Ultimately, our crisis is not about islam

Mark Steyn gave a lecture at Hillsdale College on March 13, 2008. A print adaptation of this lecture is available here (mirrored on page 2 of KV). It is a bleak inventory of how far we've already gone in accommodating the intolerance of islam. More importantly, it accurately diagnoses the disease we are suffering from. And yes, it relates as much to anti-Zwarte Piet marches as it does to town councils forced to observe Ramadan:

[W]ho are you relying on to “hold the line”? Influential figures like the Archbishop of Canterbury? The politically correct bureaucrats at Canada’s Human Rights Commissions? The geniuses who run Harvard, and who’ve just introduced gender-segregated swimming and gym sessions at the behest of Harvard’s Islamic Society? (Would they have done that for Amish or Mennonite students?) The Western world is not run by fellows noted for their line-holding: Look at what they’re conceding now and then try to figure out what they’ll be conceding in five years’ time. The idea that the West’s multicultural establishment can hold the line would be more plausible if it was clear they had any idea where the line is, or even gave any indication of believing in one.(...)

Ultimately, our crisis is not about Islam. It’s not about fire-breathing Imams or polygamists whooping it up on welfare. It’s not about them. It’s about us. And by us I mean the culture that shaped the modern world, and established the global networks, legal systems, and trading relationships on which the planet depends.

To reprise Sir Edward Grey, the lamps are going out all over the world, and an awful lot of the map will look an awful lot darker by the time many Americans realize the scale of this struggle.

Read it all.

(thanks to Susan of Centurean2)

The natives are stirring

(Update to this story)

The 'performance art' protest march against Zwarte Piet, planned for tomorrow, has been cancelled (NL). After a flood of negative, and in some cases aggressive, reactions to the news of the planned march, the Van Abbe museum pulled the plug 'in the interest of the artists and art in general'. One of the participating organisations, Doorbraak (NL; a leftist little club striving against 'capitalism and the patriarchy'. Yes, one of those), put it all down to:

threats of racist and nationalist riff-raff, that seems to be gaining ground in society.

In an official statement (NL) the museum says it is

shocked by the extreme negativism and looming violence in the reactions following the announcement of this march. To us it is a sign of our current cultural climate that a subject that has been discussed many times can lead to such extreme emotions.

What seems to be missing from the museums understanding is the notion that maybe this subject has been 'discussed' one too many times. For a good twenty to thirty years people like the artists commissioned by Van Abbe have bothered us with their racial obsession over Zwarte Piet and finally, it seems, Dutch patience has worn out. Enough. No more.

The 'sign of our current cultural climate' the Van Abbe is apparently worrying about, might just be a signal that the Dutch are done with the insult and abuse foisted on us in the name of 'art'. It may just be a sign, like extreme-leftist MPs being forced to resign, that the Dutch are finally slamming their fist on the table.

But that notion is just too weird for the Van Abbe to contemplate. The artists in question also can't get their head around this. Nowhere is this more clear then in the reaction by the artists in the same statement, where they once more bleat about the 'colonial history and racist structure' at the base of the Zwarte Piet tradition. Fears of repeating myself be damned: The Zwarte Piet tradition pre-dates the colonialism and 'institutional racism' of the 18th and 19th century by 200 - 600 years. Claiming otherwise is tantamount to historical revisionism.

But both artists aren't above putting facts into their own, particular perpective. About the intent of the march they write:

The march would have been a platform for opinions not heard before - in the past and in the last few days.

Come again? 'Not heard before'? That's the whole point, the sole cause of this flare up of public opinion, isn't it?. We HAVE heard it before, just about every single year for the last 20 to 30 years. The discussion always seems to go one way, too. Zwarte Piet is bad (because he's black. The irony is sweet, isn't it?) and should disappear. That we're putting an end to a tradition that harms nobody and of which most of us have pleasant memories, memories even adult Dutch like to relive vicariously through their own children, well, that's just tough cookies.

Always the same baseless accusations of racism and discrimination, the same joyless blaming for not wanting to put an end to a tradition we hold dear. The same holier-then-thou pointing out of the True Path (tm). And apparently we've finally become sick enough of it to get off our behinds and express how we feel.

