As the leader of the Partij voor de Vrijheid, it would be entirely within reason to describe Mr. Wilders as the most important political figure in Holland, and one of the fastest rising stars of Western Europe. His party is more libertarian in character than anything else, with a platform that calls for tax cuts but also recognizes the importance of secular humanism. What makes the party particularly controversial, though, is the party’s view of Islam. It was summarized to a large degree in the famously controversial short film Fitna, for which Mr. Wilders has received a great many death threats. Essentially, they realize that Islam as a matter of basic theology, and thus practice, embraces violence. Individual Muslims may choose to reject this component of their faith, which he urges them to do. If they do, and further wish to assimilate in Dutch society, Mr. Wilders is content to let them be. But, as is glaringly apparent from Dutch news, the vast majority have opted not to become a part of the larger Dutch society or to adopt a moderate tone. There has been no large scale repudiation of violence in the Islamic world among the scripturally versed, only some vague rejections from their political front groups in the West. And so he continues to draw attention to this, and to the threat it poses to the long term survival of a free and democratic Europe.

It seems though that in Dutch politics, honesty is rarely the best policy. The day after we installed a spineless snake oil salesman in the highest office of the land, the courts of a country supposedly known for its liberal permissiveness has decided to try a man for the “insult of Islamic worshipers.” If this is to be par for the course, we may as well do away with democracy. When politicians who are loyal to the nation in whose government they serve run the risk of legal action not for slander, but for bruising the egos of the hypersensitive, no real debate can occur and the entire political process becomes little more than a façade. That this should happen is alarming enough. That it is happening to one of the few competent politicians in the world for the crime of honesty should inspire the fury of all freedom-loving peoples.