The Wilders Tale

Friday, 13th February 2009

Peter is quite right. Both in his own analysis of the Geert Wilders fiasco and in recommending Philip Johnston's excellent piece in the Telegraph. It's worth remembering, reiterating even, that Wilders was, we are told, in Britain just two or three months ago. That visit went un-noticed and passed off without controversy as would this one had the lumpen idiocy of the Home Office not decided to intervene. What changed in the intervening period? I doubt he's more "dangerous" in February than he was in November. Wilders is a boor and a bigot and no kind of poster-boy for liberty given his own views, so it takes a particularly stupid, incompetent government to elevate him to his current celebrity and status. Bravo.

Watching Question Time last night was, as usual, such an enraging, depressing experience that it was impossible to make it all the way to the end of the programme. I confess I was suprised, however, to discover that Salma Yaqoob of Respect made more sense and was more reasonable than any other member of the panel. Even by this government's non-swimming standards Liam Byrne seemed out of his depth while if Justine Greening (who she?) was less infuriating that was only because she's in opposition, not power.

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Francis

February 13th, 2009 2:55pm Report this comment

Is there any evidence that "Wilders is a boor and a bigot" beyond the repetition of this? I understand that he thinks the Koran should be banned in Holland but also that he has arguments for this. Can he really be worse that your average Socialist?

James Strong

February 13th, 2009 3:26pm Report this comment

Many people know what the Wilders affair is all about, but few journalists or politicians are willing to say so.
Wilders is no threat to public sacurity.
The threat comes from mohaamedan demonstrators who might turn violent.
Wilders should have been allowed in.
If Lord Ahmed had got his 10,000 demonstators out on to the streets they should have been allowed to carry out a peaceful demonstration, but there should have been a police presence ready to deal with any violence that might have arisen.
Any violence should have been put down by the police and the perpetrators, or at least the leading perpetrators, should have been arrested.
The film Fitna should be assessed on whether or not it is factual, not on whether or not it is offensive.
The question that needs to be asked is 'Is the claim that Islamist terrorists have used Koranic verses to justify acts of terror a reasonable claim?'
No mainstream opinion-former has asked it.

Rhoda Klapp

February 13th, 2009 5:44pm Report this comment

I really think Francis is right. If you have quotes that show him as a boor and a bigot put them up here, or links to them. Otherwise, withdraw the comment.

If you were accusing him of hair crime, of course, I'd be bound to admit you had a point.

Bulldog Breed

February 13th, 2009 7:38pm Report this comment

Well said Francis, James Strong and Rhoda Klapp. I would add to their points and ask you Mr. Massie if you consider yourself to be an unbiased journalist? Because to dismiss someone who is anti-Islamic by calling them boor and bigot without offering the slightest shred of evidence does not disprove their argument. Do you honestly expect your readers to accept such unsupported invective without calling it into question? I would expect a good journalist to do his research. So, have you read the Koran and seen Fitna? If your answer is no, don't you think you should? That is the only way to find out why Geert Wilders holds the views you find so abhorrent. What if he is speaking the truth? If the Koran preaches violence, hatred and exhortations to murder as Mr. Wilders claims, don't you think that everybody who values democracy needs to investigate this? Islam claims to be a religion of peace but is it really? Are all the many Islamic extremist terrorists and their supporters simply misguided people who are misinterpreting the teachings of the Koran as is claimed by apologists or are they following the teachings to the letter? So come along Mr. Massie. Go and find these answers and have the courage to print them instead of resorting to the shoddy tactic of calling Geert Wilders a boor and a bigot. It simply isn't good enough.

Wilhelm

February 13th, 2009 8:20pm Report this comment

Yup I agree with eveyone.

Why Alex are you coming out with this tedious mantra '' Wilders is a boor ''?

Is it because you are just repeating what you saw on the lefty BBC and Channel 4 news ?

Rhoda Klapp

February 14th, 2009 10:22am Report this comment

Alex, I put it to you that you made an idle ad hominem based on little or no evidence and you were not expecting to be challenged, because in your world it's a given that anyone anti-Islamic is neccessarily intolerant, and therefore the name-calling is justified.

We need to debate the proposition that Islam is a threat to our way of life in the UK. Lots of people think it is. They deserve a better answer than to be called bigots, don't they?

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