In a way I feel sorry for the two 'artists' involved. Yes, they are mediocre, know-it-all goody-two shoes, who shouldn't have meddled in a tradition that isn't theirs to pronounce verdict over. But they probably had no idea of the hornets nest they were stirring up. I imagine the reactions they drew were fierce. That's the trouble with the Dutch. They usually don't anger easily, but when they do... one would do well to lock up the china ware. It is satisfying, however, and not a little hope-inspiring, to see the Dutch rising up to defend something that is ours.

More of this, please!

Attack on Iran imminent?

De Telegraaf, The Netherlands biggest newspaper, reports today about a Dutch spy operation in Iran (NL). For years, the Dutch intelligence service, named AIVD, had “an ultra secret operation in Iran with the goal to infiltrate and sabotage the military weapons industry of the Iranian republic”.

It’s said that the operation was very successful and that they shared the results of the operation with the Americans. The operation has lead to sabotage and blocking of military equipment going to Iran.

The operation has however recently been canceled because of Americans plans to bomb Iran. The newspaper reports that the list of targets would include sites that are part of the Dutch spying operation, thus the Dutch withdraw their spy.

According to the newspaper an attack by American UAV’s on Iran is expected in a few weeks. The US government has already given the green light for the attacks. The target list does not only include nuclear facilities but also other military installations.

Writers of the Telegraaf story are Joost de Haas and Bart Mos. The two journalist have reported earlier about the Dutch security services involvement with Hollands best known Drug lord who bribed police and justice officials. For that story they got arrested and incarcerated after they were unwilling to give up their source at the Dutch intelligence service (AIVD).

My two cents: I don't think the Americans, or any other country, have enough UAV's that are capable to do such a large scale strike that will be needed to destroy the Iranian nuke program. But then again, I'm not a military expert...

Predictable and inevitable

Read this jewel on This is London: Muslim council members want to ban all councillors eating in meetings until sunset during the upcoming Ramadan.

The storm was sparked by an e-mail sent to all councillors this week highlighting arrangements for Town Hall committee meetings next month, which marks the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.

The memo said that new council leader Lutfur Rahman and his deputy, Siraj Islam, had requested that meetings be kept to a minimum to accommodate fasting councillors.

They have also urged all other councillors to resist eating until the breaking of the fast at sunset.(...)

Normally tea, coffee and sandwiches are set aside for councillors to nibble at during evening meetings.

But during Ramadan these will be reduced and complemented by special Muslim food packs containing chicken, lamb and vegetarian snacks.

But in his email, John Williams, the council's head of democratic services, said: 'It is requested that members do not partake of any refreshments until after the Iftar refreshments are served.'

And thus all councillors, whether muslim of infidel are made to observe Ramadan. Any chance they'll all attend a Christmas Eve service later this year? No, I didn't think so either.

So... How's that multicultural utopia working out for you?

Blind and deaf, we're walking into a EUnion

Your read of the day is over on Gates of Vienna, where they have a translation of an article by Søren Krarup. In the article Krarup reminds us, what has been evident about the EUnion from its very inception in the Treaty of Rome (1957): The objective is to create a European people through an ever closer union, doing away with more then 1,000 years of histories and nations.

The piece was written in reaction to Danish PM Rasmussen who , far from defending the country he swore to serve, rolled over at the first grumblings from the EUnion machine. We've reported on the Danish clash with EU 'law' here.

Head on over and read the whole thing. But here's a taster:

When the protests against the ECJ-verdict and its bypassing of Danish law reached a climax, and the Danish People’s Party — among others — urged PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen to stand fast on Danish law he just called it irresponsible because in a country of laws one has to comply with the courts.

Oh, jeez... isn’t Denmark a country of laws? Isn’t a prime minister supposed to enforce the law of the land? Isn’t this a blatant testimony to our misery here in Denmark in relation to the supra-national union, constantly binding us?

What a prime minister. A man whom I — among others — have praised as a blessing to the very country he helped reform. And then, as it turns out, he is as a humble serf of the EU, not Denmark. Proselytizing for an EU-court, not the nation he should serve as prime minister.

This may be an article particular to the Danish situation, but the Danish misery is a misery shared by all other EU member states.

Fjordman Files: August updates

[31 - 8] Two for the price of one, today. Both on Gates of Vienna and both short, concise and sharp.

1) What Went Wrong With the West, and What Can We Do?

