TEN YEARS COMMEMORATION OF THEO VAN GOGH AT THE
SCENE OF THE CRIME
THE MONUMENT ”DE SCHREEUW” [THE SCREAM], IN
HONOUR OF THEO VAN GOGH
THEO VAN GOGH WAS NOT
ST JOAN OF ARC
This year it is ten years ago, that filmmaker Theo
van Gogh was killed, which is commemorated on several
places like the scene of the murder, ”his” monument
”De Schreeuw” [The Scream] and a commemoration on TV.
His films were performed again in Eye [The Amsterdam Filmhouse],
lectures, documentaries on television and so on.[1]
Was he then the Dutch St Joan, Jeanne d’Arc? [2]
Not at all.
Here stands a common provocateur, a man, who loved to humiliate
and insult others and above all, an Islamofobe and antisemite.
A man, who didn’t deserve any attention, let alone this
ridiculous canonization.
Let’s open the dirty chamber pot and try not to
vomit from the smell.
THEO VAN GOGH, THE ANTISEMITE
Theo van Gogh was not only a diehard provocateur, which
is a least permitted as free speech, he systematically
insulted minorities. [3]
And that’s not free speech at all.
That’s called discrimination and antisemitism.
In the nineties the Jews were his targets, on such a
disgusting way, that I don´t understand he was only
finedby the Court for his filthyanti semite remarks
and that they were not simply forbidden.
Because there is a limit in what you can say or not,
especially when jokes are made of one of the
greatest crimes in history, the Holocaust.
Van Gogh wrote many anti semite articles.
In an article of the Amsterdam university magazine Folia
in the beginning of the eighties he had Jewish writer Leon
de Winter permorm ´´The Treblinka love game´´ with
´´a piece of barbed wire´´ around his ´´dick´´ (4)
He also referred to ”copulating yellow stars in the gas chamber” [5]
But there was even more
He let Jewish TV presentator Sonja Barend say outside
a concentration camp barack ´´And tomorrow a healthy awakening´´
(What she always said at the end of her shows) (6)
Another sick remark
´´What smells of caramel here. Today they are only
burning Jews with diabetes. (Jews with sugar disease) (7)
There are more filthy antisemite remarks, which I
will not repeat. See (8)
Granted, these are no negative references to Jews in general,
but those disrespectful utterings
about the countless pain and trauma of a minority,
caused by genocide are a fundamental lack
of respect and humanity.
And a deep lack of respect for a minority is also:
Racism or antisemitism.
AFTER 11 SEPTEMBER 2001/VAN GOGH, THE
ISLAMOPHOBE
Provocating, insulting and discriminate, that were van Gogh´s
joys.
After the 11 september attacks van Gogh found a far more
interesting target than the Jews in the muslims and Islam.
So he could profit from the mounted climate of Islamophobia
in Europe.
He became an admirer of that other muslim-basher, Hirsi
Ali, with whom he made the hate speech anti Islamfilm ´´Submission´´ (9)
With the track record of van Gogh, it will be of no
surprise, that he was also fan of the extreme right wing
anti immigration politician P. Fortuyn, who was also an
Islamophobe . (10)
As can be expected of van Gogh, he insulted the Islam and
discriminate muslims.
He called muslims (excusez let mots) ´´goat fuckers´´ or
messengers of the utmost backward darkness´´
That he shared with Fortuyn, who called the Islam
´´”a backward culture” (11)
Van Gogh also was a fervent anti refugee and immigration
activist, which he shared not only with P. Fortuyn, but
also with minister of Justice R. Verdonk, who had a very
restrictive asylumpolicy. (12)
`´Rita, keep your back straight´´, he said to her, as she was
targeted by protesters against the deportation of 26. 000
refugees, who lived in the Netherlands for many years.. (13)
DECLARING VAN GOGH ´´A SAINT´´ AND
THE ´´THEO´´ NONSENSE
Not anyone, who is worth to be remembered, one should think.
Yet this ´´Theo´´ van Gogh (it became an epidemia, that
everyone suddenly called him ´´Theo´´, whether known
to him or not), a provocateur, a man with a dirty mouth,
an antisemite and Islamofobe, was suddenly canonized after his
death.
So this ´´freedom of speech´´ nonsense, which supposed to
be violated got common ground, while his murder, either
the filth he ventilated, had anything to do with
´´freedom of opinion´´
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, based on respect
for the free word.
But that freedom includes no violation of the rights of others.
Racism, antisemitism and discrimination is no freedom,
but a crime.
And antisemitism and Islamophobia were flourishing with
van Gogh.
