Props to the Dutch Court for not folding under Islamofacist pressure.

Dutch court: Geert Wilders has free-speech right to criticize Islam

Amazing, the things that are litigable these days. This wasn’t the public prosecution hinted at by the Dutch government last week but “merely” a private suit filed by the Netherlands Islamic Foundation to have criticism of Islam deemed an “incitement” under Dutch law and thereby worthy of being censored. Note the rationale:

The NIF wanted to know if Wilders had broken the law with his public declaration in August last year that the Koran is a fascist book and comments that Mohammed was a barbarian.

According to the judge, the term fascism must be seen in a broader context. The NIF associated it with the Holocaust and ‘other evil practices from Nazi Germany’. But fascism should, said the judge, be seen as ‘a collective term for ideologies which fundamentally embrace a totalitarian political system which leaves no room for people with other ideas’.

When it came to Mohammed, the NIF was unable during the hearing to deny that he was a barbarian, reports ANP. Furthermore, the organisation was not able to disprove the fact that Islam consists of beliefs that are in contradiction to democratic principles, the judge said.

Exit question via Sugiero: Will the judge be fatwa’d next week?

Well that is a no brainer…

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Via Hot Air:

Amazing, the things that are litigable these days. This wasn’t the public prosecution hinted at by the Dutch government last week but “merely” a private suit filed by the Netherlands Islamic Foundation to have criticism of Islam deemed an “incitement” under Dutch law and thereby worthy of being censored. Note the rationale:

The NIF wanted to know if Wilders had broken the law with his public declaration in August last year that the Koran is a fascist book and comments that Mohammed was a barbarian.

According to the judge, the term fascism must be seen in a broader context. The NIF associated it with the Holocaust and ‘other evil practices from Nazi Germany’. But fascism should, said the judge, be seen as ‘a collective term for ideologies which fundamentally embrace a totalitarian political system which leaves no room for people with other ideas’.

When it came to Mohammed, the NIF was unable during the hearing to deny that he was a barbarian, reports ANP. Furthermore, the organisation was not able to disprove the fact that Islam consists of beliefs that are in contradiction to democratic principles, the judge said.

Exit question via Sugiero: Will the judge be fatwa’d next week?

A serious No Brainer….

 Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Rosemary’s Thoughts, WayWard Fundamentalist Christian, Right Truth, Shadowscope, DragonLady’s World, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, Chuck’s Place, D equals S, Woman Honor Thyself, DragonLady’s World, Pirate’s Cove, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, A Newt One- Don’t miss this show!, Rant it Up, Right Voices, Stageleft, A Blog For All, 123beta, Maggie’s Notebook, Adam’s Blog, The Christian Nationalist, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, McCain Blogs, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Oblogatory Anecdotes - Photoshop Montage/Open Trackbacks, Wolf Pangloss, Beagle Scout, Tilting At Windmill Farms, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

_{Crossposted at Peace Thugs.}

While poking around You Tube, I found this video.

While the initial impulse is to cheer, it makes me somewhat sad at the same time.

Let me clearly state that I find Code Pink to be fairly disgusting and offensive.  If I were at one of their protests I would be hard pressed to contain my temper.

Code Pink has no respect for dignity, nor for the civil rights of their opposition. They will without hesitation cross lines to infiltrate into the areas designated for other protesters.  They will illegally block entrances, and do, as one member stated, “anything” to bring attention to their cause.

But at the same time, there is a principle at stake behind the nuttiness, and that is free speech, and while I despise their message, I have to respect their right to have on.  I will of course draw the line at legal, if they violate the law let them be treated accordingly.

So in other words, while I have little sympathy for them, I have to allow that their right to be publicly idiotic is guaranteed by the same Constitution I swore to defend, 20 something years ago.

So when I see the frustrated pro troop protesters lose their tempers and commit acts that are more reminiscent of Code Pink and other liberals, I am somewhat sad.

Obviously the people in question are adults, and if they choose civil disobedience, that is their right to do so.

But at the same time, they are also acting to make their antagonists martyrs and victims, by violating their free speech, and if there is one thing liberals know how to exploit, it is victim hood.

I am not going to point to a particular act or comment by the pro troop folks in that video as  my example of crossing the line.  Let the reader make his or her own choice about how to respond when insanity walks their streets.

Michelle Malkin has written a blog tracing in detail a list of the more egregious assaults on Military Recruiters by the Anti War Left.  For those of us pissed off by the Berkeley Council’s attempts to drive them out, this shows that to be a drop int eh bucket.  Here are a few excerpts:

Special report: Tracing the Left’s escalating war on military recruiters

Ideas have consequences. Inaction has consequences. For the past several years, I’ve chronicled the Left’s escalating war on military recruiters–and the apathetic, weak-kneed response to it. In Unhinged, I devoted a sub-section of my chapter “They Don’t Support Our Troops” to the organized campaign of harassment against recruitment offices on college campuses nationwide. The anti-recruiter thugs have thrived thanks to a combination of public indifference, law enforcement fecklessness, and left-wing ideological apologism. As you may recall, I have personal experience with the anti-recruiter propagandists, who lie through their teeth, exploit media sympathy, and harbor nothing but raw hatred for the men and women who protect and defend their rights to bitch and moan.

