Fitna, a hateprovoking and discriminative film of Dutch politician, Wilders
Astrid Essed | 04.04.2008 04:55 | Analysis | Anti-racism
In ''Fitna'' Mr Wilders presents a onesided and discriminative image of the Islam, which is highly hateprovoking
Also he is mentioning the WTC and Madrid attacks, with denial of ''christian'' and Jewish fundamentalism and bagatellising the political causes
Also he is mentioning the WTC and Madrid attacks, with denial of ''christian'' and Jewish fundamentalism and bagatellising the political causes
Dear Editor and readers,
As you perhaps remember, I have written more often, in the past, about the political views of the Dutch right wing politician Mr Wilders ]political party, PVV, which means, Party of the Freedom], which are discriminative and hateprovoking
See also:
http://quebec.indymedia.org/en/node/27273
Undoubtedly you have learned of his recent anti-Islamfilm ''Fitna''
You can see it also in www.youtube.com
Warning:
Shocking images
As can be expected of Mr Wilders, the film was onesided, discriminative and hateprovoking
Perhaps you have learnt, that the reactions of most of the muslims in the Netherlands were ''moderate'', which concerns me, because of the fact of the ''acceptation'', in one way or another of the fact, that Wilders is uttering discriminative points of view
Although indeed a worse film was to be expected [for example tearing up the Quran], a fundamental protest against his discriminative points of view is of the greatest importance
It may be obvious, that I refer to a peaceful protest and not to treatments, in any way, of Mr Wilders, who has, as anybody in the world, the right on a humane treatment, a fair and independent trial, right, to be guarded from torture and all other human rights, like the right on safety
However, again, a strong and democratical protest, showing again and again on this racist points of view, is of the utmost importance
Under P/S you van read my comment on the film
DOWN WITH RACISM, THERE IS ONLY ONE RACE, THE HUMAN RACE
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Dear Editor and readers,
I have learnt with indignation about the''Fitna'', the anti-Islamic film of the right-wing Dutch politician, Mr G. Wilders
The film is to be seen on www.youtube.com
Warning: Shocking images
As to be expected from the political views of Mr Wilders, the film is giving a onesided and negative image of the Islam, which is hateprovoking and discriminative [1]
To legitimize his point of view, Mr Wilders is quoting some Qurantexts, which are used out of their context.
Also he is referring to the terroristic attacks of WTC and Madrid, which have been committed by individuals and organisations, who are using the religion for their own political purposes
Typical for his strand of thought is also the fact, that he doesn't refer to the political causes regarding those attacks
An analysis:
Religions:
The fundaments of Islam, as of Christianity and Judaism, are based on the God of Love, peace and human rights
However, through the centuries, politicians, religious leaders and military have used the religion for their own political and power aims
I don't have to mention the Pope Urbanus II, the initiator of the Crusades, who broke with the fundamental principle pf Christianity by mentioning, that it was no sin to kill ''infidels'' [2]
I presume also, that you'll be familiar with the massacres of the Jewish and muslim inhabitants of Palestine, by the so-called Crusader-knights, all in the name of the ''christian faith''
Spoken about fanatism
Also need to be mentioned the Spanish Inquisition, which slaughtered thousands of Jews and muslims and during the Reformation, the socalled protestant ''heretics''
Every religion knows its religious fanatics
Stigmatising of the Islam:
Typical for Wilders is his onesided and discriminative approach of the Islam.
