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Wilders to boycott tv talk show over 'disgusting cartoon'Monday 14 February 2011 PVV leader Geert Wilders is boycotting a televised election debate because the Vara public broadcasting company will not remove an offensive cartoon about him from one of its websites. The cartoon, on the Joop.nl website, is a play on Wilders’ plan to set up special villages for people who cause a persistant public nuisance, which he called Tuigdorpen, or scum villages. It features a queue of people, obviously immigrants, wearing the letter T on their clothes and being directed towards the showers by Wilders – drawing a comparison between the villages and the Nazi death camps. Nonsense The broadcaster has refused to remove the cartoon. A spokesman pointed out that the makers of the tv talk show have nothing to do with the cartoon or the decision to publish it. In a statement on Monday, Wilders told the Telegraaf: 'The VARA's statement that it does not want to liken us to Nazis because it is the opinion of the cartoonist is nonsense and does not matter. If your neighbour invites you to visit and you know there is a painting in his living room which compares you to a Nazi you don't go either.' In the past, Wilders has defended both the Danish artists who published cartoons satirising Islam and Dutch cartoonist Gregorius Nekshot who was arrested and later released following the publication of drawings said to be offensive to immigrants. At the time, Wilders accused the public prosecution department of have dictatorial tendencies. He also accused the Telegraaf of censorship for refusing to publish the work in an election special put together by the PVV leader himself. © DutchNews.nl
As usual freedom of speech works only one way for Wilders. By pepe | February 14, 2011 9:33 AM I thought Wilders was all about freedom, including of art expression. So Muslims are not allowed to complain about offensive cartoons but Wilders is. That goes to show that his entire line of argumentation is hypocritical with different goals than what is presented. Mainly, "just make people to hate each other and fear their neighbors so we can rule them the way we want and profit from that" By Savas | February 14, 2011 9:59 AM Apart from this making him look like a spoiled little brat who won't play because he don't get his own way. It would suggest he is actually too cowardly to debate his issues.Whats he scared of?....freedom of speech from his opposition? By jason buttle | February 14, 2011 10:04 AM Oh and now the shoe is on the other foot and it's pinching a little, isn't it, Geertje? By lowskieslady | February 14, 2011 10:17 AM I love all the previous comments :P I was going to comment something similar but no point now. I got a good laugh! By LJK | February 14, 2011 11:08 AM Ah the Freedom Party... But some people are more free to express themselves than others. By @CluthaDubh | February 14, 2011 11:17 AM For those of you who don't understand, there is a difference between speaking out against offensive speech, and perhaps refusing to participate in some activity, and being prosecuted by a government - or persecuted by another population - for being offensive. In other words, it is not at all hypocritical of Wilders to speak out against government enforcement of "political correctness," while at the same time speaking out as a citizen against offensive speech. This is how offensive speech is handled in America - by speaking out against it, and highlighting its offensiveness. It's Wilder's choice to participate in the debate or not. The "government" - or prosecutors - should have nothing to do with it. By Houston | February 14, 2011 11:48 AM I think his point is....... If Muslims complain about an offensive cartoon (or anything else they find an affront) action is taken swiftly to appease them and their complaints. Afterall, offending Muslims in any manner is a crime. Isn't that why Wilders is on trial? But because it's Wilders complaining(or any Western man for that matter) the response is minimized at best and ridiculed at worst. THAT is the double standard. Which I find more offensive than any cartoon. (who can I take to court?) By Eric in Amsterdam | February 14, 2011 12:01 PM At least he hasn't threatened to cut off the cartoonists head. By David Catleugh | February 14, 2011 12:20 PM Now I know what PVV stands for. PVV means Partij Voor Veinzerij. By Eindhoven | February 14, 2011 1:00 PM Offended? Wilders? I mean, the guy sees a pretty ridiculous and offensive cartoon every time he looks in the mirror... By mikey | February 14, 2011 1:03 PM If you stand by your principles and have strong convictions, you would enter a debate. instead of always evading the questions by blaming someone else...put up or shut up. what is good for the goose is good for the gander.. By Saladin | February 14, 2011 2:46 PM Mister Wilders, if the shoe( T) fits wear them. By Michael Kadin | February 14, 2011 3:51 PM I don't see anything in Wilders comment that is in the least hypocritical. He has not said that the government should ban the cartoon published by Joop because he is offended. He has merely said that he will not attend an event sponsored by the organization that published the cartoon because he finds them offensive. That's the essence of freedom and free speech. The publisher has the right to publish what it wants and the reader has the right to object and protest by non-violent means. By Susan | February 14, 2011 6:05 PM This is ridiculous! Where is your freedom of speech and expression Mr. Wilder???? Islam and Muslims are being criticized just for nothing. This is media-power which is showing only negatives about Muslims. See the other side guys and don't be hypocrite. By Ahmad | February 14, 2011 6:20 PM Is the cartoonist life in danger? By Tjeerd | February 14, 2011 6:45 PM What I find rather odd is that the real offensive part of that cartoon isn't so much Wilders being depicted as a Nazi.It's the fact that the Holocaust and the Jews who perished in it are being compared to "scum". And the "scum villages" to Nazi death camps. It's basically a form of holocaust denial. By Durendal | February 15, 2011 12:07 AM Geert has every right to boycott a station he sees as hostile. When Geert goes out children, there are real muslims trying to kill him. Why should he play games with silly lefties whose crowning achievement in criticism is to childishly draw swastikas. He is an MP and he deserves serious debate. Not BS. By Rick | February 15, 2011 3:02 AM The difference is striking: Wilders never said anything about the right the cartoonist has to publish his work. He never threatened to censor him. But why is he obliged to take part in the debate? The Muslims that were offended by the Danish cartoon could easily not go to Denmark, stop buying Danish products, boycotting debates, etc. Was that what they were threatening to do? I am afraid not... By Davi Correia | February 15, 2011 6:48 AM
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Can you say "hypocrite" boys and girls?
I knew you could.
By CW | February 14, 2011 9:11 AM