Many observers wanted to shut out any possibility that yesterday’s bombing at the Times Square recruitment center was ideologically motivated.

But will any on the left and in the Democrat Party raise their voices–loudly and clearly–to condemn the ongoing, militant anti-recruiter campaign?

Will they urge the Code Pinkos and their ilk to halt their intimidation and obstruction efforts?

Or will they continue to sit silently and attempt to downplay yesterday’s bombing as an isolated incident– instead of the all-too-predictable symptom of reckless tolerance for dangerous “peace”-peddlers skating on the edge of sedition?

Context matters. Drawing on my past reporting and blogging, here is a brief history of the anti-military recruitment movement’s mounting acts of vandalism and violence (which is by no means comprehensive and which I’ll continue to amend as commenters and readers remind me of other incidents). Let the apologists and pooh-poohers delude themselves into believing that the Times Square bombing was a “lone” act. The facts speak for themselves:

As a humourist, comic, satirist or pundit, he has the right to mock anyone he wants.

But Al is more.  He is now a political candidate, and as such, is it really a good thing to mock his potential constituents?  Like it or not, when you are elected you represent all the people in your State, not just the ones you agree with.

Apparently Al needs a lesson in what a Representative Republic is…and on how to be professional.

Franken didn’t exactly leave ‘em laughing in Northfield - Franken apparently had more fun than senior history major Peter Fritz.

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Al Franken didn’t exactly leave ‘em laughing in Northfield.

Earlier this month Franken was at Carleton College, where the late Sen. Paul Wellstone was a professor,  for a student rally related to a special election in the state Senate District 25. After the rally in the great space of Sayles-Hill some students crowded around to take photos with the “Saturday Night  Live” alum, author, satirist and celebrity.

Franken’s spokesman Andy Barr said via e-mail Tuesday that Al “remembers having a spirited convo w/ College GOPer at the urging of some of the kid’s College Dem pals. Seemed like everyone was having a good time, or as good a time as you can have debating Reaganomics.”

Franken apparently had more fun than senior history major Peter Fritz.

According to Fritz, things started out fine with him taking photos of  fellow Carls (that’s what students call themselves) with Franken. Then Franken’s curiosity was raised about why Fritz didn’t want to be in a pic.

Apparently, his ego is such that no one should NOT want to have their picture taken?

He’s a conservative, another Carl yelled out by way of explanation.

At that point, Franken reportedly began peppering Fritz with questions about supporting  President George W. Bush and former President Ronald Reagan’s tax hikes. Fritz told me he got tense and, as he does in those situations, started chewing the inside of his mouth,, a gesture he said was mimicked by Franken; Fritz also thought  his style of speech was mocked by Franken.

When I read Ann’s heartfelt tribute to the passing of her father, I was of course not shocked at her characterization of him.

She certainly did not fall far from his tree. 

But I also knew, with certainty, that the liberals who despise her would soon make sport of it. something I equally certain she expected.

I was right:

Whether it’s Tony Snow’s cancer, the comparative good intentions of Hitler and Stalin, or the urgent need for a military coup, no one does “satire” like HuffPo. How bad is this one? So bad that even the blogosphere’s most notorious comment section is put off by it, although stick with the debate long enough and you’ll see it ends up where all progressive line-crossing eventually does, in a contest between the self-congratulatory “I’m tired of being morally superior to the wingnuts” and the equally self-congratulatory “we must remain morally superior to the wingnuts.” I didn’t read to the end but I’m pretty sure it ends in a draw.

So how bad is it really?  A few excerpts:

Ann Coulter Kills at Her Father’s Funeral

Ann Coulter’s father John died last week, and this week she honored his memory with a column containing not one, but two Ted Kennedy jokes. I know I’d be proud.

Note:  I am almost certain her dad would have been, from her description.  Moving on…

Such is a daughter’s grief. Think of her, then, as Ophelia with her violetless garlands, crossed with a real fucking hack.

But where’s the Hillary material? Come on. It’s right in front of you, Ann — dad’s dead… Hillary cries… you do the math.

Clearly, Ann’s not at the top of her game. So I’ve taken the liberty of going through the eulogy — cutting the Kennedy material — and punching up the rest.

The longest baby ever born at the Albany, N.Y., hospital, at least as of May 5, 1926, who grew up to be my strapping father, passed away last Friday morning.

Let’s state early, I don’t listen to him very often and i don’t like the brand of show he runs, the demagoguing incite the masses kind of talk show.

I prefer intellectual discussions to his “psychological nudity”.

But I am impressed at his gumption, his chutzpah, as he sues CAIR and labels them for what they are.

