Geert Wilders: International Ban on "hate speech" laws needed

The following may be "old" news to some but this news NEVER gets old and is pertinent and deserves our attention daily. The information is exactly as it has come to me. If you notice the "hate speech" laws and/or resolutions passed in Western nations are 100% designed to revere Islam and to denegrate, fine, and perhaps imprison anyone who speaks out against the policies of "financial" Islam, "political" Islam, "terrorist" Islam (better known under Obama as "extremists" without the use of radical, fundamentalist, or Islamic or even the more universally agreed term, "Islamists" or God-forbid, radical Islamic terrorists. Keep in mind that for the likes of Rosie O'Donnell - who made her fame and fortune from the hard-earned money of the Christians in our country whom she calls "extremists." To the matter at hand, it is not "hate speech" laws we need but rather a BAN on all censorship under the guise of "hate speech" laws. The Islamist terrorists sworn to kill us or bring us into submission will follow no laws to curtail "hate speech" and will only use such laws to intimidate the rest of us. We need freedom of speech - worldwide. The following is a press release from the Center for Security Policy about the Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilder and his film, Fitna. Friday, February 27, 2009 Geert Wilders: The World Needs an International First Amendment and a Ban on All 'Hate Speech' Laws; Keynotes Center-sponsored Press Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact Lee Cohen lcohen@securefreedom.org Washington, DC: Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders, founder and floor leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), and member of the Board of Advisors of the International Free Press Society (IFPS), recounted today before a packed audience in Washington's National Press Club the recent, alarming attacks on free speech worldwide - including legal actions and death threats to which he and other political leaders and journalists have lately been exposed. Notably, Mr Wilders is being prosecuted in his own county because of reaction to his film "Fitna," and his remarks challenging the contention that Islam is a "religion of peace." Attendees at the press conference co-sponsored by the Center for Security Policy and the International Free Press Society had an opportunity to view "Fitna" in its entirety and to engage in a lively question and answer session with Mr. Wilders. The film features quotations from the Koran, documentary footage of Islamic leaders inciting violence (jihad) based on those quotations, and documentary footage of the results: deaths of innocent civilians and destruction of property in various Western nations. [I would also add that the film documents heinous treatment of women.] The film can be viewed here. here. Highlights of Mr. Wilders' remarks (a copy of his entire statement may obtained here and included the following:

The real question is: will free speech be put behind bars? And the larger question for the West is: will we leave Europe's children the values of Rome, Athens and Jerusalem, or the values of Mecca Teheran, and Gaza? Hate speech will always be used against the people defending the West-in order to please and appease Muslims. They can say whatever they want: throw gays from apartment buildings, kill the Jews, slaughter the infidel, destroy Israel, jihad against the West. Whatever their book tells them. ...My prosecution is a full-fledged attack by the Left on freedom of speech in order to please Muslims. I propose the withdrawal of all hate speech legislation in Europe....In Europe, we should defend freedom of speech like Americans do....Millions think liberty is precious. That democracy is better than Shariah....there is no stronger power than the force of free men fighting for the great cause of liberty.

In welcoming Mr. Wilders to America, Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy, observed that the threats he faces are actually threats to all of us. They arise from the theo-political-legal program authoritative Islam calls "Shariah": Mr. Gaffney observed that:

The insinuation of Shariah legal codes and practices into Free World societies includes the effort to impose Shariah blasphemy, slander and libel laws in the West. According to Shariah, it is impermissible to engage in speech or writings that ‘defame' Islam or otherwise offend its followers. We must oppose all these efforts. [This means literally to even discuss Islam or any of the many parts of Islam and the adverse impact they have on our culture and our Western civilization. For us to even discuss Islam is offensive and therein lies the problem with "free speech." Islamists are working to END free speech throughout all Western cultures/nations.]

Diana West, the syndicated columnist and best-selling author who serves as Vice President of the International Free Press Society said: The ideal speech protections lie in the spirit of the American First Amendment. While Mr. Wilders would clearly live and breathe more easily with such speech protections, it is important for all of us who are here today to witness him speak to note, that even under existing legal constraints, governmental efforts to further... Lars Hedegaard, President of the International Free Press Society, introduced Wilders and outlined the IFPS 2009 campaign to ban hate speech laws and to work for an "International First Amendment." Mr. Hedegaard said:

The hate speech and blasphemy laws that are now common in many European countries lack clarity as to precisely what they aim to criminalize. Recent experience with their implementation further shows that they are unequally applied. This state of affairs is intolerable and the IFPS must therefore demand that all such laws be repealed. The way to deal with controversial, offensive or even hateful statements-unless they are directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action-is to expose them to public debate and criticism. [I would submit to you that the lack of clarity is precisely what the supporters of these laws want - chaos and confusion.]

A video of the entire press conference will be available shortly at the Center for Security Policy's website, here. In the News: Obama expected to set Iraq pullout for August 2010 India to construct aircraft carrier: Navy Progress in Baghdad continues on all fronts, Commander reports Obama announces more key defense appointments Iraqi army struggles to master logistics US-China resume military ties, top officer says Plans to close US airbase threaten military supply route to Afghanistan US ready to respond to N. Korea missile US, Pakistan and Afghanistan to hold regular talks Japan opposition's US military remarks draw criticism Pakistan officers helped plan Mumbai attack, India says Baghdad social scene gaining ground Zimbabwe seeks urgent African aid Clinton cautious about US-Syria dialogue Lebanon frees Hariri assassination suspects Thousands flee Ethiopian clashes Iraq withdrawal plans gain GOP support Commentary "Balancing Beijing" by Doug Bandow "Power plays in the Indian ocean" by Robert Kaplan "Obama proposes a European US" by Charles Krauthammer "Arms control's dangerous allure" by John Bolton here Recent Center Publications Frank Gaffney's weekly Decision Briefs The Occasional Papers Series Center for Security Policy's 2007-2008 National Security Scorecard The latest Americas Report ~~~~~~ With the exception of one or two designated comments such as the one that follows, this entire post comes from the Center for Security. If you are interested in their briefings, you may go to their website and link to receive news letters, briefings, and such other material that will help keep you informed. There have been two waves where Islamic leaders have crested the waves and driven their people and their Sharia Law upon the shores and into the heartland of Western Civilization. We are now living through the third such assault. The ground has been tilled and we have been softened up by our own far-left and the morons pounding the drum for "political correctness" in speech and behavior of Western civilized man. This "political correctness" which seems to have its early roots in nineteenth century Russia is but censorship. "Political correctness" is a soft term for censorship and for guarding your words. Hush, hush... Can't speak the truth. Can't even discuss contraversial ideologies. And you certainly CANNOT produce a film using actual quotations from a Qur'an and actual video footage of the most heinous acts being commited upon Muslim women. All laws, national and international, that threaten free speech behind the banner of "hate speech" must be banned. Even dear Maxine Waters, that sterling example of elected leadership, threatened that LA would be burned to the ground if O.J. Simpson were convicted of killing Ron Goldman and nearly beheading Nicole Brown Simpson, the mother of his children. Congressman Waters spoke inciting citizens to riot, her words held the justice system hostage, and yet she remained free and at large to intimidate the citizens and to threaten not only their stores, there homes, but also their lives. Her words were "hate speech" but "hate speech" laws are only designed to censor and intimidate people from speaking the truth and from having open discussions about the threats we face from those who really do want to kill us. Can anyone remember the screams of Nick Berg?