Not only he is making no distinction between the great scala of muslims, from ''moderate'' untill ''extreme'', his selective use of Qurantexts and his denial of the use of similar texts in the Old Testimony and the Torah
Example of a horrible story of the Old Testimony is the genocide on the Amelecites [a nation, which waged war with the Israel from the time of King Saul], which would have taken place ''on the command of God'' [3]
That this horrible old story has its consequences in this time, shows the existence of a Jewish religious fanatical group, the Gush Emunim [which means, the Blocj of Believers], who put several years ago an advertisement in the Haaretz, with a summon to slaughter all Palestinians, after the example of the Amelecites [4]
Religious fanatism:
Example by ALL religions
The dangerous character of ''Fitna'' is not only the onesided quotes out of the Quran, but also the suggestion, that all muslims were religious fanatics
First, that is a very small group
Secondly, as being mentioned already, there are also ''christian'' or ''Jewish'' fanatics
I mentioned already the Gush Emunim, who are also present under the religious fanatical Jewish settlers, especially at Hebron, who are terrorising the occupied Palestinian population [5]
In the USA, the ''christian'' fundamentalists can be mentioned, who have assaulted the abortus clinics, especially in the nineties
The Netherlands:
Also in the Netherlands, religious fanatism existed, especially in the sixties, when IN THE DUTCH PARLIAMENT, a Mr van C Dis [of course NOT the writer A van Dis!], being member of parliament of a fundamental Dutch ''christian'' party, the SGP, defended the South African apartheid, by stating that negroes were inferior, being cursed as ''sons of Cham'' on the ground of an old misinterpreted Old Testamentical Story
Yes readers, the Netherlands of the sixties! [6]
Terroristic attacks and the political causes:
WTC and Madrid
In ''Fitna'' Mr Wilders is referring to the images of the WTC and Madrid attacks
Of course the attacks were illegal and horrible, being military attacks on civilians, but it is demagogical to lay the guilt upon a specific religion
All religions are based on human rights and love
However, the interpretation of men is human work and stems from the own choice, for which only human beings are responsible
Causes:
Further Mr Wilders is denying here the political causes of the terroristic attacks, which stem from the political-military British-American behaviour in the Middle East
The WTC attacks were a reaction on the American military attack on Iraq, with as humanitarian result thousands of civilian death, because of the use of clusterbombs and depleted uranium, which sickened also a great number of American soldiers [7]
And not to be mentioned the UN sanctions against Iraq, which especially have hurted the elderly people and the children
Because of lack of medicines, more than 500.000 Iraqi children has died
The Madrid attacks were a reaction on the Spanish political and military support for the illegal second American attack on Iraq
As in the first attack and Afghanistan, thousands of civilians have died because of the use of clusterbombs and depleted uranium
WHERE IN THE WILDERSFILM CORPSES ARE SHOWN FROM THOSE CIVILIAN VICTIMS, THE DEAD IRAQI CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE UN SANCTIONS AND THE TORTURED PRISONERS IN GUANTANAMO BAY, ABU GRAIBH, BAGHRAM AND OTHER AMERICAN PRISONCAMPS [8]
IT IS NO WONDER, ONE WILL NOT SEE THOSE PICTURES, SINCE MR WILDERS HIMSELF IS PLEADING FOR A DUTCH GUANTANAMO BAY FOR TERRORSUSPECTS
SINCE MR WILDERS IS OF THE OPINION, THAT ASYLUMSEEKERS SHOULD NOT GET MEDICAL CARE, EXCEPT WHEN THERE DIRECT LIFE IS AT STAKE
Also it is to be mentioned, that those attacks, HOWEVER HORRIBLE, are a reaction on the structural American political and military support for the 40 years long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian terrirories [9]
Mohammed cartoon:
As well at the beginning as the end of ''Fitna'' one of the notorious Danish Muhammed cartoons are dispayed, by which the for the muslims holy Profet is being imaged with a bomb in his turban
Again, yet apart from the insult to the Profet Muhammed, that association, that all muslims are terrorists
Therefore it is to be applauded, that as well the Dutch prime-minister mr Balkenende, as the EU, the UN Sectretary General, as the mayor of Amsterdam, mr Cohen, have rejected this film sharply