Savage lawsuit calls CAIR ‘vehicle of international terrorism’: Accuses group of seeking ‘harm to those who speak against violent agenda’

Trend-setting radio talk show host Michael Savage has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Council on Islamic-American Relations, and has accused the organization of being a “political vehicle of international terrorism” that seeks to do “material harm to those voices who speak against the violent agenda of CAIR’s clients.”

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in California, seeks damages equal to the ongoing donations from CAIR supporters “who expect CAIR to act in this manner in exchange for continuing financial support” as well as “actual damages according to proof.”

A spokesman for Savage indicated the top-rated talk show host would have no further comment, saying the text of the lawsuit itself would answer questions.

The focal point of the lawsuit is a series of audio clips CAIR has been using in its promotions and fundraising efforts.

Those comments from Savage’s show include his criticisms of Islam and Muslims, including:

“I’m not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I’m not gonna put my daughter in a burqa. And I’m not getting’ on my all-fours and braying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don’t like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don’t wanna hear any more about Islam. I don’t wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I’m sick of you.”

But the lawsuit maintains such comments, taken in context, are Savage’s verbal expression of the feelings of many Americans.

It is a serious question and one I am admittedly bothered by.  Let me explain, but first I want to make it clear that I abhor Phelps and his protests at Soldiers funerals, and his entire anti gay campaign.

To be double clear, Phelps and his church are among the most vile extremists to ever call themselves Christians.  For those who are not in the loop, Phelps and his church are on a campaign against gay people.  In their infinite insanity, they decided that God hates gays, and there for anything bad in American is God punishing America for tolerating gays.  This includes the war in Iraq, so they put 2 and 2 together, split it 6 ways till Tuesday then multiply the result by the number reasons they think God hates fags, and they take to the streets.  Their goal?  Military funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq.

Now would someone tell me how it makes sense to protest a funeral of a dead straight Marine and claim that God hates fags, and that’s why the Marine died.

Needless to say no one really likes them much.  See what happened to them at one such event here.  In another of my blogs, Free Speech? Not at a friggin funeral, for crying out loud, I noted that:

I  am easily a huge believer in free speech, both in using it, and in defending others rights to use it in ways I find outrageous.   But there are a few types that push me to limits and make me want to slap the daylights out of the people.

One of those is taking advantage of an event like a funeral to make a political statement.  It kills me that people can disregard the feelings of grieving families and think they are morally justified in making their politics override good manners and sensitivity.  Someone died, show some respect.

The problem is, you cannot expect people to show respect when they think they can make a PR splash.  States have tried to ban them, only to have the bans challenged in court.

One of my all time favorite TV shows is the 80’s and 90’s sitcom Roseanne.

Roseanne when it came out could have been a portrait of my life.  At the time I was not well off financially, and was dealing with a lot of stress and unhappiness with laughter and sarcasm.

It was one of the first sitcoms to portray what life for most working class people was like:  A struggle with highs and lows. It also, as Roseanne Barr notes in her DVD commentary, clearly showcases the disconnect in class in America.

But.  One of the things I do struggle with is Roseanne herself, the actress, the comedienne and the activist.

I perused her blog and was shocked at how she can flip from crazy to wacky in no time at all.

Here are some examples from Roseanne World.   WARNING:  EXTREME LANGUAGE AHEAD

On Anne Coulter:

Ann Coulter

She serves a purpose, and a part of that is disturbing. When any woman with opinions speaks up - including Anne (the mouthpiece for Aryan womanhood) - she is the victim of verbal sexual assault. Her genitals and sexuality are gleefully insulted: she has an Adam’s apple, she likes getting fucked in the ass… This is wrong in any case, even hers. It demeans all women to do it. She can be debated intelligently, and if she would allow me that, I would be honored to do it, as I think she makes some valid points about the failures of the left in this country.

http://www.roseanneworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5192

A clear thinking, fair rational piece.  Now flip to:

Ann Coulter’s Anti-Semitism

The ultimate state of the perfection of Jews: they are all dead.

This is what is actually in the minds of Bush/Cheney and all Christians of the right who run this country, and ironically, are the major supporters of the state of Israel’s ride to ruin which is coming very quickly.

Darn those Christian kids, expecting they can assemble and associate like the chess club or the Anime Club.

What were they thinking?  Were they expecting some constitutional protection or something?

Leave it to the 9th Circuit Circus Court.

Christian group loses suit against Kentridge

Kentridge High School was within its rights to refuse a Christian group the same privileges as other student organizations at the school, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

The case, initially filed in 2001, was brought against the Kent School District by parents of Sarice Undis, then a junior at Kentridge, and Julianne Stewart, a sophomore.

It was filed after the school refused to charter their Truth Bible Club, preventing them from certain fundraising, yearbook and advertising rights, though the group was allowed to meet on campus.

Why?

By restricting voting membership only to students who had professed a “belief in the Bible and in Jesus Christ,” Truth Bible Club was violating the school district’s non-discrimination policy, Kentridge officials said.

Exit Poll:  Bearing in mind dhimmitude, would the school have had the balls to deny a Muslim group that limited voting members to professing Muslims?

I think not…

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