I suppose the true irony in all this is that muslims, in responding indignantly or violently as they so often do, confirm the very stereotypes that such (and other films, news footage, books, articles, press releases and so on) “damaging” portrayals depict. In other words, muslims consistently live up (or down) to their worst reputation. Indeed, the trial has opened now of alleged muslim terrorists who were said to have planned utter carnage on transatlantic flights. Let me repeat that: “muslim terrorists”; acting in the name of their religion: “islam”. Not Mormons; Church of England communicants; not Rastafarians; or Hindus; or Buddhists; Jews; Jehova’s Witnesses…………………but “muslims”. No getting away from it. This has everything to do with islam. These people would’ve recited muslim prayers before detonating their devices, had they the chance. No getting away either from the many violent passages contained in the Qur’an that led Wilders to compare it to “Mein Kampf”. A fair comparison.
Wilders, in screening his movie, has merely allowed islam to speak for itself. And in so speaking, it’s condemned by its own utterances, deeds and so-called “sacred” tracts.
If such self-condemnation is good enough for islam, it should be good enough for the rest of us. And we should cease forthwith this pusillanimous cringing, dressed up as “sensitivity”. It’s cowardice. Naked spinelessness. Islam is a pernicious mess. Wilders has allowed islam to admit it. We should admit it too.