With all due respect for a number of Dutch muslims, who were relieved about the relatively not extreme character of the film [there was the fear of tearing or burning the Quran], the film IS EXTREME, HOWEVER
It is stigmatising, hateprovoking and discriminative
Again I wholeheartedly support the statements the Srs H de Winter, E van Thijn and rabbi Soetendorp, that the points of view of Mr Wilders have comparisons with the rising anti-semitism from the thirty years in nazi-Germany [10]
From their Jewish background, they can feel, better then the average Dutchman [of course not to be named those, who are resisting against Wilders] the danger of those hateprovoking points of view
Epilogue:
Every military violence or torture against civilian people, hostages or prisoners of war is a war-crime, despite whether it is done by a regular army or a resistence group
But war-crimes, which are inspired by religion, take place under each religion, whether christian, jewish or muslim
Regarding that I want to recommend the film of the AEL Europe [11]
it is called ''Al Mouftinoun'' and also seen on www.youtube.com
Warning: shocking images
Of course everyone can form his own opinion about the film, but it represents the other side of the story
Down with racism, anti-semitism and xenofobism
At the end of the day, we are all human beings
There is only ONE race, the human race
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
NOTES:
[1]
Article about the political views of Mr Wilders
http://quebec.indymedia.org/en/node/27273
[2]
non-believers in Christianity, in casu muslims
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade#Siege_of_Jerusalem
[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalek
[4]
http://www.cactus48.com/fundamentalism.html
[5]
http://www.btselem.org/English/
http://www.btselem.org/English/Hebron/
[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_Ham
http://www.helium.com/items/367210-bibles-blacks-cursed-godmany
[7]
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/clusters/index.htm
[8]
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/04/27/usint10545.htm
[9]
http://www.btselem.org/English/
[10]
Mr H de Winter is a Dutch filmmaker and an initiator of a Different Jewish Voice, a critical Jewish organisation, regarding Israel
See also:
http://www.eajg.nl/uploaded/Mission_Statement_EAJG_English.pdf
Mr H de Winter should not to be confused with the Dutch well known writer, Mr L de Winter, who is a fanatical Israeladherent and a notorious muslim-basher
Mr Cohen is the mayor of Amsterdam
Mr rabbi Soetendorp is a very respected Dutch Jewish liberal rabbi
[11]
http://www.arabeuropean.org/index.php
As you perhaps remember, I have written more often, in the past, about the political views of the Dutch right wing politician Mr Wilders ]political party, PVV, which means, Party of the Freedom], which are discriminative and hateprovoking
See also:
http://quebec.indymedia.org/en/node/27273 Undoubtedly you have learned of his recent anti-Islamfilm ''Fitna''
You can see it also in www.youtube.com
Warning:
Shocking images
As can be expected of Mr Wilders, the film was onesided, discriminative and hateprovoking
Perhaps you have learnt, that the reactions of most of the muslims in the Netherlands were ''moderate'', which concerns me, because of the fact of the ''acceptation'', in one way or another of the fact, that Wilders is uttering discriminative points of view
Although indeed a worse film was to be expected [for example tearing up the Quran], a fundamental protest against his discriminative points of view is of the greatest importance
It may be obvious, that I refer to a peaceful protest and not to treatments, in any way, of Mr Wilders, who has, as anybody in the world, the right on a humane treatment, a fair and independent trial, right, to be guarded from torture and all other human rights, like the right on safety
However, again, a strong and democratical protest, showing again and again on this racist points of view, is of the utmost importance
Under P/S you van read my comment on the film
DOWN WITH RACISM, THERE IS ONLY ONE RACE, THE HUMAN RACE
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Dear Editor and readers,
I have learnt with indignation about the''Fitna'', the anti-Islamic film of the right-wing Dutch politician, Mr G. Wilders
The film is to be seen on www.youtube.com
Warning: Shocking images
As to be expected from the political views of Mr Wilders, the film is giving a onesided and negative image of the Islam, which is hateprovoking and discriminative [1]
To legitimize his point of view, Mr Wilders is quoting some Qurantexts, which are used out of their context.