[F]irst of all we need to reclaim pride in our own heritage, which has been systematically robbed from us in recent generations.

2) The Failure of Western Feminism.

In the big scheme of things, the truth is that white men have treated women with greater respect than the men of almost any other major civilization on earth. And I don’t mean just in the modern age, I mean for many centuries.

[29 - 8] Over at Brussels Journal: On Human Sacrifice and Political Correctness.

I know of indications that human sacrifice was once practised in Europe, China, Egypt and elsewhere, but that was in very ancient times. By the sixteenth century AD, human sacrifice was not an established feature among any of the major Old World civilizations, but it was quite common among New World peoples.

[28 - 8] On Dhimmi Watch: On Science and Religion

[23 - 8] On Gates of Vienna: On Germany and Muslims

[22 - 8] Over on Atlas Shrugs: Why Islam Cannot Be Reformed.

[14 - 8] On Brussels Journal: The Council of Europe Fights "Islamophobia"

[9 - 8] And on Brussels Journal Fjordman wonders about Western Europe's (deliberate?) inability to protect and defend its citizens: France: Can a Wounded Nation Heal Itself?


[9 - 8] After exactly one month I can post the latest by Fjordman, over on Jihad Watch: The Organization of the Islamic Conference and Eurabia.

RECENT FJORDMAN
The Failure of Western Feminism
What Went Wrong With the West, and What Can We Do?
On Human Sacrifice and Political Correctness
On Science and Religion
On Germany and Muslims
Why Islam Cannot Be Reformed
The Council of Europe Fights "Islamophobia"
France: Can a Wounded Nation Heal Itself?
The Organization of the Islamic Conference and Eurabia
A Tribute to Italy
Civil War in Sweden?
Is Capitalism Always a Force for Freedom?
The Spanish and the Portuguese — Once and Future Dhimmis?
The Greatest Betrayal in History
The Causes of Anti-Semitism

More Fjordman files here.

Start of the big chill

Over on EU Referendum a report that even though there is ever firmer evidence that global warming is over, our betters are still trying to put curbs on further warming.

By the time they have finished, we should be in the throes of a recognisable cooling cycle, the leading edge of which is now becoming apparent. But, with the bulk of legislators looking the other way, aided and abetted by their tranzie fellow travellers, there is no sign at all that they will be prepared for what is about to hit the world.

As EU Referendum also argues, global warming is misunderstood as harmful. It is not. Higher temperatures make for longer growing seasons, larger harvests and less energy consumption. But instead of enjoying this stretch of balmy climate (and stocking up on food stuffs) we've been made afraid of it, threatened as we were with all manner of tales of catastrophe.

And now the real problems will start. In a world that is cooling, political inertia will ensure that warming is the most pressing climatic issue for years to come, leading to ill-considered policies and measures, tailor-made for a situation that is diametrically opposed to the real facts on the ground (and in the air). Such measure will inevitably enlarge, rather then reduce, the dangers we are facing.

A very short answer

Our Dutch word for today is tuthola (pronounced as: tut-hole-ah). It is a pejorative term for a member of the fair sex, displaying an overinflated sense of her own intelligence and importance. A substantial streak of busy-bodiness is a natural addition to this set of unfortunate characteristics.

Two fine examples of tuthola's are on display in the news, reported by Elsevier (NL) that the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven is hosting an exposition in opposition to Zwarte Piet.

This typical Dutch tradition is full of racism and colonialism en needs to vanish, according to two foreign artists and the activist club Doorbraak.

With this exhibition museum in Eindhoven wants to reopen the discussion about a 'cultural tradition that has been made a-political and neutral and is incorporated in the collective consciousness of modern Dutch society'.

The two artists, Petra Bauer from Sweden and Annette Krauss (Germany), view the feast of Sinterklaas as the ‘colonial relation between the old, wise and strict white boss and holy man on the one side and the young, not too bright and rather naughty help Pete on the other, who dances child-like, madly jumps around and does not have a good command of the Dutch language'.

They wonder if it is possible to reopen the discussion about the Zwarte Piet tradition.

