Geert Wilders: "What I miss most in my life today? Freedom."

Sandi's picture
Submitted by Sandi on Fri, 2008-01-04 02:55.

The Hague- Rightwing Dutch politician and Islam critic Geert Wilders has made a name for himself with harsh one-liners about Muslims, migration and remarks about the 'Islamization of the Netherlands.'

Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, the 44-year old Freedom Party leader, vilified as populist, prides himself on his 'clear cut' expressions. He wants to end the 'so-called pragmatic consensus mentality' that characterizes Dutch national culture.

Wilders says his goal is 'preserving Dutch identity and Dutch values' - this is why he opposes continued immigration as well as far-reaching European integration.

Contradictions surface during the conversation.

While referring to problems Wilders says migrants have caused the Dutch welfare state, he also argues the welfare state often destroys people's personal drive to succeed, applauding the US for 'not pampering' its citizens, particularly its migrants.

Likewise, Wilders supports the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan as a means to tackle Islamic fundamentalism and maintain international stability, but does not expect 'modernization of Islam within the next several thousand years.'

"Freedom starts with the law and also includes embracing local norms and values,' Wilders says, 'including to act against a backward culture like that of Islam, an ideology which in my view wants to take our freedom away from us.

Ultimately many fundamental problems in the Netherlands are directly related to migrants, like infrastructure, traffic jams, housing problems, the welfare state."

Removing international trade barriers plays a fundamental role in Wilders' approach towards migration.

"I propose to stop all development aid and simultaneously ensure developing countries can compete fairly on the world market. The European Union should also stop its subsidies to the Polish and French farmers.

Only then can developing countries build healthy, competitive economies. This will remove the incentive to migrate to Europe.'

Following his call in August to ban the Koran as a 'fascist book,' Wilders recently announced he is producing a film about the Muslim holy scriptures which will be released later this month.

'I receive death threats daily. My opinions are strong, but I am not violent. Still, I have to live with personal security guards around the clock.

'I lost several friends because they feared to become a target too. It also affects my family. That is particularly painful.

What I miss most in my life today? Freedom.'

******

He may be wrong about banning a book, but I can live with that. If the world had politicians more like this man, our lives would be far richer.


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The Netherlands

Callum McPetrie's picture

The Netherlands seems to be the one nation who has some politicians who make sense on the Islamofascist issue. If only the rest of Europe, especially England and France, woke up to the issue. I can imagine it looks like Moors v.2 in suburban Paris.

"Socialism may be dead, but its corpse is still rotting up the place." -Ayn Rand


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