to Xavier Solana that we will not accept that the EU top bowes down to Middle Eastern dictatorships in a so called â€˜dialogâ€™ about freedom of speech. We have that freedom, and it we will keep it. Thatâ€™s final.

Demonstrators are being urged to bring Danish flags, and it is being discussed if books from H.C Andersen, the famous Danish storyteller, as well as the newly composed Danish / Dutch Solidarity flag in order to emphasize the support for Denmark and Jyllands Posten.

It also appears from posts at the blogs that the mere showing of a Dutch flag has been demonized by the government and the islam appeasers as a sign of extreme right wing Nationalism. In contrast, the Danes proudly wave their Danish flag everywhere. At birthday parties the cake is decorated with Danish flags, and letters are routinely decorated with a Danish flag sticker.

At almost every Danish celebration Danish flags are present in numbers. To the Danes the flag which displays the Christian Cross has a very special meaning. According to mythology â€˜Dannebroâ€™ as it is called in Denmark came down from heaven at the Danish King Valdemarâ€™s victory at Lyndanisse (Tallin) in Estland. It was used by the Crusaders as well, and God willing, it will once more be a symbol in a battle against the same heathens once more.

The Dutch demonstration initiative so it seems has been initiated by Michiel Mans who writes at the Dutch weblog â€˜Nekklachtenâ€™ (neck complaints) but so far nobody has officially claimed to organize the event. Thread about the demonstration at Nekklachten | Thread about the demonstration at Ayaan Hirsi Ali Weblog. Donâ€™t be shy to post comments in English there.

The day February 25 is not just another day in Hollandâ€™s history.

The day February 25 1941 was the day a general strike was proclaimed in Holland in protest of the more and more visible signs of the persecution of Jews by the Nazi occupiers. The strike developed the next few days, until the railroads were included as well. As a result of this protest by the people of Holland a large number of people were executed by the Nazi occupiers. This day is known in Holland as the February Strike (Februaristaking), and is remembered with ceremonies and manifestations each year.

From http://blog.balder.org/?p=32

In Dutch:

http://nekklachten.web-log.nl/log/4920629

http://ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl/log/4934266

In Danish:

http://blog.balder.org/?p=31

Balder (ip:85.218.149.198) 10 February 2006 - 22:27 uur

Comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(By submitting comments you agree to have read and accepted the forum rules. If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Doorbakken kan altijd nog

Dutch people united in their defense of freedom of speech

Trackback Pings

Comment

Wat deed ik recent?