From their description of the relation between Saint Nicholas and Pete it is already clear they haven't got even a hint of a clue of what they are pontificating about. Zwarte Piet is (or they are) not bumbling, primitive idiots. Black Petes are usually portrayed as clever, resourceful and a bit more with the times then the elderly Sinterklaas. There used to be an unfortunate tendency to have Zwarte Piet talk with some sort of an accent. But that was done away with decades ago. Having personal experience with Zwarte Piet ever since the late sixties, I can testify I have never, ever met a Zwarte Piet with a (fake 'funny') speech impediment or an incomplete command of the Dutch language.

Furthermore, the charge of colonialism is historical revisionism. Zwarte Piet predates the colonial age by a considerable margin. This still shows in his usual outfit which is a variation of late 15th, early 16th centrury dress.

Additionally, these two blathering Gutmenschen are late to the party. The discussion around the 'acceptability' of Zwarte Piet has been around since the late eighties and early nineties (Amsterdam city briefly experimented with Blue Peters) and has all but died after the NOS (the Dutch BBC, if you will) introduced so-called Rainbow Petes.

The latter looked like Zwarte Piet, but could have any color BUT black. They were introduced in 2006 with the 'narrative' that Sinterklaas' steamboat (with which he and his entourage traditionally travel to the Netherlands each year) sailed through a rainbow, coloring the Petes who were on deck at the time.

But the majority of the Dutch saw this turn of plot for what it was. The NOS received so many angry and upset commentary and reactions that the idea has died a quiet death. Last winter all Petes were their usual color again and nobody has dared to bring up the 'racist' issue for fear of public ridicule. It seems that the discussion is, after more then 10 years, finally over. And tradition won.

There are a number of narratives as to the origin of Black Pete. In the earliest tradition Sinterklaas was assisted by one Black Pete. The story about his origin comes closest to the 'racist' view: Pete is/was a slave to Arab/Muslim masters, freed by St. Nicholas. Grateful for his release Pete stayed with the elderly saint and served as his assistant.

Elsewhere in Europe Sinterklaas is assisted by a figure that is a lot scarier (See 'Companions of Saint Nicholas' on Wikipedia). Presumably, the oldest tradition in the Netherlands started out in the same way. Sinterklaas was accompanied by a black devil character who'd punish or abduct bad children. In later centuries this character morphed into a black, negro like character.

It could be construed as racist, but the current accusations seem to be fixated on this particular point of the evolution of Black Pete. When the tradition as we now know it started to pick up in the 17th and 18th century, Black Pete already had become the freed and thankful ex-slave described above.

Ever since WW2 Sinterklaas' entourage grew larger and larger. He now has an entire court of Petes. The explanation usually given is this: Traditionally the good children get presents, bad children get a lump of coal or a bag of salt. But the really nasty kids are taken by a Pete and brought back to Spain, where they are put back into shape. Most of them are returned the next year. But some of them chose to stay and are hence taken on as Pete. Because Petes have to climb down chimneys to deliver their presents, during their training, the soot on and in the skin of these children builds up over time, turning Pete into a Black Pete.

The latter explanation is used to circumvent the 'imperialistic' issues around the first explanation (even to the story predates imperialism by a good 400 to 800 years). But that explanation also pre-dates political correctness by a good few decades.

In the piece on Elsevier, these two fine examples of lily white tuthola's complain about the hostile reactions they get for sticking their foreign noses into Dutch traditions. But as the above tries to show, both of them have only the most superficial idea about Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet and the very long tradition they are part of. Even in parts of the world which they presume to speak for (picture; Taken in Surinam).

That the arrogance of coming over from Malmö, pronouncing your verdict over a tradition that isn't yours and of which you do not know anything illicits such reactions seems to be beyond the understanding of these to superficial Gutmenschen. Proving all the more that the qualification tuthola applies.

And as to the question these two vacuous 'artists' pose on whether it is possible to reopen the discussion about the Zwarte Piet tradition: We would like to answer with a very short...

NO!

The state and nothing but the state.

The tide is turning in The Netherlands. For years criminals and terrorists could be part of the political correct family, of course only if they committed their crimes in name of leftwing causes. But now that conservatism as an opposition force is on the rise, it dawns on the left-thinking politicians that they are now the defenders of the new statusquo. Now it’s the left that fears public discontent and the very means they them selves employed against their opponents. Thus it’s time to declare one self, against such vile, illegal and violent means.

