There is the saying, "You have freedom of speech but not freedom from consequences." Personally, I think that's a dumb way of saying that there is no freedom of speech. And those who will use that phrase are those who like to suppress free speech.

As a German citizen living in the USA, I have a pretty good understanding of the European versus American idea of free speech. In Germany, we had free speech - except when it was about anything concerning the Third Reich. In the USA, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and freedom for the press. This amendment is getting tested a lot in recent years.

As you observed, Dutch people have grown less willing to let someone else have their opinion. I think one huge driving factor behind violence based on opinions is the internet. Seeing something in writing always makes it feel worse somehow than even seeing a politician say something repulsive on TV.

Geert Wilders was obviously wrong to single out one group of immigrants like that. It is inciting to violence and should not be protected speech. It would not be protected in the USA either.

One thing you need to change, unless Wilders held his rally in English: It should say "fewer" Moroccans. In English "less" is used to describe an amount that can't be counted. Less water. Less money. Less air. Things that can be counted are fewer. Fewer people. Fewer dollars. Fewer rocks.



My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .