A Dutch political cartoonist was arrested this week on suspicion of insulting people. According to Amsterdam public prosecutor spokeswoman Sanne van Meteren, "We suspect him of insulting people on the basis of their race or belief, and possibly also of inciting hate."
Each is a crime punishable by up to a year in prison under Dutch hate speech laws — or two years for multiple offenses.
According to the news article he was arrested with a great show of force, by ten policemen. This is a reasonable precaution as everyone knows that cartoonists are the worst kind of criminal there is... "Look out... he's got a Crayon"!
Gee, I hope the Dutch don't find that insulting... maybe they'll come after me, but then again... I could just run! How fast can they chase after me in wooden shoes afterall?
Alas, it seems that Dutch authorities have already silenced him, as most of the links to his work now return a 404 error. Although if you speak dutch, there is an interview available on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9API1RH5ak
Hate Speech laws are a dangerous road to tread upon, tantamount to book burnings. Have we so abrogated personal responsibility in the west as to now convict those who 'incite' violence by words as opposed to those who commit violence by 'actions'?
Ostensibly, EU hate speech laws are a product of Nazi policies and a well intentioned policy to protect minorities, specifically Jews, yet how far do we go? True, freedom of speech does not extend, to use an overused analogy, to yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater... but are we now to ban cartoons of 'fires' in crowded theaters?
We are far too accommodating, and losing our culture and principles as a result. It is curious that Gregorius Nekschot has been arrested for mocking Muslims, as he over the years has pretty much mocked everyone... Christians, Jews, Leftists, Socialists, pretty much anything or anyone he considers to be going to extremes... but then again, the rest of us aren't going off killing people and blowing things up because we have been offended.
The Reconquista needs to start now!
~Finntann~
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