Prosecutors Recommend Acquittal for Geert Wilders

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Dutch prosecutors have asked the high court to acquit anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders on charges of hate speech and incitement.

The judge has apparently not ruled on the request yet, but this is the right decision. I’ve always said Wilders should not be prosecuted for the hateful rubbish he spews.

But make no mistake; that does not mean I support Wilders himself. I support the ideal of free speech, which Wilders wants to take away from Muslims.

A wiser man might take a lesson from this attempted prosecution, and see that he was subjected to the same kind of persecution he’s trying to impose on all Muslims in the Netherlands. But Wilders will take this as further encouragement, because he’s a demagogue and a bigot, profiting politically from demonizing the “other” — exactly like GOP politicians such as Carl Paladino and Sarah Palin.

Also see
Geert Wilders: ‘In the Name of Freedom, No Mosque Here!’

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12 comments
1 HappyWarrior  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:32:48am

Agree with everything you say here Charles. I don't like hate speech laws because honestly I think people need to see these crazies for what they are. Willders is a jerk and a bigot but he has the right to espouse his nonsense I feel.

2 wrenchwench  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:47:23am
...profiting politically from demonizing the “other” — exactly like GOP politicians such as Carl Paladino and Sarah Palin.

When someone profits politically from something, they almost always profit financially as well. Somehow profiting financially seems more evil, although profiting politically might involve more harm in the long run.

3 Political Atheist  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:48:50am

Our rights have palpable costs. Not just in a monetary sense but in the emotional price of having to put up with the hate speech and then the effort to call it out and diminish it's impact.

I'm not sorry we have that strong protection for hurtful speech, and flag burning etc. As much as that hurts to view, I'm sorry for places like the UK that despite many qualities of Democracy lack our wonderful state and sanity preserving First Amendment.

It's on us to use it well.

4 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:52:17am

"You have to tell me about the ex-homosexuals," author Clive Barker asked O'Donnell.

Clive Barker vs O'Donnell on Politically Incorrect! I just imagine the look on his face, like he's talking to a child

5 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:53:07am

I do not at all support the notion of stifling "hate speech". I prefer to keep hateful lunatics as vocal and visible as possible.

I admit that my stance may unrealistically rely entirely too much upon the assumption that the majority of my fellow citizens are not insane.

6 What, me worry?  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 10:57:13am

Sticky situation. In the U.S., you don't have to actually physically hurt someone to be charged with a hate crime. This was brought up when the student who hung a noose at the UC at San Diego was suspended for doing so. However, simply hanging a noose IS considered a hate crime and punishable for up to one year in jail.

I also support free speech even unpleasant speech, but I don't understand why they didn't prosecute him. Maybe they should make him work at a Muslim soup kitchen for a year.

7 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 11:02:51am

re: #6 marjoriemoon

Sticky situation. In the U.S., you don't have to actually physically hurt someone to be charged with a hate crime. This was brought up when the student who hung a noose at the UC at San Diego was suspended for doing so. However, simply hanging a noose IS considered a hate crime and punishable for up to one year in jail.

I also support free speech even unpleasant speech, but I don't understand why they didn't prosecute him. Maybe they should make him work at a Muslim soup kitchen for a year.

Hanging a noose goes beyond speech. Given the lynchings that our nation saw in the past, hanging a noose is rightly seen as a death threat. And those can be lawfully barred.

8 What, me worry?  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 11:07:13am

re: #7 Dark_Falcon

Hanging a noose goes beyond speech. Given the lynchings that our nation saw in the past, hanging a noose is rightly seen as a death threat. And those can be lawfully barred.

True, but it goes under the law of hate crime, was my point.

I said that he should be prosecuted. I meant punished and yea, I do think he should be punished. What he does goes far behind hanging a noose. All the way across the ocean now, he has supporters. Who helped to fuel Geller's fire?

9 Tigger2005  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 11:15:07am

re: #4 WindUpBird

"You have to tell me about the ex-homosexuals," author Clive Barker asked O'Donnell.

Clive Barker vs O'Donnell on Politically Incorrect! I just imagine the look on his face, like he's talking to a child

She has a sense of humor about herself. She's so convinced she's right she can laugh about it. She's happily ignorant. She's going to go far! "Being There" anybody?

10 Steve Dutch  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 2:14:18pm

When the Soviet Union collapsed, never in my wildest nightmares did I imagine how badly freedom would erode in the West. Rampant abuse of patent and copyright law to stifle innovation. Nanny State micromanagement of every aspect of life. And the absolutely insane hate speech laws of Europe.

11 Catttt  Sat, Oct 16, 2010 8:40:56pm

I agree, Charles. I'm disappointed in Mr. Wilders - to me, he's tarring all Muslims with the same brush. Not all Muslims tar HIM with the same brush. People are individuals, and they all have the right to due process of law. He makes himself his own enemy. All Muslims are not the enemy. I have Muslim friends - they are not the enemy, dammit. My friends who happen to be Muslims are people. Humans.

By way of example, I dislike seeing Tony Perkins getting a say in the Washington Post - but what he says, while wrong (imho) and hateful, is not a crime. He has a right to his opinion, and he has a right to spout that stupid, asinine opinion.

12 Red Lion  Mon, Oct 18, 2010 6:22:46pm

"prosecutors have asked the court to acquit" WTF?


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