1. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77670 by mono on October 10, 2007 at 4:53 am

Nightripper, you have strongly confirmed my point.

2. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77378 by mono on October 9, 2007 at 6:49 am

signed.

3. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77373 by mono on October 9, 2007 at 6:40 am

Right again.
but that still doesn't answer the question who is financially responsible:

the native government (Holland) who has paid for her first year abroad, or the government of her current residence? (US)

4. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77360 by mono on October 9, 2007 at 6:07 am

@bicyclerepairman:

you are right, absolutely.
I was stating the question merely to be able to answer it:

"she should be able to carry out her freedom of speech in a safe environment."

5. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77352 by mono on October 9, 2007 at 5:43 am

First off, let me sat that as a Dutch citizen I am absolutely ashamed and outraged about the way things happened in Srebrenica. No matter how difficult the tasks at hand were, the bottom line as a UN soldier should always be to protect the innocent and oppose agressors.

That being said, I strongly disagree that the latest developments around Hirsi Ali say something about the "current state" of the Netherlands. As a western society that is shaking at it's foundation by influx of "foreign" cultural and religious influences, we are no different from any western post 9-11 society.

The discussion at hand is about WHO is financially responsible for Hirsi Ali's wellbeing. Although I wish her best, I do feel that questioning the responsibility for protection of citizens (which she is, she is a -retired- politician) is a legitimate one. Does anyone that chooses to put him or herself in the spotlight deserve funding for private protection?

Once the role of muslims in western society stops being a hot topic, there will be less support for personal protection from the general population but will that make the dangers any less? A "true" warrior of Allah will bear a grudge, even after 50 years still.

The ethical question whether she deserves protection (which I feel is the main question is being raised here) has not been a point in the political debate: she should be able to carry out her freedom of speech in a safe environment.
In that sense, Holland is not as divided as it might seem.