Trouble In The Netherlands

[Schme]

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Trouble In The Netherlands
By
Alexander Thompson

I am sure some of you have heard of this. If not, I’ll tell you now.

Recently the Dutch government has taken it into it’s head that being explicitly muslim shouldn’t be allowed in their country. Looking south to France, and seeing how wonderfully their policies are doing, they’ve decided to follow suit.

And so, all across the Netherlands, an ever mounting number of pro-secularist laws (the majority of these being anti-Islamic laws) have been coming into affect.

One of the more high profile suggestions has been the one to federally ban the burka.

Now, very few women in Holland (or anywhere for that matter) actually were burkas. However, the Dutch government seems to have decided that there presence is a huge problem, worthy of national legislation.

But why?

Well, some say that it is because it violates the rights of women.

Perhaps these people do not know that, in Holland, no man can legally force any person, weather they be his wife, daughter or otherwise, to dress in a certain manner. Therefore, the only burkas that are worn are worn by women who chose to do this. (Granted, this is only technical, and no questions some (again, technical) human rights breaches occur, but if thise is the case, then why not crack down on that rather than ban burkas?)

So, who is breaking the “Human Rights” laws here? The women who chose to wear the clothing they want to wear? That doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.

Others will say that they are a security risk, as women could easily conceal weapons or bombs under them.

But could one not conceal a weapon on oneself in near any type of clothing? Yes, indeed they could. Believe me when I tell you, it’s not all that difficult. So should all Dutch walk around wearing thongs? It seems the government would like that, by their reasoning. But that is not, in fact, what they want. They want to ban burkas.

Now, if there were a huge problem with many incidents of women concealing weapons under there burkas and then making surprise attacks on people, or exploding in public places, then, perhaps, their reasoning would work. But that has not been happening. In fact, nothing of the sort has been happening.


Some less publicized little things have been one municipalities bid to reduce social assistance for women on welfare who will not be hired because they were headscarf or other modest dress associated with the teachings of the Prophet. From since the institution of the law, they will have their social assistance reduced annually by 10%. “People on social assistance have the responsibility to do everything they can to get a job.” Were the words of one city official.

Some municipalities have banned headscarves in schools, and even altogether, based on France’s very successful experimentation with legalized religious oppression.

Let’s take all this in.

All of the problems that the Dutch government has been trying to address are also caused (or are potentially caused by) others people, if in slightly different ways. Then why is all the legislation tailored toward Muslims? What about all the other people who cause the same problems? Should not we stop them too?

But the thing is, you see, that is not what they want to do. The government is not trying to protect anyone, they are not trying to uphold human rights. What they are trying to do is make Muslims know that they are, by no means, to exist, at least not in Holland, and if, for some reason, some of them rudely chose to do so, they are to renounce their faith at once, and if not, they should either pack up and leave, or stay in their apartments not being seen and starving to death.

I think the governments message is clear. The Children of the Prophet are not welcome in the Netherlands.

I implore you, decent people of Holland, do something about this. Do you really want to follow in the footsteps of France and Belgium? From what I know of Holland, no. The Holland I’ve known is not like that. Recently, I’ve seen the good Kingdom moving further and further along the path of disgusting bigoted ignorance. And now, it seems, they are following in the steps of the French, with their endless paranoia and Apartheid like laws, goose-stepping behind the Republic back into the dark ages. Since when is Holland a follower?

Please, people of Holland, do something, for the love of the good lord god, do something.


http://thebox.free.fr/haters.mp3 “Strictly for the haters”, By LL Cool J

[Racetyme]

Frankly, I'm a little scared about things like this. I keep feeling that the US is slowly and steadily moving the same way. Anybody else having premonitions like that or am I just paranoid?

[Nick]

Really, Racetyme? You actually think that the US may be a little xenophobic?

[nitefyre]

Classifying it in such broad terms is a poor way to generalize, though I suppose there's been a magnification of these issues in post 9/11 (the beginning of the 21st Century) America. However, it also depends on your geographic location, I mean, it's not as evident as it would be elsewhere in the country here in New York, or at least I feel that is the case. It is kind of ironic, considering the event that would mark the beginning of this century. Whereas in centuries earlier, I would mark 1914 as the beginning of the 20th Century and either 1799 (the Rise of Napoleon) or 1815 (his fall: Waterloo) for the 19th Century, in terms of the history of the Atlantic world.

[Stan]

From my perspective there's anti-Christian movement as well.

[Schme]

What about it?

It has not much to do with the the oppression of Islam in Holland. Whole other thing.

Like you say, from your perspective. That could be anything.

Perhaps better to elaborate somewhere else on that.

[Savanik]

I personally speak as an American when I say that this news is appalling.

I can't begin to express my inner disquiet when I say that discrimination on the basis of religion is just one step short of the dehumanization of these people. Freedom of thought and freedom of expression are two of the most fundamental rights of this country, and they are the rights that I am most singularly proud of in our nation.

If legislation like this were to come up on my ballot - be it anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, or even anti-KKK, I would vote against it and try and persuade others to do the same. You can't have universal rights when you deny those rights to groups of people.

Sav

[Stan]

I agree it is horrible. It's based on fear, obviously.

[Stan]

Perhaps better to elaborate somewhere else on that.

