Geert Wilders' Freedom Party is a fascist movement. That's according to Dutch philosopher Rob Riemen in an essay sent to all members of parliament. He says he cannot understand why people are afraid to call a spade a spade.
Up to the 1990s, the fascism and Nazism of WWII marked the moral limit in Dutch politics. However, since the debate about immigration and the rise of Geert Wilders, it has become taboo to mention this. Any comparison of Wilders' anti-Islamic party with fascism has been regarded as muddying the waters.
"Wilders is not a fascist"
Historian, publicist and former VVD MP Arend-Jan Boekestijn argues that an accusation of fascism against Geert Wilders does not hold water.
In a discussion on Dutch public TV he pointed out that early 20th century Dutch Prime Minister Abraham Kuyper was also a charismatic leader and, more recently, former Socialist Party leader Jan Marijnissen was also a populist.
"It's too indiscriminate. Fascism is a serious accusation. It means we're talking about the glorification of violence, political dictatorship and - in the German variety - racism. None of these applies to Geert Wilders. If you ask me, Wilders is in no way a fascist."
Mr Boekestijn said labelling Wilders a fascist would not help the discussion.
"It's historically inaccurate and I would be the last person to cast doubts on the motives of one and a half million Wilders voters. Do you think you can engage in discussion with the common people by telling them they voted for a fascist? Any comparison with the Second World War is just a conversation killer."
"I don't mean that as a term of abuse, it's an objective historical judgment. There are numerous parallels between fascism then and now. History is there to learn from and, if we don't, we will make the same mistakes."
Crisis
Rob Riemen is the founder of the prestigious Nexus Institute which organises symposia each year where leading thinkers like Jürgen Habermass and Francis Fukoyama examine the major issues of our time.
Riemen's essay to parliament is entitled The Eternal Recurrence of Fascism.
According to Riemen, fascism is not a genuine ideology with a vision of how society should be organised. It's a political technique, a way of dealing with certain symptoms of crisis in society. It is characterised by appeals to feelings of unease - fear, loathing and hatred. It always identifies a scapegoat - Jews, blacks, Muslims - who are then blamed for everything. In addition, there is always a charismatic leader and the movement is anti-democratic and anti-elitist.
Geert Wilders, he says, meets all these criteria.
"What you can clearly see with Wilders is the cultivation of feelings of unease and fear in society. Societal unease is blamed on a single scapegoat: Muslims. He is also an authoritarian, charismatic leader who has little time for democracy. As with the fascists in the 1930s, the Freedom Party is more a movement than a party and Wilders avoids all debate with his opponents outside of parliament."
Spiritual values
Many people associate fascism with the racism, glorification of violence and political dictatorship of the Nazis. But, Riemen adds, you shouldn't compare Wilders with the final form taken by fascism. "Compare him with the way it began, in the 1920s and 1930s. Then you can see the one-on-one parallels."
Fascism is a kind of microbe which lurks beneath the surface of mass democracy and raises its head in times of crisis. The crisis we are now experiencing is an economic crisis, as in the 1930s, but also a crisis of civilisation. Rob Riemen believes modern man is only interested in material gain.
"We have lost touch with spiritual values and with a vision of where our society should be heading. The crisis of civilisation leads to fear and disquiet, feelings capitalised on by fascists who employ empty promises to convince people they can help them."
Poison
The philosopher dismisses accusations that he is not taking the million-and-a-half Freedom Party voters seriously. He does not blame the people who voted for Geert Wilders. The rise of Wilders, he says, is the fault of the European elites who have failed in their duty to elevate the people and offer them spiritual values. This created a spiritual vacuum in which fascism could once again flourish.
Rob Riemen say he has no idea what the outcome of fascism will be this time, but he is not optimistic.
"Hate is a poison, as we have seen in the Balkans. Here in the Netherlands, mosques have been defaced and last week swastikas were painted on the house of a Freedom Party MP. That's where we're going. The Freedom Party's insults provoke aggression and aggression leads to more aggression. And here we are afraid to use the word fascism."
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If Mr.Wilder writen this he should in jail for life time immeditly-
“Muslims are the vilest of animals…”
“Show mercy to one another, but be ruthless to Muslims”
“How perverse are Muslims!”
“Strike off the heads of Muslims, as well as their fingertips”
“Fight those Muslims who are near to you”
“Muslim mischief makers should be murdered or crucified”
Is Mr Wilder writen this? If he,you must punish him for seprading hate,-
“Muslims are the vilest of animals…”
“Show mercy to one another, but be ruthless to Muslims”
“How perverse are Muslims!”
“Strike off the heads of Muslims, as well as their fingertips”
“Fight those Muslims who are near to you”
“Muslim mischief makers should be murdered or crucified”
Only a butchers, A brutal indiscriminate murderer can express his sympathy for muslims.