A sign of the new political tide came a few weeks ago, after Green party reprentative Wijnand Duyvendak promoted his new book. In it he confessed his past involvement in criminal and violent political activities. The whole book promotion was meant as a nice attention grabber in the dull summer months. But instead of enhancing his book sale, a political storm was started (see earlier story here) and the leader of the Green party was forced to declare she was principally against political violence, although she refuses to do it retroactively.

That of course meant that the Greens had to let go representative Wijnand Duyvendak. He is clearly the victim of a moving political landscape. Because Wijnand’s involvement in political violence were known facts for years (see book: RaRa wie ben ik). It seems only been his recent bragging about it, that has prematurly ended his parliamentary career.

I guess that’s how it goes. When times change, politicians not always notice it and don’t adjust accordingly. When that happens, seemingly suddenly a political price has to be paid. In this case the price is not only the parliamentary membership of Wijnand. Also the environmental front groups, who have close ties to him and his party, have come under some political attack. Newspaper Trouw cites Socialist minister Jacqueline Cramer of environmental affairs who responds to these attacks:

My ministry subsidizes environmental organizations because they are ‘important’ middleman between government and citizens said the minister Saturday. The government funding helps the public debate.

Cramer thinks the government should be very critical when the debate turns ‘one sided’ or ‘undemocratic’ or is based on incorrect or incomplete information. The minister says she does not fear to correct the organization who do that, if they keep doing it, she will cancel their government funding.

But she does not underestimate the importance of environmental organizations. They are very important to involve citizens with the environmental policies.

That’s apparently how it works in The Netherlands. The state funds the debate and sets the bandwidth for it. Because if the state would not fund these wonderful and good political activities, nobody would!

'Refusing to shake hands can be seen as offensive'

A small update with a little unexpected common sense. I am referring to this story about the case of Mohammed Faizel Ali Enait, who was turned down for a job as Customer Relations Officer at the municiality of Rotterdam, because he refused to shake hands with women. From Dutchnews.nl:

A Muslim man was rightfully denied a job in Rotterdam because he refused to shake women’s hands, a judge ruled on Wednesday, reports news agency ANP.

The man, an orthodox Muslim, applied for a job as client manager at the Rotterdam social services department in 2005. He was denied the job because he wore a traditional Muslim outfit and refused the shake the hand of the female interviewer because of his religion.

The judge ruled that shaking hands is a common way to exchange greetings in the Netherlands: ‘Refusing to shake hands can be seen as rude or offensive,’ he said.

A client manager functions as a intermediary between the local authority and its residents so denying the man the job is therefore ‘appropriate and necessary’, the judge was reported as saying.

Are we watching the tide turning?

Geert Wilders on BBC Hard Talk

Whence the sudden obsession of the Beeb with our very own Geert Wilders? Just a fortnight ago he was interviewed on BBC Radio 4. This week he was featured on Hard Talk. And not for the first time either (scroll down towards the end).

The Hard Talk interview is here. If it doesn't play for you try installing the Real Alternative player.

Dutch increasingly EUnion-sceptic

In December of 2006 we at KV pontificated:

It seems like 2007 is shaping up to be the year of the demise of the EU.

Of course, actual events in 2007 and this, the year of our Lord 2008, have proven us spectacularly wrong. But there is some cause for optimism, as the Dutch public at large seems to start to begin to develop an understanding about the EUnions true character.

The Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reports (NL) that scepsis about the European project is on the increase.

In 2006 a clear majority of [Dutch] voters is against further European unification: 55 percent is against, 26 percent in favour with 19 percent taking a middle position. With that the distrust of Europe [they mean the EUnion - KV] has increased considerably since the beginning of the nineties. In 1994 there were more proponents (38 percent) then opponents (30 percent) of a far-reaching European unification.

The only slightly worrying thing about the report is the apparent extent to which the EUnion has got its claws into the education of our young. According to the CBS report:

With a support of 68% the youngest group of voters (18 to 25 years of age) is the only population group with warm feeling for Europe [they mean the EUnion - KV].

Then again, wisdom comes with age, doesn't it?

A tale of deceit and malfeasance

We've written about the 'hockeystick graph' before, in December 2006. Back then we wrote:

This past week not a single night went by the the Dutch 8 o'clock news did not carry a story linking distaster to global warming and linking global warming to human activity (as a given). Yet there are some serious questions ignored and actively downplayed that would put a serious dent in the assertions of the man-made character of global warming. Just read the intriguing story about the debunking of the Hockey Stick graph by McKitrick and McIntyre.

