A journey of a thousand miles...

I’ve previously written of creeping Islamisation, how western countries are at huge risk from it, and how Israel’s the canary in the goldmine [1, 2, 3]. For reasons that escape me – but perhaps a misguided sense of political correctness and/or a distorted perception of the nature of human rights and/or multi-culturalism – western governments seem blindsided by this real and increasing threat. Apparently they’re adopting a dual approach of appeasing their Islamic citizens, and demonising if not delegitimising Israel. But I suspect the worm’s turning [4]. In the last couple of weeks: By 335 votes to 1, France joined Belgium by banning Islamic facial coverings [5]. (Though following suit was too much for the pathetic Brits to face [6] (pun intended)). The Presbyterians diluted their bile [7]. The International Trade Union Confederation (which represents 178M workers) passed resolutions that did the union movement’s long and principled heritage proud [8]. And a Friends of Israel organisation launched overseas [9] and in Australia [10]. These are all small steps; but I can’t help feel it’s significant they’ve happened almost concurrently. Though of course the tipping point’s nowhere in sight, a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. I don’t think the elected leaders of western democracies have woken up to the catastrophic downside risk of continuing the status quo. But maybe, just maybe, they’ve begun to stir. I hope they have. For the road ahead is long.

Geert Wilders: 'We have no problem to be tolerant of the tolerant’.

I’ve never been to Holland. Other than one transit through Schiphol airport. So I know little about it. But I do know it held a general election last Wednesday. On my birthday. The results [1] show the big mover was the PVV, the Party for Freedom [2]. Founded in 2005, in the 2006 election it won nine seats making it the fifth largest party. Last week its vote tripled, and its 24 seats make it the third largest party. The PVV’s founder and driving force is Geert Wilders (pictured) [3]. Farmdoc’s Blog readers may recall him from here [4]. In September 2004 he left the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy [VVD] because he couldn’t accept the VVD condoning Turkey’s entry to the EU. The PVV’s policies combine economic liberalism with a conservative approach to immigration and culture. Regarding the latter, it believes the Judeo-Christian and humanist traditions should be Holland’s dominant culture, and immigrants should adapt accordingly. And it opposes a dominant presence of Islam in Holland. You can call Wilders a fascist or racist if you like, but the fact is that Holland’s a Western democracy, and last week her voters exercised their right to vote freely. This Jerusalem Post interview with Wilders [5] makes interesting reading visa-vis my previous posts about Islamisation [6, 7, 8] and Israel being the West’s metaphoric coalmine canary [9, 10]. So in the next four years I’ll be keeping a keen eye on Dutch politics. How could I not?

Why Farmdoc's voting Liberal

Last Monday Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith (pictured) announced Australia’s expelling an Israeli diplomat in retaliation for Israel’s alleged forgery of four Australian passports in connection with the murder of Hamas terrorist and arms dealer Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh [1]. Here are my responses:

A. The federal opposition Liberal Party says Australia’s action was aimed at currying favour with Arab countries because Australia’s seeking a UN Security Council seat [2].

B. Liberal Party Deputy Leader and Shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia has used and forged foreign passports in intelligence and other covert activities [3].

C. Prime Minister Rudd’s rebuke of Ms Bishop in the interests of national security [4] is tacit confirmation. Why wouldn’t he deny it if he could truthfully do so?

D. A federal election’s due later in 2010. Though I’m ideologically more aligned with Labor than the Liberals, due to this expulsion I’m voting Liberal. For me all else is background music.

E. In his blog Steve Lieblich asks three pertinent questions: If Australia could have prevented the Bali bombing by forging some passports and killing a terrorist, would it have done so? What protest has the Australian government made to the Dubai and other governments openly allowing terrorist activity? And if that protest is weaker than this action against Israel, why [5]? Indeed, Steve.

F. In the battle against the rising tide of Islamist terrorism, Israel’s the gold mine canary. If Israel can’t hold the line then heaven help the rest of the so-called civilised world – including Australia. But Messrs Smith and Rudd can’t see past their noses – which currently are distinctly brown.

G. Screw them. At times like this I’m ashamed of my country’s Prime Minister and Government.

Canaries, craziness and indignation

Indignation. It’s anger aroused by a perceived offence or injustice. I wrote here [1] I have a heightened, maybe overdeveloped, sense of indignation. Or perhaps not, and I’m a figurative coal mine canary [2] responding sanely to a crazy world [3]. The UN’s Commission on the Status of Women [CSW] [4] is an arm of the UN’s Economic and Social Council [ECOSOC] [5]. Set up in 1946, the CSW’s the global peak body dedicated to gender equality and women’s advancement. Last week ECOSOC ‘elected’ Iran to the 45-member CSW, for a 4-year term starting in 2011. Iran – a country where women are buried from the waist down and stoned to death for adultery; spousal rape’s not illegal; conviction for non-spousal rape needs at least four male (or three male and two female) witnesses; a man may kill his wife caught in an act of adultery if he’s certain she’s a consenting partner; 50 honour killings were reported during seven months in 2008; a husband need cite no reason to divorce his wife yet a wife must not only cite reasons to divorce her husband but he must sign a document confirming those reasons; laws permit polygamy; employment laws favour men; and family laws grant women 50% of the entitlements they grant men [6]. Yes – it’s a crazy world. And the UN’s a crazy body that mirrors the world’s craziness. If the foregoing doesn’t convince you of the UN’s dysfunction, read this [7]. Indignantly.

farmdoc's blog post number 430

Canaries were once used as an early warning system in coal mines. Toxic gases including CO2 and methane would kill the birds before affecting the miners. Because canaries sing much of the time, they provided both visual and audible cues of danger. Since 1911 two canaries were used in each British coal mine. In 1987 electronic detectors replaced them [1]. Nowadays ‘coal mine canary’ refers to a person or thing that serves as an early warning of a coming crisis. I don’t know if I’m being a coal mine canary, or a worry wort, but the possible Islamisation of western countries including the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, is on my mind. I wrote about it last 5 May. Last week I watched the 2008 film Fitna. About 17 minutes long and named after an Arabic word, Fitna is the brainchild of 45-year-old Geert Wilders, a Dutch parliamentarian and leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom. Because of Fitna, earlier in 2009 Wilders was prosecuted in Holland ‘for the incitement to hatred and discrimination’, and he was banned from entering the UK because he’s considered a ‘threat to one of the fundamental interests of society’. To me the major question’s whether or not Fitna depicts objective actuality. Watch Fitna here and make up your own mind. Even if you can’t, time will decide if Wilders is a coal mine canary. Or a xenophobic lunatic.