ISLAMOPHOBIA, DISCRIMINATION AND
RACISM
Van Gogh´s canonization and his socalled ´´advocacy for
the freedom of speech´´ fits in the present climate of increasing
xenophobia, which praises racism and at least considers
it as perfectly normal.
Examples are the acquitting of extreme right politician
G. Wilders [14] and debates about the ”Moroccan problem”
[back in time: the ”Judenfrage”]. [15]
So far article 1, anti discrimination
article of the Dutch Constitution. [16]
This canonization also refers to the media, where van Gogh
is mentioned as ”the champion of free speech”.
He was not.
In fact he is champion of nothing, accept champion
of the filthy remarks.
In this respect, one of the funniest remarks was that of
the Mayor of Amsterdam, mr van der Laan, who mentioned,
that the climate in Amsterdam became more
”peaceful” after the death of van Gogh and the
”freedom of speech”and ”our humanitarian values”
are more ”respected” [17]
What a ”funny man”, that van der Laan.
He should have become a comic in a theatre.
Truth is, that the relations between ”autochtones”
[”white” Dutch] and allochtones [Moroccan,
Turkish, Surinamese, Somalian and other non western
minorities and in this case especially Moroccans and other non western
muslims] have been detoriated, not because of van Gogh
[he was not that important at all], but because of
the climate of Islamphobia [to which van Gogh
contributed], which gave more room to racism and
discrimination.
Directly after the death of van Gogh there was a violent and
dangerous anti Islamhysteria, with mass arsons and bomb
attacks of Mosques through the whole country. [18]
There was really a pogrom like sphere. [19]
A visit from former Queen Beatrix to Amsterdam was
needed to calm down anti Islamhysteria a little. [20]
Prime minister Balkenende also visited a Islamic school
which had been arsoned. [21]
And, happily, the attacks on Mosques diminished, although
the attacks on Mosques continue. [22]
Another, laughing point in the van der Laan statement,
that ”freedom of speech” and ”our humanitarian values”
are better defended than before the death of van Gogh. [23]
Yeah right…..
Therefore the increasing racism in
Dutch society, under the flag of
”freedom of speech”, not in the least place in politics. [24]
Well, THAT is something ”Theo” can be proud of. [25]
EPILOGUE
Van Gogh died tragically and although it need
tot to be said, it goes without saying, that
killing a human being is unacceptable and inhuman.
The right to life for any human being, must be defended
at all times.
But that doesn’t mean, that everyone, who has been
killed, is a saint and should canonized.
Condemnation of a killing doesn’t mean
closing the eye for someone’s the points of view or deeds.
And fact is, that as a provocateur, antisemite and
Islamophobe, van Gogh has had a bad influence on
the Dutch society.
Neglecting this shows a wrong image and is
a slap in the face of the victims of his abhorrent
views, the Jews and muslims.
Therefore van Gogh doesn’t deserve a memorial
and certainly not a misplaced canonization, typical
for the present climate, in which racism and discrimination
are salonfahig.
The right of a human being, to be treated with respect,
regardless descent or religion, is fundamental.
Not discriminative provocation, under the false
flag of ”freedom of speech”
Astrid Essed
NOTES
[1]
NL TIMES
THE NETHERLANDS MARKS THEO VAN GOGH
MURDER
2 NOVEMBER 2014
WIKIPEDIA
DE SCHREEUW
[THE SCREAM]
EYE
THEO VAN GOGH
10 OCTOBER TO 2 NOVEMBER
[2]
WIKIPEDIA
JOAN OF ARC
[3]
NEW YORK TIMES
PROVOCATEUR’S DEATH HAUNTS THE DUTCH
30 OCTOBER 2014
THE INDEPENDENT
THEO VAN GOGH
4 NOVEMBER 2004
(4)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(5)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(6)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(7)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(8)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(9)
WIKIPEDIA
AYAAN HIRSI ALI
WIKIPEDIA
SUBMISSION (2004 FILM)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(10)
WIKIPEDIA
PIM FORTUYN
VIEWS ON ISLAM AND IMMIGRATION
Source
WIKIPEDIA
PIM FORTUYN
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
(11)
´´He called Islam “a backward culture”, and said that if it were legally possible he would close the borders for Muslim immigrants.[2]´´
WIKIPEDIA
PIM FORTUYN
THE GUARDIAN
PIM FORTUYN-OBITUARY
7 MAY 2002
(12)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
NETHERLANDS/SAFETY OF FAILED ASYLUMSEEKERS AT
RISK
12 FEBRUARY 2004
(13)
DE FABEL VAN DE ILLEGAAL
VAN GOGH WAS AN IRRITATING REACTIONARY LITTLE MAN
ERIC KREBBERS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
NETHERLANDS/SAFETY OF FAILED ASYLUMSEEKERS AT
RISK
12 FEBRUARY 2004
(14)
REUTERS
DUTCH POPULIST GEERT WILDERS ACQUITTED OF HATE SPEECH
23 JUNE 2011
BBC NEWS
GEERT WILDERS CLEARED OF HATE CHARGES BY
DUTCH COURT
23 JUNE 2011
RACISM IN THE NETHERLANDS/PARTY FOR FREEDOM/
PVV, WILDERS AND THE POISON OF RACISM
ASTRID ESSED
TSUNAMI OF RACISM
POLITICAL VIEWS OF MR WILDERS
ASTRID ESSED
[15]
DUTCH NEWS.NL
MP”s TO DEBATE THE ”MOROCCAN PROBLEM”
4 APRIL 2013
WIKIPEDIA
JEWISH QUESTION [JUDENFRAGE]
REUTERS
DUTCH POPULIST GEERT WILDERS ACQUITTED
OF HATE SPEECH
23 JUNE 2011
BBC NEWS
GEERT WILDERS CLEARED OF HATE CHARGES
BY DUTCH COURT
23 JUNE 2011
[16]
”Art.1 is named after Article 1 of the Dutch constitution:
“All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted.”
ART 1
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NETHERLANDS
http://www.art1.nl/artikel/73-
” For instance article 1 states that all persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances.”
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NETHERLANDS
[17]
”Burgemeester Van der Laan vindt dat de sfeer in Amsterdam sinds de moord op Theo van Gogh “vrediger” is geworden. Dat zegt hij in gesprek met NOS-verslaggever Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
”
Ontspannen klimaat
De moord is volgens Van der Laan een ommekeer geweest in een “heleboel opzichten”. Hij denkt dat er in Nederland sindsdien veel lessen zijn getrokken. “De vrijheid van meningsuiting en onze humanistische waarden worden tegenwoordig beter verdedigd dan voor die tijd. In zoverre mag Theo tevreden zijn.”
De burgemeester vindt dat er een meer ontspannen klimaat heerst rondom de vrijheid van meningsuiting. “Per saldo is de stad veel harmonieuzer dan die in 2004 was. Daar is door iedereen sinds 2004 behoorlijk hard voor gewerkt.”
English translation
”Mayor Van der Laan says that the sphere in Amsterdam has become
more ”peacefully” since the murder of van Gogh, he says in an interview
with NOS reporter Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
RELAXED CLIMATE
According Van der Laan. the murder has been a turning point in” several
ways”.
He thinks, that in the Netherlands, many lessons have been learned.
”The freedom of speech and our humanitarian values are nowadays
better defended than for that time. In this respect, Theo can be content.”
NOS
”THEO VAN GOGH MAG TEVREDEN ZIJN”
2 NOVEMBER 2014
English translation:
”THEO VAN GOGH CAN BE CONTENT”
[Article is in Dutch]
[18]
”The generalised accusations with which the Dutch government reacted to the murder of van Gogh have encouraged violent right-wing extremists. Since Deputy Prime Minister Zalm’s “declared war” on Islamic fundamentalism, a wave of arson and bomb attacks has rolled over the country, aimed indiscriminately at Muslim institutions, encouraging a pogrom atmosphere.”
WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
THE NETHERLANDS: XENOPHOBIC CAMPAIGN
FOLLOWS THEO VAN GOGH MURDER
23 NOVEMBER 2004
HOLLAND IN FLAMES
11 NOVEMBER 2004
ALTERNET
VAN GOGH, EUROPEAN PURITY AND THE ”MUSLIM PROBLEM”
22 NOVEMBER 2004
[19]
”’The generalised accusations with which the Dutch government reacted to the murder of van Gogh have encouraged violent right-wing extremists. Since Deputy Prime Minister Zalm’s “declared war” on Islamic fundamentalism, a wave of arson and bomb attacks has rolled over the country, aimed indiscriminately at Muslim institutions, encouraging a pogrom atmosphere.”
WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
THE NETHERLANDS: XENOPHOBIC CAMPAIGN
FOLLOWS THEO VAN GOGH MURDER
23 NOVEMBER 2004
HOLLAND IN FLAMES
11 NOVEMBER 2004
[20]
”In addition to this, the Dutch queen Beatrix, visited a youth centre of the Moroccan society and stated the importance of maintaining the multicultural structure of the country.”
