Fitna - Satire in Action

A new film that is producing outrage in the Islamic world, Fitna claims that Islam is violent and incites hatred. Islamic spokesmen deny this vehemently, claiming that Islam is a religion of peace, and if the movie wasn't suppressed violence would follow. Do they understand the meaning of irony? European leaders were falling all over themselves to distance themselves from the film, to prevent the violence from followers of the religion of peace. [Link]

Geert Wilders's controversial film "Fitna" has now been posted online. Though the footage is familiar, the film is disturbing. In the film Wilders attributes the murder and violence committed by Muslims in the name of Islam to Islam and the Koran. The film therefore does not distinguish between Islam and Islamism, asserting that the distinction is false.

Taking issue with the film, and seeking to head off a wave of Muslim violence inspired by it, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende felt compelled to weigh in at a news conference held at the Hague: "The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this interpretation.'' The Dutch Prime Minister says he rejects the interpretation, but he seems to do so because he fears that it has some merit. His comments put me in mind of the bumper sticker "Support mental health or I'll kill you."