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Film-maker funeral marred by violence
ELFTwo Dutch churches were attacked by arsonists, in apparent retaliation for earlier attacks on mosques, while an opinion poll showing 40 per cent of Dutch people no longer considered Muslims welcome underlined a rapid deterioration of tolerance in the previously liberal Netherlands. A sarcastic letter was read out to van Gogh's killer, promising "we will do our very best to learn more about your beliefs to prevent further misunderstanding", and apologising that the killing "had to happen in the middle of Ramadan". At the funeral, crowds waved banners demanding "Let's protect our freedom of speech" and "No to fundamentalism". Van Gogh's elderly mother told the congregation that everyone affected should be allowed to express their anger: "Let no social worker, psychologist or another member of the thought police tell us we cannot hate, that we have to turn the other cheek." Posted by: tipper 2004-11-10 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=48405 |