The Anti-Islam Film Everyone's Talking About

thedailybeast.com ^ | Feb. 24, 2009 | Benjamin Sarlin

[Free ThinkerNY]

The flamboyant Dutch politician Geert Wilders has sparked a worldwide debate over free speech after being banned in Britain. But after his film was shown in New York, it became clear that Wilders makes for a strange kind of First Amendment martyr.

It's the nature of free speech laws that the times we must defend them most forcefully are the times they are tested by the most extreme forms of speech. Yesterday’s visit to New York by Dutch MP Geert Wilders, the maker of the controversial anti-Islam film Fitna, belongs in that category. After sitting through the film, I can see why Wilders doesn’t make for an easy-to-embrace First Amendment hero.

Wilders became an international celebrity earlier this month when he was essentially banned from the U.K. After he showed up with a copy of Fitna, he was detained for several hours at Heathrow Airport and then sent packing, with British officials saying he represented a security threat.

Op-ed columnists and bloggers on the left and right quickly denounced Britain's move as a suppression of free speech, seeing shades of the cowardice of news organizations who capitulated to extremists in refusing to reprint the Danish cartoons that set off anti-Western riots in 2006. And rightly so—no good can come of cravenly giving in to the extremists threatening Wilders' life no matter what he has to say.

[Islaminaction]

I have all the respect in the world for Wilders. It will only take one strong leader to turn the tide on the Islamists in the West.

[Marie2]

I guess one positive outcome over the terrible behavior of Britain in their treatment of Greet is that the film is getting a lot more attention.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“But whether the decision to let him in was right or not, let's not be so hasty to label Wilders a hero before actually seeing his work”

The author seems to entirely miss the point of free-speech protections.

[Soothesayer]

I’ve noticed that all the people who hate Wilders are either Muslims or haven’t ever seen a Qur’an in their lives.

[Islaminaction]

Just like with the election the same goes for Islam. Too many of us are just not willing to put in any time to do some simple research.

[Islaminaction]

He also is wrong by comparing deporting criminals to mass deportations.

[Star Traveler]

Geert Wilders and FITNA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geert_Wilders

—

You can see FITNA here...,

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/03/watch-fitna.html

—

Someone else posted a YouTube interview of Geert Wilders, another thing to see.

First part of 6 parts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGh3WNsfTb4

[TAdams8591]

"not so much a documentary as a rapidly moving set of flashing Clockwork Orange-style images, featuring Koranic verses followed by the most grotesque news footage of terror humanly possible, with a soundtrack of Islamic clerics again and again pronouncing death to the infidels, all designed to instill a visceral hatred for all things Muslim. Nothing was too taboo for Wilders: graphic depictions of the 9/11 attacks, London bus bombings, and hostage decapitations, all shown in rapid sequence, ending with a blunt subtitled message “Stop Islamisation Now” and a simulated scene of someone ripping out a page from the Koran. At least one audience member walked out in disgust mid-film and, at the very least, the drumbeat of death wails and charred corpses did little to whet people's appetite for the filet of sole the Four Seasons staff was serving the guests."

I may disagree with banning the Koran, but where is the outrage at Hollywood's violent slasher films which routinely depict bloody scenes as bad or worse than the above, which is a history of events that actually occurred. Frankly, people need to know and understand the full evil nature of this enemy, Muslim Jihadists, and the threat they pose to the Western way of life.

[Islaminaction]

I’ve noticed that those who criticise those who do have answers on how to fight back against the Islamists, have none themselves. They just want to sit around and twiddle their thumbs, because being Mr. Nice Guy is the most important thing. Mr. Nice Guy is not going to win this for us.

[Star Traveler]

Fitna is simply quoting Muslim sources (the Koran and some clerics), showing news clips, and news pictures — with absolutely *no commentary* of any kind, from the producer. Nothing!

And for this..., it has produced this kind of reaction.

If you think about it — *if* — simply producing news, quotes from sources, no commentary, causes “this much reaction” — then you know you’re “on to something”.... :-)

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Ronin]

One of the most freaky Jihadis around said that if you took out those last scenes involving the sound of the tearing book and the closing, the film could have been made by the Jihadis themselves.

The reason they hate the film is because it is too close to the truth, and it’s a truth they don’t want the world to wake up to.

[webheart]

...but where is the outrage at Hollywood's violent slasher films which routinely depict bloody scenes as bad or worse than the above, which is a history of events that actually occurred.

The above needs to end with a ?

Good point. Hmmmmm..... Freddy Kruger - white. Micheal Myers - white. Jason Voorhees - white. Those are the famous ones. There are others - white. Does that answer your question?

[Paved Paradise]

I watched the 15 minute video, “Fitna.” It is disturbing but I think it should be seen by everyone.

[Star Traveler]

You said — “The reason they hate the film is because it is too close to the truth, and it’s a truth they don’t want the world to wake up to.”

Well, yes, it’s too close to the truth. But, there is another aspect to it, as to why they hate it. I mean, you can be “too close to the truth” when you “state” what the Muslims believe and what they do. But, then, since it’s “you” (or someone else) stating it, they can accuse you — personally — of simply “hate-mongering”.

BUT, when you have a film with *nothing else* — but — Muslim sources and news clips, alone — and nothing else, and *no commentary* — there’s no way they can say (about the “content”) — that it is “hate-mongering”. They can only get really mad and “rail” against it... and try to go after the people who created it. Which is exactly what they are doing.

He was *really smart* in making it this way...

[rightthinkingwoman]

From Glenn Beck or Mark Steyn, anyone see the irony in the reason given for banning Mr. Wilders? They were afraid of the Muslim reaction, kind of like that documented in the film.

[popdonnelly]

Why is it rendered impossible to criticize Islam? Other religions come in for criticism.

[TAdams8591]

Ooops! I forgot the ? : )

The questions rhetorical, meant to point out the hypocrisy of the left.

[mojitojoe]

You said
he said
you said
I said
you said
he said
I said
you said

You are so annoying