Also he is referring to the terroristic attacks of WTC and Madrid, which have been committed by individuals and organisations, who are using the religion for their own political purposes
Typical for his strand of thought is also the fact, that he doesn't refer to the political causes regarding those attacks
An analysis:
Religions:
The fundaments of Islam, as of Christianity and Judaism, are based on the God of Love, peace and human rights
However, through the centuries, politicians, religious leaders and military have used the religion for their own political and power aims
I don't have to mention the Pope Urbanus II, the initiator of the Crusades, who broke with the fundamental principle pf Christianity by mentioning, that it was no sin to kill ''infidels'' [2]
I presume also, that you'll be familiar with the massacres of the Jewish and muslim inhabitants of Palestine, by the so-called Crusader-knights, all in the name of the ''christian faith''
Spoken about fanatism
Also need to be mentioned the Spanish Inquisition, which slaughtered thousands of Jews and muslims and during the Reformation, the socalled protestant ''heretics''
Every religion knows its religious fanatics
Stigmatising of the Islam:
Typical for Wilders is his onesided and discriminative approach of the Islam.
Not only he is making no distinction between the great scala of muslims, from ''moderate'' untill ''extreme'', his selective use of Qurantexts and his denial of the use of similar texts in the Old Testimony and the Torah
Example of a horrible story of the Old Testimony is the genocide on the Amelecites [a nation, which waged war with the Israel from the time of King Saul], which would have taken place ''on the command of God'' [3]
That this horrible old story has its consequences in this time, shows the existence of a Jewish religious fanatical group, the Gush Emunim [which means, the Blocj of Believers], who put several years ago an advertisement in the Haaretz, with a summon to slaughter all Palestinians, after the example of the Amelecites [4]
Religious fanatism:
Example by ALL religions
The dangerous character of ''Fitna'' is not only the onesided quotes out of the Quran, but also the suggestion, that all muslims were religious fanatics
First, that is a very small group
Secondly, as being mentioned already, there are also ''christian'' or ''Jewish'' fanatics
I mentioned already the Gush Emunim, who are also present under the religious fanatical Jewish settlers, especially at Hebron, who are terrorising the occupied Palestinian population [5]
In the USA, the ''christian'' fundamentalists can be mentioned, who have assaulted the abortus clinics, especially in the nineties
The Netherlands:
Also in the Netherlands, religious fanatism existed, especially in the sixties, when IN THE DUTCH PARLIAMENT, a Mr van C Dis [of course NOT the writer A van Dis!], being member of parliament of a fundamental Dutch ''christian'' party, the SGP, defended the South African apartheid, by stating that negroes were inferior, being cursed as ''sons of Cham'' on the ground of an old misinterpreted Old Testamentical Story
Yes readers, the Netherlands of the sixties! [6]
Terroristic attacks and the political causes:
WTC and Madrid
In ''Fitna'' Mr Wilders is referring to the images of the WTC and Madrid attacks
Of course the attacks were illegal and horrible, being military attacks on civilians, but it is demagogical to lay the guilt upon a specific religion
All religions are based on human rights and love
However, the interpretation of men is human work and stems from the own choice, for which only human beings are responsible
Causes:
Further Mr Wilders is denying here the political causes of the terroristic attacks, which stem from the political-military British-American behaviour in the Middle East
The WTC attacks were a reaction on the American military attack on Iraq, with as humanitarian result thousands of civilian death, because of the use of clusterbombs and depleted uranium, which sickened also a great number of American soldiers [7]
And not to be mentioned the UN sanctions against Iraq, which especially have hurted the elderly people and the children
Because of lack of medicines, more than 500.000 Iraqi children has died
The Madrid attacks were a reaction on the Spanish political and military support for the illegal second American attack on Iraq
As in the first attack and Afghanistan, thousands of civilians have died because of the use of clusterbombs and depleted uranium
WHERE IN THE WILDERSFILM CORPSES ARE SHOWN FROM THOSE CIVILIAN VICTIMS, THE DEAD IRAQI CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE UN SANCTIONS AND THE TORTURED PRISONERS IN GUANTANAMO BAY, ABU GRAIBH, BAGHRAM AND OTHER AMERICAN PRISONCAMPS [8]
IT IS NO WONDER, ONE WILL NOT SEE THOSE PICTURES, SINCE MR WILDERS HIMSELF IS PLEADING FOR A DUTCH GUANTANAMO BAY FOR TERRORSUSPECTS
SINCE MR WILDERS IS OF THE OPINION, THAT ASYLUMSEEKERS SHOULD NOT GET MEDICAL CARE, EXCEPT WHEN THERE DIRECT LIFE IS AT STAKE
Also it is to be mentioned, that those attacks, HOWEVER HORRIBLE, are a reaction on the structural American political and military support for the 40 years long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian terrirories [9]
Mohammed cartoon:
As well at the beginning as the end of ''Fitna'' one of the notorious Danish Muhammed cartoons are dispayed, by which the for the muslims holy Profet is being imaged with a bomb in his turban
Again, yet apart from the insult to the Profet Muhammed, that association, that all muslims are terrorists
Therefore it is to be applauded, that as well the Dutch prime-minister mr Balkenende, as the EU, the UN Sectretary General, as the mayor of Amsterdam, mr Cohen, have rejected this film sharply
With all due respect for a number of Dutch muslims, who were relieved about the relatively not extreme character of the film [there was the fear of tearing or burning the Quran], the film IS EXTREME, HOWEVER
It is stigmatising, hateprovoking and discriminative
Again I wholeheartedly support the statements the Srs H de Winter, E van Thijn and rabbi Soetendorp, that the points of view of Mr Wilders have comparisons with the rising anti-semitism from the thirty years in nazi-Germany [10]
From their Jewish background, they can feel, better then the average Dutchman [of course not to be named those, who are resisting against Wilders] the danger of those hateprovoking points of view
Epilogue:
Every military violence or torture against civilian people, hostages or prisoners of war is a war-crime, despite whether it is done by a regular army or a resistence group
But war-crimes, which are inspired by religion, take place under each religion, whether christian, jewish or muslim
Regarding that I want to recommend the film of the AEL Europe [11]
it is called ''Al Mouftinoun'' and also seen on www.youtube.com
Warning: shocking images
Of course everyone can form his own opinion about the film, but it represents the other side of the story
Down with racism, anti-semitism and xenofobism
At the end of the day, we are all human beings
There is only ONE race, the human race
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
NOTES:
[1]
Article about the political views of Mr Wilders
http://quebec.indymedia.org/en/node/27273 [2]
non-believers in Christianity, in casu muslims
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade#Siege_of_Jerusalem [3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalek [4]
http://www.cactus48.com/fundamentalism.html [5]
http://www.btselem.org/English/ http://www.btselem.org/English/Hebron/ [6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_Ham http://www.helium.com/items/367210-bibles-blacks-cursed-godmany [7]
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/clusters/index.htm [8]
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/04/27/usint10545.htm [9]
http://www.btselem.org/English/ [10]
Mr H de Winter is a Dutch filmmaker and an initiator of a Different Jewish Voice, a critical Jewish organisation, regarding Israel
See also:
http://www.eajg.nl/uploaded/Mission_Statement_EAJG_English.pdf Mr H de Winter should not to be confused with the Dutch well known writer, Mr L de Winter, who is a fanatical Israeladherent and a notorious muslim-basher
Mr Cohen is the mayor of Amsterdam
Mr rabbi Soetendorp is a very respected Dutch Jewish liberal rabbi
[11]
http://www.arabeuropean.org/index.php
Astrid Essed