In all due respect to Mr. Wilders the United States is probably the last place that needs to see Fitna. They already know the threat of extreme Islam. Save your time and show it in the UK, France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden....well the whole Europe basically. The Americans understand the threats facing the western world...and it doesn't appear that the Europeans do.

By Brock Davis | March 2, 2009 1:42 PM

Bull crap! There was over five hundred people that attended the showing! I am sick and tired of the left wing media distorting the truth!

By Sandra | March 2, 2009 3:41 PM

The reporter, an obvious product of Dutch public education, ran out of fingers and toes and was only able to borrow another 20 digits from his neighbor. We here in the US are used to such leftwing reporting.

By Marco Williams | March 2, 2009 4:10 PM

Sandra

How do you know there were 500 people there?

By shirley | March 2, 2009 5:02 PM

From this URL http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.2647/pub_detail.asp
I quote:
"At the “standing room only” event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel Friday evening, hundreds gathered to hear Wilders speak and to see the film that has stirred up the controversy. (According to Geller’s information, there were 500 people and many others had to be turned away due to space restrictions.) In her introductory remarks, Geller called it an “historic event” because “truth is the new hate speech.” End quote

[Editors note: the Congress showing was on Thursday]

By Alex Baldal | March 2, 2009 6:37 PM

I have to believe that there were more than just a few people at this screening. After all of the controversy this film has made people would be curious to see it, whether is a bunch of bull or not. Check out this vid for more info, http://www.newsy.com/videos/free_speech_or_hate_speech/

By Max Leidigh | March 2, 2009 7:00 PM

Like Brock Davis, I thought Wilder's speech to the U.S. Congress was somewhat strange. I suppose he is traveling to many different countries with his proclamation of anti-Islamic free speech, but he surely needs the support of EU countries before ours. In fact, I would argue that it is probably already obvious which Americans support Wilder's views and which do not.
Personally, I stand by nearly all free speech defenses, but i am not sure that Wilder's anti-Islamic view fully supports 1st Amendment ideals--it seems that he is primarily declaring a national ban on Islam and not a return to the marketplace of ideas. If he chooses to disallow those Muslim groups which aim to suppress others' free speech, I can see his reasoning.
I watched an interesting video on this at newsy.com earlier today. It's worth checking out:

http://www.newsy.com/videos/free_speech_or_hate_speech/

By Kt | March 2, 2009 10:23 PM

Shirley,

Here is the link to the site to prove that there were five hundred guest there, and the video of Geert Wilders speech in USA. http://europenews.dk/en/node/20549

By all do respect, please do read the news and look at the video.

By sandra | March 3, 2009 6:56 AM

Dear, oh, dear,

As the kindly people at Dutchnews have pointed out, the Dutchnews piece and the references supplied by the Wilders apologists are in fact referring to two different events. The event for the US congress was not open to the public and was indeed very poorly attended.
The event for righ-wing idiots was probably bursting at the seams with people with little idea of Wilders one-topic politics and his own contempt for freedom of speech (excluding his own, of course).

By Garry | March 3, 2009 4:59 PM

To the commentator referring to "the marketplace of ideas": Even in America one cannot publically say that he intends to kill the president.
I don't know much about Mr. Wilders, but I have read the Qu'ran and some of the hadith. They are hate-filled and intolerant. Furthermore, they advocate killing non-believers. In sum: These documents violate every principle we hold dear, including our constitution and the basic premises of Christianity.
If we are to allow any further immigratin, we must be far mor selective. There are untold millions who share with us a common religion, tradition, and culture, and they would not add to social tensions we already have.
All men are not created equal.

By Ron Slade Sr. | March 5, 2009 3:25 AM