And here we were, thinking the murder of Theo would be a turning point in Holland, that this was the last straw. Ha! The politicians make sure that we just bow our heads and slink away, so we don't offend the barbarians amongst us. How disgusting that Theo is shoved under the carpet.

Posted by: feralee at July 12, 2005 10:58 AM

I think they should terminate one of the guests of Club Gitmo on the very spot of Theo's murder every year on the anniversary of Theo's murder.

A living memorial if you will.

Posted by: St_James at July 12, 2005 11:46 AM

The city of Amsterdam is now reconsidering it, and there will probably be a statue after all.
Spineless politics is not amuzing at all, but I'm glad it turns out like it does anyway.

Posted by: Jazz at July 12, 2005 12:00 PM

Is this in the country where Dutch school kids are asked not to wear Dutch flags as decoration becauase that might offend Moslem children? Perhaps the Dutch salute should be bending over and touching their toes.

Posted by: Seymour Paine at July 12, 2005 12:34 PM

Is this in the country where Dutch school kids are asked not to wear Dutch flags as decoration becauase that might offend Moslem children? Perhaps the Dutch salute should be bending over and touching their toes.

It will be a cold day in hell when I refrain from wearing a United States flag to avoid offending someone. I can tell you that right now. That's going too damn far.

I wear my Don't Tread On Me" shirt anywhere I care to as well.

f.g.

Posted by: f.g. at July 12, 2005 2:29 PM

now that's classic PC

i nominate m. verbeet for the
"i may have no gonads - but i certainly am PC" lifetime achievement award

for ignoring his own words:
"...provocations and unrest in the neighbourhood..."

duh... maritn

provocations and unrest have begun - and even a very provocative murder of innocent attempting to speak on behalf of innocent - and will not end as long as people like him are "leading"

maybe martin was in hashish bar when all that happened ... back to the hashish bar for martin and similars where you can "feel good" while denying reality - which is about to ruin the "neighborhood" and maybe change it -forever

Posted by: PCKills! at July 12, 2005 8:04 PM

Van Goghs' mother, Anneke van Gogh, made an impressive speech in court yesterday. She also codemned the cowardness of the council in Amsterdam. Today these cowards retorted and there will be a monument.
Note that the council was afraid to hurt muslimfeelings with a monument, thus proving the fact that the council sees all muslims as lovers of terror and murder of the Dutch. With PC-friends like that, one no longer needs enemies.

We, the Dutch, should be gratefull for courageous people in our midst as Van Gogh and his mother (and father and sisters for that matter).

Posted by: Ernst at July 12, 2005 9:07 PM

The best monument to Theo Van Gogh in The Netherlands would be a spine.

And I don't mean in bronze at the site of his slaughter.

But in the Dutch people who survived his public butchering.

If they want to erect a memorial that would represent his spirit, it should be something like- a realistic statue of Theo- in his usual rumpled clothes- holding his hands forward with his index fingers extended and then crossed in the iconic gesture used to ward off evil (making an ironic anti-vampire "cross"), to show both his sense of humor, even in the face of homicidal lunacy, and to give a permanent insult and mocking reproach to those who want[ed] to silence him.

He was a Socratic gadfly and a Swiftian defender of freedom of speech and belief, so nothing maudlin or pompous need apply.

Posted by: BigSleep at July 13, 2005 1:40 AM