I'm living in what used to be the most tolerant country in the world. The last few years that changed. No longer is the Netherlands the tolerant multicultural community that it used to be. Polarisation, underbelly, hate campaigns, freedom of speech to the extreme, a member of parliament killed, a program maker/ writer killed, terroristic attacks, a member of the parliament in excile. We've had it all.

And now there is to be "Fitna, the movie". Geert Wilders, one of the members of parliament, rightwinged, claims to have made a movie. It's not really sure what it's about, at least I don't know yet and not many other people know yet. But it is claimed that it can have the same effect as the Danish cartoons a couple of years ago.

RWN - Radio Netherlands Worldwide - had made their own movie. "About Fitna The Movie". [edited: it seems the movie is no longer available, but there is a file on Wilders from RWN]This movie in itself is important, because the party of Geert Wilders wants RWN stopped just because of this movie.

What was that about freedom of speech?


added mar.27: The Wall Street Journal has a good article about this. I quote the whole article under the cut, because I don't know if it stays available.
Peter Hoekstra says something in the article I fulhartedly agree with: "I do not defend the right of Geert Wilders to air his film because I agree with it. I expect I will not. (I have not yet seen the film). I defend the right of Mr. Wilders and the media to air this film because free speech is a fundamental right that is the foundation of modern society."