Uh, yeah, whatever. Relax.

[Schme]

Perhaps better to elaborate somewhere else on that.

Uh, yeah, whatever. Relax.

Tell me to relax? You brought it up. That makes no sense.

Don't get all pissy because I don't blindly agree with your vague statement, alright Stan?

[nitefyre]

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Trouble In The Netherlands
By
Alexander Thompson

I am sure some of you have heard of this. If not, I’ll tell you now.

Recently the Dutch government has taken it into <b>it’s</b> head that being explicitly <b>muslim*</b> shouldn’t be allowed in their country. Looking south to France, and seeing how wonderfully their policies are doing, they’ve decided to follow suit.

And so, all across the Netherlands, an ever mounting number of pro-secularist laws (the majority of these being anti-Islamic laws) have been coming into <b>affect.</b>

One of the more high profile suggestions has been the one to federally ban the burka.

Now, very few women in Holland (or anywhere for that matter) actually were burkas. However, the Dutch government seems to have decided that there presence is a huge problem, worthy of national legislation.

But why?

Well, some say that it is because it violates the rights of women.

Perhaps these people do not know that, in Holland, no man can legally force any person, <b>weather</b> they be his wife, daughter or otherwise, to dress in a certain manner. Therefore, the only burkas that are worn are worn by women who chose to do this. (Granted, this is only technical, and no questions some (again, technical) human rights breaches occur, but if <b>thise</b> is the case, then why not crack down on that rather than ban burkas?)

So, who is breaking the “Human Rights” laws here? The women who chose to wear the clothing they want to wear? That doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.

Others will say that they are a security risk, as women could easily conceal weapons or bombs under them.

But could one not conceal a weapon on oneself in near any type of clothing? Yes, indeed they could. Believe me when I tell you, it’s not all that difficult. So should all Dutch walk around wearing thongs? It seems the government would like that, by their reasoning. But that is not, in fact, what they want. They want to ban burkas.

Now, if there were a huge problem with many incidents of women concealing weapons under there burkas and then making surprise attacks on people, or exploding in public places, then, perhaps, their reasoning would work. But that has not been happening. In fact, nothing of the sort has been happening.


Some less publicized little things have been one municipalities bid to reduce social assistance for women on welfare who will not be hired because they <b>were</b> headscarf or other modest dress associated with the teachings of the Prophet. <b>From since</b> the institution of the law, they will have their social assistance reduced annually by 10%. “People on social assistance have the responsibility to do everything they can to get a job.” Were the words of one city official.

Some municipalities have banned headscarves in schools, and even altogether, based on France’s very successful experimentation with legalized religious oppression.

Let’s take all this in.

All of the problems that the Dutch government has been trying to address are also caused (or are potentially caused by) others people, if in slightly different ways. Then why is all the legislation tailored toward Muslims? What about all the other people who cause the same problems? Should <b>not we</b> stop them too?

But the thing is, you see, that is not what they want to do. The government is not trying to protect anyone, they are not trying to uphold human rights. What they are trying to do is make Muslims know that they are, by no means, to exist, at least not in Holland, and if, for some reason, some of them rudely chose to do so, they are to renounce their faith at once, and if not, they should either pack up and leave, or stay in their apartments not being seen and starving to death.

I think the governments message is clear. The Children of the Prophet are not welcome in the Netherlands.

I implore you, decent people of Holland, do something about this. Do you really want to follow in the footsteps of France and Belgium? From what I know of Holland, no. The Holland I’ve known is not like that. Recently, I’ve seen the good Kingdom moving further and further along the path of disgusting bigoted ignorance. And now, it seems, they are following in the steps of the French, with their endless paranoia and Apartheid like laws, goose-stepping behind the Republic back into the dark ages. Since when is Holland a follower?

Please, people of Holland, do something, for the love of the good lord <b>god**</b>, do something.


http://thebox.free.fr/haters.mp3 “Strictly for the haters”, By LL Cool J

*If it Muslim is capitalized later on, it should be here as well.

**Saying good Lord would be sufficient, but if you're going to capitalize Prophet, then you should probably capitalize God/Lord.

Just practicing editing, sorry.

[Schme]

Yes, Savanik, but it's no place of ours to try and vote for the people of the Netherlands. Anything that happens must be done by them. One can only hope that they will do something for the best.

That and write stuff on the internet. But the later is not really all to helpful.

[Stan]

Perhaps better to elaborate somewhere else on that.

Uh, yeah, whatever. Relax.

Tell me to relax? You brought it up. That makes no sense.

Don't get all pissy because I don't blindly agree with your vague statement, alright Stan?

Uh, yeah. Ok. I frankly wasn't sure you agreed or disagreed. My point was that religious freedom is being attacked around the world. I think you're right to post it. Not sure where you're coming from dude. I really don't.

[ephiroll]

There's always this kind of stuff going on. It breeds the malcontent that feeds all the conflicts that have happened throughout history. Long as there are people, this is how it will be. And it will only get worse as the world's population increases.

[nitefyre]

There's always this kind of stuff going on. It breeds the malcontent that feeds all the conflicts that have happened throughout history. Long as there are people, this is how it will be. And it will only get worse as the world's population increases.

The belief of one Mr. Thomas Hobbes.