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Baking cookies in the Netherlands?Reader comment on item: Western Civilization on Trial: Why We Should Be Watching Geert Wilders Submitted by Charles (Netherlands), Feb 16, 2010 at 07:11 Dear Mr Paul Wilders [whats in a name after all ;-)] thanks for your remarks regarding Democracy. It is clear that we differ rather deeply on this. In my view this country is wobbeling dangerously to chaos and some form of government crisis which could well result in having serious consequences for the ruling elite. Ofcourse Mr Wilders is not at fault on this. It his not his doing after all. At this time nobody knows what is going to happen. What is clear however, is that that same ruling elite is in great distress right now. This situation has been seen before, and I am refering to 2002 ofcourse. The track record of the ruling elite handeling political challenges is not good in the Netherlands. Actually, it is pretty bad. Since the 2002 crisis this country has seen a tremendous rise in the political awarness of the public at large, especially at grass-root level. An awakening which has never been seen before since, well, since 2002... When I am refering to some basic Democratic values which I see eroding in this country (freedom of speech and even thought, to name just two), I truly believe that these core values belong to the foundations of a free Democratic state. The discrace of the free-speech trial with Mr Wilders regarding legal and political opinions (and denunciations) on and about Islam is the next sad highpoint in a downhill road I am very sad to say. You might find it al a bit exaggerated and a bit of a poohah, and your firm belief in Democracy reads reassuring and pleasant enough, but I would'nt make any bets on it. The most dangerous thing we can do today is look the other way, and keep on smiling away and ridiculizing the situation by denouncing people like Mr Wilders as baking cookies. If my guess is anywhere right, I think that what Mr Wilders is preparing in his kitchen is anything but sweet and tasty. For some it could very be a very spirited meal indeed! In the coming months we will witness the unfolding of what is going to happen in the Netherlands. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (60) on this item
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