Eshin Direct

What did I feel when I heard that Pim Fortuyn was shot dead? Shock more than anything. Sadness…not really for him. I guess I was more sad in the way in which it would affect politics in the Netherlands. My opinion is already somewhat of layman’s opinion considering I’ve never really had an interest in that small country’s politics. Anyone seen the mouse that roared?

The slaying of a Dutch minister is not just an attack on his views and politics. Whether he was anti-immigrant or not, it was an attack on the Dutch value system and political process that is central to it operating as a democratic society. Candidates who wish to voice an opinion can no longer do so without giving due to consideration to what is being said. Oh yes, I know, life will go on, and some may point out the post-John Lennon, singers have still voiced a differing opinion to some who would rather they didn’t. But there is a world of difference, work, status between the front singer for the band that plays at the local pub who shouts out opinions (who we can belt afterwards) and the multimillion popstar who is surrounded by an entourage of body guards and assistants.

Pim Fortuyn, while his opinions were not entirely right, represented an opinion that was shared by a substantial part of the Netherlands. To deny these people that spokesman is wrong. Not only do we not have the chance to question his views and notions (as is customary in a free and democractic society) but the only thing he will remain good for is his martyrdom for his support of racism.

While anti-immigration isn’t the same as racism, as it is possible to be anti-immigration at the same time as not being racist, it is what he will be remembered for. His supporters will only hear that he was assassinated for being a racist. North Africans apparently celebrated his death and they, too, only heard his racist persona.

The US media and its Euro-sycophants will be commenting on how Fortuyn was riding on an anti-immigration platform. This is easy for them to say….the US has one of the most stringent immigration laws I know of. I don’t get excited knowing that Republicans have kept the Mexicans out of the US. But they police that border regularly…of course, for the “war” on drugs.

Can the Netherlands not do the same? Is it absolutely necessary for the Dutch to be so tolerant…when in fact they are not. The reason I say this is that any of you who know a Dutch person will know that they have a peculiar way of being right but accepting that you might have your way of doing things. This mentality has led to the passive and tolerant approach that makes the Netherlands the “liberal capital” of the world.

Their tolerance has led partly to the situation that they find themselves in. A safe haven for immigrants fleeing hardship and troubles, where the Dutch tolerance will mean they live free from persecution. Admirable, yes. But we do have borders and the concept of a nation, and while this concept is still in existance…the protection of a nation’s borders and values will still be an important factor.

So all in all…it has been a bad day for Dutch politics. It has damaged more our political system and threatened a workable multicultural society than instill grief in me. With the resignation of the Dutch cabinet, last month, over something that I believe that they should not have resigned for, it makes this past month something to wonder about. Politics in Europe are not what they used to be…or maybe they have never really changed.

Tags: Political Rants