This far right wing member of the Dutch parliament is voicing aloud views about Islam that a significant part of Dutch society share. For all their claims to tolerance, the Dutch are as fearful as most Europeans of Islam spreading among the midst of European Christian civilization.
For me De Geert Wilders' views are voiced along xenophobic lines and utterly lacking in any relevant scientific logical and rational explanations. Really for political reasons he is trying o tap into long held and now increasingly vented grievances of a section of the Dutch. Many dislike Muslims or immigrants for being in their country, blaming immigrants for stealing their jobs while for easily forgetting immigrants in Holland do the jobs that the Dutch don't want to for little money. Moreover many like to claim as usual that Muslims are unfit for Western society because of their affinity with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in the Holy Koran.
He wrongly and widely over generalizes about the backward nature of the Muslim world and the Quran. This has nothing but a highly polarizing effect on the population. It alienates even moderate minded Muslims in Holland who manage to live their lives in accordance with Dutch laws ,customs and western lifestyles while adhering to the Quran ( if they choose to).
I hate to see people devoid of human intelligence take centre stage in debates, when they have no clue about they are talking about and are just plain prejudiced against other people who do not share their way of life or do not like being dictated to. I believe religious intolerance is on the rise in Europe and Holland is no exception.
Still one should be fair here. One should bear in mind that European countries, like Holland have always had a " limited" carrying capacity due to geographical constraints and for historical reasons i.e. nationalism. Nowadays they can only absorb and try to integrate a certain amount of immigrants from other countries ( this is very different compared to North America or Australia, which are countries of immigration).
However this concern never should be used as Geert Wilders cunningly does to stir up racial and religous hatred against another people with a different culture or religion. It is fundamentally wrong and deluded to argue Muslims are not adaptable, and only dream about martyrdom against Christians in Holland. This smacks of ancient crusader logic, invoked for no reason other than for political gain to to promote cultural hatred.
So with hindsight Geert Wilders is an ignorant xenophobic right winger who knows nothing about the Quaran or religion. Don't get me wrong I am not religious at all nor am I Muslim. I am strongly democratic and secular in my beliefs and as such believe that a pluralistic society ( within permissible limits of the law) must allow for cultural and religious difference.
I think if anyone dislikes Islam or holds a grudge against it he - she must be able to rationally and analytically explain why based on arguments and facts and not on simplistic "black " and "white" or "us" vs "them" basis.
It is really getting boring to see all this xenophobic stuff being repeated over and over and over again as if people are unable to think for themselves. I really don't see how and why anyone would love to buy into the "blame" game. Who knows but there may be some deep seated primitive instincts and irrational fears somewhere.
There are many things I don't like about Islam. I think that, keeping women in a inferior position and denying them equality in all societal aspects, forbidding homosexuality and refusing to educate Muslims about the pre-Islamic history of their region, it preventing their progressive development. I have debated this with Muslim friends in a civilized manner, and t they respect this even though they disagree or don't understand certain aspects of western liberalism. That is what tolerance is about, it is about respect, co-existence and education.
I think the Dutch like most Europeans should make up their minds about immigrants, instead of vacillating between wanting to integrate, and wanting to expunge (muslim) immigrants from their countries.
Yes,expunge and persecute the radical fanatical Islamic zealots. They should have no "safe haven" in western countries to advocate their own xenophobic hatred and fears against the West. Let them rot in hell as far as I am concerned. They are not the majority of Muslims and nor should anyone like Mr Wilders make such deluded false and irrational claims.
Holland should provide grounds and incentives for Muslims to integrate into Dutch Society successfully. Not doing so, is gross failure and only plays into the hands of right wing extremists like Mr Wilders.
Moreover as far as freedom of speech is concerned, it must be socially responsible and cannot advocate hate along the lines of Mr Wilders suggestions. Thanks to Mr Wilders Muslim religious zealots , including Al Quaida, will have even all the more reason to re-paint a
picture of Christian crusades and belligerence and hostility against the Muslim world, with the idea that the a "clash" of civilizations is imminent.
Any rationally thinking human being with some knowledge knows that is utter nonsense. I hope that in Holland people remain steadfast vigilant against the simplistic and hate ridden arguments - tirades of Mr Wilders. The Dutch like to claim that they are tolerant to other nations and cultures, so they must show it.