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THEO VAN GOGH
Thursday, November 2, 2006
THEO VAN GOGH
Today it is exactly two years ago that Theo van Gogh was murdered. Over the past few days I have written about some aspects of the murder and the incredible threats we face these days when it comes to ‘free speech’. Some time has passed, but I think that the attempts to regulate and control speech, stifle debate, silence commentators and cleanse history have only grown in intensity since that fateful day in Amsterdam. And I do not just refer to jihadists. Western governments and special interest groups are equally playing their part, the only difference being the sophistication and stealth by which they attempt – and sometimes succeed – to frame the boundaries of a debate. Yes, there is a comprehensive Theo van Gogh file on this site, but I have my personal favorites and they are in random order: Van Gogh on … – This post translates some excerpts form his columns and give a flavor – especially for the non-Dutch continent among you - about Theo’s views on a variety of issues. Van Gogh Killer Sentenced – Rather than spent time on the man who went to prison for life, I focused on some of Van Gogh’s peculiarities and tried to recreate the man he was. Al-Zarqawi on Clogs – One of the most visited posts on this site ever, it contained translated parts of the note Bouyeri left on Van Gogh’s body. Dutch authorities suppressed the note for 48 hours out of fear for inciting more violence, but in the end understood the value of releasing it to the world at large. Yes - this video is in Dutch, but the point is to show a man who is relieved that he has just completed a movie (about the Fortuyn murder) and who is deeply happy and thankful that he can do this for a living. Theo did not live to see the release of this production.
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about the murder. It's in Dutch, but suffice it to say, he doesn't like the book all that much and counts no less than some 125 to 150 factual inaccuracies in it. Interesting.