TURKISH WEEKLY
THE CASE OF THEO VAN GOGH: IS IT THE
END OF MULTICULTURALISM
26 JULY 2005
”Baarsjes residents welcomed Queen Beatrix’ visit to a multicultural center and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende’s visit to a mosque as “an important sign that shows we are part of the country, that we can fight together,” said one man named Habib.”
MIDDLE EAST ONLINE
DUTCH MOROCCAN COMMUNITY FACES HARD TIME
17 NOVEMBER 2004
[21]
”The Dutch prime-minister Jan Peter Balkenende visited the blasted Islamic school in Uden, and celebrated Muslims’ religious festival in his sincere visit to a mosque in the city of Eindhoven after a few weeks of the incident.”
TURKISH WEEKLY
THE CASE OF THEO VAN GOGH: IS IT THE
END OF MULTICULTURALISM
26 JULY 2005
[22]
ISLAM ONLINE
2/3 OF DUTCH MOSQUES ATTACKED:
RESEARCH
30 OCTOBER 2014
[23]
”Burgemeester Van der Laan vindt dat de sfeer in Amsterdam sinds de moord op Theo van Gogh “vrediger” is geworden. Dat zegt hij in gesprek met NOS-verslaggever Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
”
Ontspannen klimaat
De moord is volgens Van der Laan een ommekeer geweest in een “heleboel opzichten”. Hij denkt dat er in Nederland sindsdien veel lessen zijn getrokken. “De vrijheid van meningsuiting en onze humanistische waarden worden tegenwoordig beter verdedigd dan voor die tijd. In zoverre mag Theo tevreden zijn.”
De burgemeester vindt dat er een meer ontspannen klimaat heerst rondom de vrijheid van meningsuiting. “Per saldo is de stad veel harmonieuzer dan die in 2004 was. Daar is door iedereen sinds 2004 behoorlijk hard voor gewerkt.”
English translation
”Mayor Van der Laan says that the sphere in Amsterdam has become
more ”peacefully” since the murder of van Gogh, he says in an interview
with NOS reporter Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
RELAXED CLIMATE
According Van der Laan. the murder has been a turning point in” several
ways”.
He thinks, that in the Netherlands, many lessons have been learned.
”The freedom of speech and our humanitarian values are nowadays
better defended than for that time. In this respect, Theo can be content.”
NOS
”THEO VAN GOGH MAG TEVREDEN ZIJN”
2 NOVEMBER 2014
English translation:
”THEO VAN GOGH CAN BE CONTENT”
[Article is in Dutch]
[24]
NL TIMES
POLITICAL CLIMATE NETHERLANDS RACISTIC
21 OCTOBER 2013
THE AMSTERDAM HERALD
”UNTOUCHABLE” CULTURE OF RACISM PERVADES DUTCH
POLITICS, CLAIMS OMBUDSMAN
DEAR KITTY
DUTCH GOVERNMENT HELPS RACISM
20 OCTOBER 2013
[25]
”Burgemeester Van der Laan vindt dat de sfeer in Amsterdam sinds de moord op Theo van Gogh “vrediger” is geworden. Dat zegt hij in gesprek met NOS-verslaggever Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
”
Ontspannen klimaat
De moord is volgens Van der Laan een ommekeer geweest in een “heleboel opzichten”. Hij denkt dat er in Nederland sindsdien veel lessen zijn getrokken. “De vrijheid van meningsuiting en onze humanistische waarden worden tegenwoordig beter verdedigd dan voor die tijd. In zoverre mag Theo tevreden zijn.”
De burgemeester vindt dat er een meer ontspannen klimaat heerst rondom de vrijheid van meningsuiting. “Per saldo is de stad veel harmonieuzer dan die in 2004 was. Daar is door iedereen sinds 2004 behoorlijk hard voor gewerkt.”
English translation
”Mayor Van der Laan says that the sphere in Amsterdam has become
more ”peacefully” since the murder of van Gogh, he says in an interview
with NOS reporter Edwin van den Berg.”
……
……
RELAXED CLIMATE
According Van der Laan. the murder has been a turning point in” several
ways”.
He thinks, that in the Netherlands, many lessons have been learned.
”The freedom of speech and our humanitarian values are nowadays
better defended than for that time. In this respect, Theo can be content.”
NOS
”THEO VAN GOGH MAG TEVREDEN ZIJN”
2 NOVEMBER 2014
English translation:
”THEO VAN GOGH CAN BE CONTENT”
[Article is in Dutch]