What is a miracle that court is trying to stop Mr Wilder, Instead of baning quran which is true manual of killers,and it fallowed practically every were by jihadist Muslims.
what a cowardness.
"Hate is a poison"But hating hate is not poison, if someone taking precaution what is wrong, People of NETHERLAND should grateful to Mr Wilder.
People of
After few years most of people will agree with Mr Wilder. But then they have to pay for their ignorance.
Rob Riemen have no practical experiences about Islam, he should live five years in any islamic country with his family, then he will gain true knowledge about Islam.
because he is living in western environment with safety , he is unable to realise true face of Islam, he should go Egypt or Pakistan like country and live their few years.
Rob Riemen please dont through your people in darkness of hell, Don't live in a utopia.
Wilders is right. Wake up Holland!
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
Wilders is a gay nazi jew. sounds impossible, well who was the worst nazi of them all? mr hitler a gay nazi jew. It wasnt just the jews who got killed in WW2 it was a pawn in there game of world domintion. they run the show and if you say bad things about them well your antisemectic and its illegal in some places. so who runs around causing trouble between different factions of humanity? the dirty rats do
Kfryz, who are those dirty rats? How did you deduce those attributes: "gay nazi jew". When you say they run the show, are you you talking about the Jewish people? Are they the ones who are causing all the "factions" of humanity? Wow! And, I have been supporting Wilders al this time. If I knew he was a Jew, I would have never supported him. Thanks, Kfryz. You really made my day.
Well, Mufti, you’ve shown us who the real nazi is. In case you didn’t get the memo, “Jew” and “gay” are considered badges of honour. Please stick to writing on bathroom walls.
Will the Dutch philosopher Rob Riemen be happy if no one opposes the people who kill other people?? Has the Dutch philosopher Rob Riemen sent any message to the people who kill other innocent people? Has he met the victims of terrorist attacks? Does he personally know any victim of terrorist attack...???
Interesting that a government supported "news" source seems to take a side in this "news" article. Interesting and a little disconcerting. Why aren't Wilders' arguments addressed? Instead they link him with Nazis under the pretext of reporting the ad hominem charges of an "expert."
I am glad that a counterpoint is also included. However the headline alone indicate which side the "journalists" suport.
Character assassination is the favored strategy of multiCULTuralists who don't want to examine their pet beliefs even while a hostile CULTure is invading. This is a common symptom of closed minds that are very committed to remaining closed. Mr. Boekesteyn points out rightfully in the sidebar to this article that this talk of fascism is a conversation killer (This sidebar is not included in the Dutch version???). Turning the conversation away from the facts at hand is eerily similar to the strategies applied by Islamic fanatics that Mr IQ al Rassooli describes in his blog:
http://the-koran.blogspot.com/2008/08/muslim-counter-arguments-part-150....
Hi
I agree with Wilders in one point: Why few people try to find out if he speaks truth? (I don't mean that Wilders says truth)
Watch this short video, only few minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgo5926Vd_M&feature=related
while you're at it, check this out too:
http://arabracismislamofascism.wordpress.com/category/1983/
please check out http://www.islamicsolutions.com/world-day-of-god-2010/
Well, Hiram. it is good to have you back! That Geert will win his case has already been realized, he wants to pursue it further against the technicality of judges' bias. Yes, since Dr. Riemen has his PhD, the title of Doctor of Philosophy does apply. As an expert witness, he is still more than a valid canidate, given the extent in his thesis of how fascism begins with politically induced divisions and frgmentation within society. Why so many people are afraid of one member of academia's research and conclusions being allowed public access for consideration. This brings Dr. Riemen's work to its own self-evidence in how quickly it is attemped to be discredited, even to the point of denial of his formal academic credentials.
David Berridge you stated "Why so many people are afraid of one member of academia's research and conclusions being allowed public access for consideration." and my response is: For the same reason so many people are afraid of wilders and his experts on Islamic behaviours. As to those biased judges, they are just taking orders from the facist EU. They are no different from those German judges of the Third Reich who took their orders. Oh, I am always glad to be back. Someone has to explain to JW the Truth!
Now that Dr. Rieman has made his findings publically known and circulated throughout the Dutch parliament, will he be called as an expert witness when Geert's trial resumes soon? He should as everyone wants to get down to the "nitty gritty" of exactly what the charges against Geert legally mean and how they are supported in the academic tradition of political definition and precedent.
"Now that Dr. Rieman has made his findings publically known and circulated throughout the Dutch parliament, will he be called as an expert witness when Geert's trial resumes soon?"........Dr. Rieman, if that is what he is called, is not an expert witness. If he is, then Wilders will win his case.
Well said Hiram!
I think not (that Riemen will be called as an expert witness), although it would be interesting to see him cross examined. Wilders is on trial for making specific statements, not for being a fascist, as Reimen alleges. He does not address these statements, nor do Wilders’ opponents.