Yet the hockey stick made it into the IPCC reports and is still used as THE proof that humans wreak havoc on the atmosphere and global temperatures. But it is a lie.

Bishop Hill has taken it upon himself to write a concise and (not very) short history of the hockeystick graph, how it came to be, how it got published despite legitimate scientific objections and how it ended up in the IPCC reports, despite its abyssmal quality. Writes the Bishop about the authors of a paper claiming to prove the hockeysticks reality:

That the statistical foundations on which they had built this paleoclimate castle were a swamp of misrepresentation, deceit and malfeasance was, to Wahl and Amman, an irrelevance. For political and public consumption, the hockey stick still lived, ready to guide political decision-making for years to come.

If you read just one thing today, this is the one.

(h/t Watts Up With That)

The size of a city council? Or of a city?

Remember when our very own EU Commissioner, Neelie Smit-Kroes (p) swore to us that the EU was not this big moloch of a burocracy? That, if anything, it was the size about as large as the administration of a medium city?

Open Europe is calling bullshit. It turns out that if you add up all the employees of all the EUnion agencies you end up with a figure of aroudn 170,000 people. One hundred and seventy thousand... That's not a medium city administration. That is a medium city! The 10th largest municipality of the Netherlands (out of a total of 443) is Nijmegen (number of inhabitants: 160,907 in 2007). The EUnions army of apparatchicks is larger then that.

Royal Dutch Shell, the large Dutch-Anglo multinational sports a mere 108,000 employees. Philips, the Dutch electronics giant, makes due with a paltry 125,500. Only Unilever, arguably the largest Dutch multinational, tops the EUnion. But only by a mere 4,000 employees.

Daniel Hannan has more on this, concluding:

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The EU is no longer an ideological project, but a racket, a handy way to make a living from the taxpayer.

Sunday linkage

A good round-up of the war in Georgia is at Brussels Journal. The Bruges Group blog some thoughts on the EUnions involvement (such as it is...). For in depth analysis of the military aspects go here (and here for part 2). And where are the protests from our pacifist circles?

On EU Referendum: Tariq Ramadan and lessons not learnt from history.

Oz Conservative: A battle of women. Gates of Vienna also is on the subject: Are there any men left in Scandinavia?

Ezra Levant this week received an acquittal from the Alberta Human Rights Commission dismissing the complaint of “discrimination” filed against him by the radical Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities. But really happy he is not.

Your Sunday Sermon, courtesy of One Cosmos: Satan's Third Suggestion.

Denmark clashing with the EU

Not covered at all in the Netherlands (and hardly in the wider world) is the Danish clash with reality as this nation slowly comes to terms with their loss of sovereignty in joining the EUnion.

The immediate cause is Danish legislations concerning immigration that runs afoul of EUnion directives. Gates of Vienna is covering the story in detail. Relevant posts (in chronological order) are linked to below:

Jul 29 The EU Lays Down the Law
Jul 31 Denmark’s Answer to the EU
Aug 1 The No Longer Forbidden Debate in Denmark
Aug 4 Who Rules in Denmark?
Aug 6 Danish Immigration Policy Capsized
Aug 7 The EU Puts Denmark on Trial

And the latest news is that faced with general opposition to the EUnion growing in Denmark, PM Rasmussen does what any self-respecting EUrocrat does under these circumstances: Cancelling the referendum on the Lisbon treaty Turnip.

Geert Wilders on BBC radio

Geert Wilders was on BBC Radio 4 last Tuesday (Thank you, Sir Henry). He was the guest on a programme called The Choice, where he was met with an interviewer (Michael Buerk) who was not altogether... ehm... journalistic? You can hear the entire interview here. It's well worth the listen, I might add.

The class of Dutch parliament

Even though our parliament is still on holidays, there is a nice scandal that has erupted over Wijnand Duyvendank, MP for GroenLinks (GreenLeft; pictured). In a rather self-congratulatory autobiography he admitted to taking part in a burglary of the Ministry of Economy, in which sensitive documents (on a nuclear energy plant that was to be built) were stolen and subsequently published.

