OT: Dutch democracy compromised... Options

[Jeroen]

A truely sad day for all Dutch
Today movie maker, columnist and chain-smoker Theo van Gogh was murdered

He was known and feared for his strong critizism and his blunt and harsh statements that he spewed when ever he got the chance. Often shocking his "opponenents"
Van Gogh had a very stong opinion about the way muslims-funtamentalists suppress women and how they condem gays.

In an ultimate attempt to shut him up, he was brutally excecuted in Amsterdam this morning. He was shot 6 times and then a letter was pinned to his dead body with 2 knives

The killer was captured after a shoot-out with the police. He is an immigrant from Marocco and aparently a muslim-extremist.

Van Gogh paid the ultimate price for what he believed in the most: the freedom of speech

[Bleyseng]

Well that is bad news for all who speak out. We have a 22 yr old Dutch guest now and both Dutchies in the house are stunned with this news. I am afraid this type of insanity with be in the US soon as we are so divided with this right/left BS.

Heard there will be a gathering at the Dam to celebrate Free Speech and morn Theo.
Geoff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

This post has been edited by Bleyseng: Nov 2 2004, 09:50 AM

[914GT]

Sorry to hear about that. Sad times we're living in. Vandalizing and gunshots fired into political offices here (one party in particular). Then shit like this going on in Europe ... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor.../r286890687.jpg

1939 all over again.

[SLITS]

It's Democracy - when someone doesn't get their way by influence, they pull out the weapons. They are the "true" believers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif) Very sad but absolutely nothing new!

[ThinAir]

This is very sad indeed. I remember a few years ago when Pim Fortuyn was assasinated just days before the election. If I recall correctly it was the first political murder in Netherlands history in hundreds of years. To have it repeated so soon is truly sad. Yet another way in which Europe is becoming Americanized. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[SLITS]

Ernie, ya better take another good look at history before you blame "americans" for causing political assinations througout the world.

[ThinAir]

I don't blame Americans, but from what I understand America historically has one of the highest rates around of political assassination. (And no, I can't quote a source for that.)

[SLITS]

Not pikin' on ya -

[eeyore]

I don't blame Americans, but from what I understand America historically has one of the highest rates around of political assassination.

Let's see...

Hitler's Night of the Long Knives (You know the saying "When in Rohm...")
Stalin's Purges
Both Columbia and Italy have/had plenty of orginized crime-based political assasinations
Iraq now

And the offing of Franz Ferdinand that led to a minor 4 year squabble.

We Americans prefer our murder to have bases in money, culture and color (both skin and doo-rag color) and the inability to operate a motor vehicle in a competent manner.

[fiid]

A truely sad day for all Dutch
Today movie maker, columnist and chain-smoker Theo van Gogh was murdered

I read about this this morning. Very sad.

[Howard]

Ernie, ya better take another good look at history before you blame "americans" for causing political assinations througout the world.

Agreed. It's a tragedy, but not exclusive to democracy, national trait, or anything new. Anarchy is just another form of terrorism. J. Caeser and F. Ferdinand had similar issues. And no Ron, I didn't witness those events.

[SLITS]

And our brothers to the South...........................Viva Pistoles!

[Mrs. K]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) That really bites!
Sorry to hear about that Jeroen! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Lisa

[Bleyseng]

The word here from my two Dutchies is that the Islamics go to the Netherlands to live off the state money. They can say they have 11 kids and only two live with them but they still get money for all 11. Don't have to prove it. Is this why the men just sit around at the muslim shops smoking? or are they just unemployed?
Damn, I am moving with all my 15 kids!
Jeroen, now I see why you want a big family!

Geoff

[Jeroen]

It's always hard to make comparisons, but Van Gogh (yes, he was related to the painter) would come close to someone like Michael Moore (Fahrenheid 911). Van Gogh was a bit more outspoken though.
You can agree or disagree with people like this, but the fact they have the right to speak up is what really matters.

Van Gogh was a great thinker and a brilliant debater. Holland will be a worse place without him...

Fortuyn was just as frustrating as this, maybe even more.
Imagine a candidate for the presidency, heading the polls with a 75% majority (in a system with well over 10 different parties, not 2) being killed less than a week before the elections

Geoff,
It isn't so much a problem with Muslims coming here (or any other type of people). There's lots of them that are well integrated and working hard.
It's the people who come here, take advantage of the system. The system actually protects them, because when you address them on their actions, you'll be slapped on the wrist because of discrimination. It's not politically correct to say something about it.
They know that and exploit it to the max. And worse, they're trying to push their customs and believes down our throats.
Remember we are talking about imigrants. Political and economic refugees that would have died in their home countries, either because of poverty or by violence. And this is how they say thank you to us kind Dutch for take them into our country...

Both Fortuyn and Van Gogh were publicly addressing these issues, and they died because of it

[redshift]

Boy, I hate to make my first post back an answer to Hitlers in headscarves..

Let freedom wring. (it's hands, and their necks) Death to the Islamists, I sure hope it hurts.

Oh, he's NOTHING like Moore.... you are quite mistaken.


Miles

[seanery]

wasuup miles

[SLITS]

It's the people who come here, take advantage of the system. The system actually protects them, because when you address them on their actions, you'll be slapped on the wrist because of discrimination. It's not politically correct to say something about it.
They know that and exploit it to the max. And worse, they're trying to push their customs and believes down our throats.
Remember we are talking about imigrants. Political and economic refugees that would have died in their home countries, either because of poverty or by violence. And this is how they say thank you to us kind Dutch for take them into our country...

Damn - where have I heard that before ?<_<

[SirAndy]

Damn - where have I heard that before ?(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

the bible ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Andy

[redshift]

hehe

GAME OVER DOOD! WE'RE FUCKED!


(aliens..remember?)


M