Riemen ought to read Ibn Warraq's essay "Islam, Middle East and Fascism" to see what fascism really is. But perhaps he's already so far beyond salvation, due to what blind obedience to politically-correct and multiculturalist leftist dogma, that he would not be able to see the truth even if it hit him like a ton of bricks... Just like Norwegian professional fascist Erik Fosse, after getting stabbed by one of his beloved fakestinian arabs in arab-occupied Gaza, blamed the West for his stab wounds instead of blaming his attacker.
Dear Mophobe, I am not a member of any of the organizations you quoted or a follower of any of the persons you have mentioned. If you could provde a lists of crackpot groups ypu belong to, and wierdos you get your ideas from, then it would make for an interesting comparison. You also sound as though you are from Alberta.
The Return of the Ghosts.
A spectre is haunting Europe: the spectre of populism, but also that of nationalism, communism, fascism, antisemitism, and fundamentalism. Why do these ghosts return, and why now? Has our democracy entered a crisis? Will history repeat itself, or can we learn from the past?
Nexus Symposium
You said: The Freedom Party's insults provoke aggression ........
Are you off the planet? You simply don't want to see, that it is the people that want a new ruling as far as immigration goes and how far Islam can push Westerners, to accommodate their religion Islam. The people have voted Mr Wilders in, because he is the only one, that stands of for Hollands best interest!
Islam does not get on with any other religion, anywhere Islam goes there is big trouble, aggression, killings, rapes, it all depends on the number % to the Westerners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug2XI9U5qXI&feature=player_embedded
Open your eyes, don't you see it yet? It is not against Muslims, it is against their ideology! Immigrate people NOT ISLAM!!!!
Or are you stearing your grand daughter under a Burka and into the hands of Sharia Law!
Please wake up and stand up for your country!
Anna,I think you are right,generally western people don't experience ugly face of islam because they are living in western society safely.
What is a miracle that court is trying to stop Mr Wilder, Instead to ban quran which is true manual of killers,and it fallowed practically every were.
what a cowerdness.
Islamic fundamentalists to me seem totalitarian. The use violence against civilians. They oppress women. They stifle free speech. Wilders has done none of these things. I'm with Wilders.
Why don’t we just call an egghead an egghead. Yet another one from the University of Tilburg tries to put Geert on the political map as did 4 of Mr. Riemen’s co-workers back in January.
(see: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/putting-geert-wilders-political-map ).
Again the issues Wilders raises are ignored, and the concerns of 1.5 million voters are swept aside with vague references to their lack of spirituality. Was this actually researched? I suggest that the staff of this university abandon vacuous deliberations, grow a collective backbone and explore fascism where is unmistakably prevalent: in the Middle East, in Islamic countries. Start simple, like with this interesting introductory article on the subject in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#Middle_East
@David Berridge. Are you by any chance a member of: Mobilization Against War and Occupation, No One is Illegal, Stopwar.ca, Rabble.ca, the NDP? You are a seriously typical stereotype Useful Idiot.
If Rob Rieman, another UI is your idol (and Michael Moore, Roger Cohen, Noam Chomsky, Sid Ryan, Mohamed Elmasry...) then that explains your blinkered hypothetical statements:
"The last two paragraphs of this statement are quite accurate in how the political class has failed to nip Geert and the PVV in the bud. Geert does meet various categories of the term "facist" according to its definition in the sense of pure political science, however, the violent aspect is a major caveat as Geert and his crowd are manipulators by trade. This in itself is hardly harmless, as a highly dangerous group willing able to lead and have others to follow, may very well emerge beyond the control and the direction of the PVV. The PVV thrives on political volitity but is vunerable itself to unleashing something it cannot direct or tame. Geert is a step away from igniting a catastrophe going over the edge."
"nip...in the bud"? The choice of 1.5 million Dutch voters? Some nipper, some bud! (Apologies WSC).
"facist" [sic] according to its definition"? Whose definition? Yours and Rieman's, and other UI's?
"the violent aspect is a major caveat"? The only violence is from the mohammedans that Wilders warns against. Pym Fortuyn, van Gogh,>>>Wilders? There are NO threats against Rob Rieman (who has the temerity to lecture ALL elected Dutch politicians, from his 'holier than thou' throne). Nor against the geriatric minded (geriocracy?) evil cabal of judges, who started their attempted persecution of GW with a prejudiced GUILTY state of mind.
" may very well emerge" and pigs might fly. Do you read the crap you write?
"Geert is a step away from igniting a catastrophe going over the edge."
Substitute Berridge or Rieman for Geert, and there you have your answer.
Thanks Duvexy and Susan, who have more common sense and understanding than you and Ozzy will ever have.
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