That is bad enough, but in subsequent statements to the press he appeared unregretful of the act, saying that it was done 'for a good cause'. That an attitude like that does not have any place in a legitimate democratic institute seems to be beyond Duyvendak and his scary little party. And I am not even beginning about the fact that an MP should never, under no circumstances, have a criminal record.

[UPDATE001 Friday 15 - 8] Ding-dong, the green criminal has resigned.

Common Purpose?

Who are Common Purpose? On their site (there's also a Dutch chapter) they present themselves in the exact same anodyne positive language as we've come to know from all EUnion institutions. But the Tap blog links to a presentation that sheds a little more sinister light in this outfit. A google session turned up a site that is even more paranoid. Then again, even paranoids have enemies, don't they?

The list of regular speakers on the site of the Dutch chapter of CP reads like a who-is-who of the Dutch multicultural elite. The 'founding father' of the Dutch chapter is Geert Mak, for crying outloud. The course they offer seem to be about power politics only: How to identify and manipulate the 'levers of power' and how to maintain and upgrade your 'network' (that barren and strictly utilitarian surrogate for real friendships and inter-human relations).

I do not like conspiracy theories that much. They often ascribe a level of insidiousness to members of a conspiracy far beyond the capabilities of mere mortals. However, setting aside the (unproven) agenda of delivering us into the hands of communism after all, the concept of a closed, self-selecting (you don't get to join unless invited by the board of Common Purpose) and self-maintaining elite does not spell a lot of good news for a healthy, democratic, public life.

[UPDATE001 Saturday 9 - 8] The Tap is following up here. Conspiracy or not, this is not looking very ... ehmmm... wholesome?

On the lack of activity

Regular readers of Klein Verzet may have noticed the pace of posting has been severely degraded since April/May of this year. I've apologized for this before and I am doing it again here.

My new job is demanding to the extent that I often do not have the energy to do much more then keep up with the blogosphere. Consuming without producing, so to speak. Added to that is the insane pace of developments in the fields of interest of this blog. So much so that we often find ourselves with an agony of choice.

This blog was intended as a sort of communication line between the Netherlands and the wide world. Dutch MSM and politics, under the deadening influence of the EUnion, have become increasingly provincial, self-centred and inward-looking. In that respect, the Dutch public debate, including a goodly portion of the Dutch blogosphere, resembles an echo-chamber of narrow views on even narrower subjects. Any subject, however international its scope, is usually discussed in a rather petty Dutch-only context.

When islam is discussed, we only talk about Dutch muslims, turning a blind eye to international developments (OIC and the UN, for instance) and organisations, like the Brotherhood. When the EUnion is discussed, it is only in the context of our place within it, without anybody questioning whether this is even a system of rule we actually want, like in Denmark (and I dare say the average Dutch is completely oblivious to the constitutional crisis brewing over there). When climate change is discussed, the world-famous Dutch system of dikes and pumps are just about the only concern (after complaining about the weather, of course).

On the other hand, as a 'small' nation in some sort of a self-chosen exile from the international stage (for which I blame the entire Dutch elite of the last 40 year, who've given us over to the EUnion and its ancestors without putting up a fight), developments and news here may have broader implications. The Fortuyn and van Gogh murder and the continuing saga of Geert Wilders and his merry men/women/people taking on the entire glass bubble in The Hague (and the entire islamic world in the process) have found a much wider international audience then most Dutch realise.

This blog was intended to inform the Dutch (and a wider audience) about subjects of interest in a broader context and at the same time informing a wider audience of goings on in our small, damp corner of the world. However, the agony of choice alluded to above has lately taken the form of not making any choices at all and just stop posting.

The daily digest of stories pertinent to the intentions of this blog has lately been huge and seems to be growing still (see for instance the posting above). We usually have an opinion on all of them (yes, we are that kind of people *grin*), but the prospect of covering them all with a few pearls of (debatable) wisdom thrown in at the moment is so overwhelming that we stop before we have even truly begun. This attitude does not make for a successful blog. So we probably need some more time to rethink our blogging. I doubt that the mission of this blog will change. But the mode in which it is carried out needs adjusting.

This is a very long-winded way of telling our readership that we are still around. That this blog is not dying or dead. And that we will continue. We are just not quite sure how...