Right-wing politician gunned down in our country

**DutchMaster** · May 6th, 2002, 05:49 PM

CNN report:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe...ing/index.html

Our country is in shock. Although the right-winger had many people against him, nobody had thought that somebody like him gets killed because of his statements and ideas. This is a country that supports democratcy, that even a guy with his ideas gets the chance to get ellected. Unfortunately it can't

**Angela** · May 6th, 2002, 06:29 PM

What a terrible thing to have happen!! Regardless of what one thinks of someone's politics, such actions never solve anything, they make things worse.

**Germ** · May 6th, 2002, 06:53 PM

That's awful! And I'm really surprised it could happen in The Netherlands.

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 6th, 2002, 07:15 PM

Quite truthfully, I don't like the worldwide drift of things.

Reminds me of the breakdown of of European social structure in the twenties and thirties when --in what Sociologists call anomie --the sense of belongingness and the amity between neighbors collapsed.

Are we entering a new period of chaos and drift ?
People need a frame of reference to live.
What is that today ?

The Le Pen situation in France where the Socialists were no longer perceived as the opposition part, the baleful "success" of Jorge Heiders pseudo-populistsparty in Austria--running on an anti-immigration and anti-crime non-issue in a Country with one of the lowest immigration and crime rates in Europe, all have contributed to this.

One of the things I learned in History is that the Nation-State is "psychologically satisfying" in Modern times. Perhaps that is no longer the case. Or that the "States" as constituted no longer suffice.

Perhaps Europe is psychologically not ready for the Euro and the free-crossing of labor. With the collapse of the unifying threat of Soviet Communism, like the poet Cavafy wrote, "What will become of us without Barbarians ?"

MegalosSkylaki

And of course I would condemn political assassination [ if, indeed, that's what it was]. Or any assassination.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 07:33 AM

Frankly the world is an ever so slightly better place with one less ignorant racist.

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 7th, 2002, 08:37 AM

Be careful with that sentiment.

That's how the Spanish poet/playwright Frederico Garcia Lorca got whacked--reputedly.

As retaliation for the assassination of a of a Phalangist intellectual.

As US Supreme Court Justice William o. Douglas observed, "It is hard to recall the DooGs [?] of political repression, once they've been released"

Hate to see things devolve down to a round of political assassinations. The French took care of Le Pen at the Polls.
The Austrians seem to be doing the same with Heider's mis-begotten Party.

Too bad People need to toy with such people...

DOOOOOG

Errr...think he meant Humanoids.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 08:41 AM

What I meant is that I really dont care, I have been following Fortuyn's comments and I can find no reason to care about his assasination.

I understand what you say though Megalos. Maybe what I am trying to say is that when someone plays with fire they should be aware that they might get burnt.

**DutchMaster** · May 7th, 2002, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by clubmed
What I meant is that I really dont care, I have been following Fortuyn's comments and I can find no reason to care about his assasination.

I understand what you say though Megalos. Maybe what I am trying to say is that when someone plays with fire they should be aware that they might get burnt.

Yes his comments were extreme and I don't agree with all of them. But we live in a democratic country where the people decide who gets control of our country. If somebody who has the right to speaks his mind and gets killed by that, means that what we call democraticy is at stake. IMO its not to mourn that much about this politician, then more over the democraticy and freedom of speech that has been attacked.

BTW the elections next week will take place as scheduled. I am curious about the results.

**Graham** · May 7th, 2002, 02:31 PM

Like his opinions or not, he had, in a democracy, a right to voice them, especially in a society as laid back and liberal as the Nederlands.
It will be a worrying day when a european election is decided at the point of a gun like they are in some countries.

We should not treat any death of this type lightly, it strikes at the very core of democracy.

Comiserations to you and your countrymen DM, even if you were not his supporter politically.
I heard his party was pretty much a one man affair, do you think there will be much of a sympathy vote?

G

**Barney** · May 7th, 2002, 02:45 PM

This guy was going to be our prime minister in a couple of weeks! While I don't agree with the way they got rid of him, I'm glad they did. The last thing I would want to happen is to have racist/fascist leading our country.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 03:00 PM

wasnt he gay too ?

**Barney** · May 7th, 2002, 03:02 PM

I think he was.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 03:07 PM

And frankly I find it sick that we have here in Europe a trend towards right wing governments blaiming all their problems on immigrants and foreigners.

Thats how Hitler and the Nazis started.

**daveleau** · May 7th, 2002, 03:11 PM

I agree, clubmed. (a first!

) I should mention that I agree with the statement above this one, not the rest of them. I do not think he deserved what he got.

**Barney** · May 7th, 2002, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by clubmed
And frankly I find it sick that we have here in Europe a trend towards right wing governments blaiming all their problems on immigrants and foreigners.

Thats how Hitler and the Nazis started.

I agree. I can't believe that that guy got enough support to become the new prime minister, even after saying things like Islam is a retarded religion and wanting to remove article 1 from the constitution, that forbids people to discriminate.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 03:21 PM

Well if Le Pen nearly made it in france then anything is possible I'm afraid.

Also Haider here in Austria and Berlusconi in Italy, all playing a dangerous game.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 04:05 PM

Assasinating people one doesnt like seems to be a trend now.

In Brussels a right winger shot and killed a Morrocan man and his wife, injuring their two children and a third person. He then burnt down their house.

The terrorist was killed shortly after by poilce.

I guess they deserve a sad face too..

**caddmannq** · May 7th, 2002, 04:26 PM

CM, please don't equate "right-wingers" with "terrorists."

I am a right-winger; but I'm not a terrorist.

**ClubMed** · May 7th, 2002, 04:44 PM

**Deleted by CM**

**caddmannq** · May 7th, 2002, 04:58 PM

I'm not debating what terrorism is, CM. That much should be obvious. Still, you couldn't pass up a chance to wave the bloody shirt yet again (and repeat your faux pas in the process.)