Comment

ADL Condemns Remarks by Geert Wilders

70
calcajun4/30/2009 2:53:22 pm PDT

This is not anything new in Europe, though. The concept of freedom of expression was born in England in the late 17th century—but achieved full flower here.

In Europe, there has always been a tradition of prior restraint and what is being espoused by Winders is nothing new. I’m not an apologist by no means, but the continental mind-set is very different from ours when it comes to free speech. They view censorship as healthy if it keeps the peace and silences “unacceptable” elements. I’m not condoning it—just making an observation as to how they think on certain issues.