FACT - Freedom Against Censorship Thailand

Review: Fitna by Geert Wilders…and YouTube in Thailand
CJ Hinke
Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)

There have been several, primarily Muslim, demonstrations which greeted the March 23 release of the short film, “Fitna”, by Geert Wilders. I daresay a minute percentage of those demonstrating actually watched “Fitna” which means “strife” or “conflict” in Arabic.

Wilders is a 45-year old right-wing Roman Catholic Dutch politician who has served in the Netherlands’ Tweede Kamer since 1998. “Fitna” is artfully crafted propaganda not much different from government and media propaganda against terrorism.

What is most obvious is not that Geert Wilders is a racist but how afraid he is of change. This also is not much different than the insecurity of most politicians. In fact, he may be exploiting public fear for egotistic reasons.

“Fitna”’s producer and co-author is pseudonymous. It is significant that this person chose “Scarlet Pimpernel” for their nom de guerre. “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is a 1903 stageplay by a Hungarian aristocrat emigre about English aristocrats rescuing French aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution. Perhaps Wilders and partner consider themselves modern-day aristocrats.

A few carefully chosen suras from the Koran nor actual speeches by a few Muslim zealots do not religion make. The same propaganda could be gleaned from the Christian Bible.

The crime is fundamentalism of whatever stripe. There are surely as many Christian and Jewish fundamentalists preaching violence as Muslims. Human beings will either help each other or become extinct.

Immigration is never easy for the immigrant or for his new country no matter religion or locale. Change always fills us with fear.

Wilders is exercising his freedom of speech. “Fitna” is not an incitement to hate nor to anti-Muslim violence. “Fitna” is purely incitement to fear.

Governments do a far better and more complete job of fear-mongering than one more zealot can ever do.

The question is, will “Fitna” incite any thinking person to hate Muslims or commit violence against them? I think not.

The same tarry brush is used against those juvenile YouTube videos opposed to Thailand’s King. YouTomb has compiled the list which follows of YouTube videos which are blocked in Thailand by geolocation.  It is most interesting to see the last is blocked not only in Thailand but in Germany, France and Poland.

These videos are really not worth watching, even for a laugh…nor is “Fitna”. As always, propaganda is a feeble substitute for meaningful dialogue and critical thinking.

The following list indicates YouTube reference number, video title and uploader. This list was compiled by YouTomb on March 30, 2008. We are quite simply surprised this is not a longer list!

w5SQ1VK9yL4, thai king, assddaa

8hbpVIA546U, 3a, the movie, Mizja1234

636RbA9FM5Q, Bhumibol Adulyadej of thailand massive turd, XXX19826

CJinTVicb-o, The Thai King Show Part Two: The Big Speech, noreast77

2G7mVSoAaRU, Bhumibol Adulyadej, Warblefly41

kZ-dlnAbFAs, Bhumibol Adulyadej 2 - King of the apes!, mickeymouse78739

L4RXcIDa4E, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ??????????????, 14yearsprison

70mlncXQjXA, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, 15yearsprison

4dFjO4ZJNDE, King of Thailand Bhumibol Adelyadej, 15yearsprison

oU9iT3vEdWo, The tyrant king, 15yearsprison [DE FR PL TH]