Thursday, November 24, 2016

Geert Wilders On Trial For Politically Incorrect Speech: Final Statement At Trial

READ: Final Statement of Geert Wilders at his Trial


From the Gatestone Institute, the final court statement of Freedom Party Geert Wilders:


Mr. President, Members of the Court,
When I decided to address you here today, by making a final statement in this trial against freedom of speech, many people reacted by telling me it is useless. That you, the court, have already written the sentencing verdict a while ago. That everything indicates that you have already convicted me. And perhaps that is true. Nevertheless, here I am. Because I never give up. And I have a message for you and the Netherlands.
For centuries, the Netherlands are a symbol of freedom.
When one says Netherlands, one says freedom. And that is also true, perhaps especially, for those who have a different opinion than the establishment, the opposition. And our most important freedom is freedom of speech.
We, Dutch, say whatever is close to our hearts. And that is precisely what makes our country great. Freedom of speech is our pride.
And that, precisely that, is at stake here, today.
I refuse to believe that we are simply giving this freedom up. Because we are Dutch. That is why we never mince our words. And I, too, will never do that. And I am proud of that. No-one will be able to silence me.
Moreover, members of the court, for me personally, freedom of speech is the only freedom I still have. Every day, I am reminded of that. This morning, for example. I woke up in a safe-house. I got into an armored car and was driven in a convoy to this high security courtroom at Schiphol. The bodyguards, the blue flashing lights, the sirens. Every day again. It is hell. But I am also intensely grateful for it.
Because they protect me, they literally keep me alive, they guarantee the last bit of freedom left to me: my freedom of speech. The freedom to go somewhere and speak about my ideals, my ideas to make the Netherlands — our country — stronger and safer. After twelve years without freedom, after having lived for safety reasons, together with my wife, in barracks, prisons and safe-houses, I know what lack of freedom means.
I sincerely hope that this will never happen to you, members of the court. That, unlike me, you will never have to be protected because Islamic terror organizations, such as Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS, and who knows how many individual Muslims, want to murder you. That you will no longer be allowed to empty your own mailbox, need to carry a bulletproof vest at meetings, and that there are police officers guarding the door whenever you use the bathroom. I hope you will be spared this.
However, if you would have experienced it — no matter how much you disagree with my views — you might perhaps understand that I cannot remain silent. That I should not remain silent. That I must speak. Not just for myself, but for the Netherlands, our country. That I need to use the only freedom that I still have to protect our country. Against Islam and against terrorism. Against immigration from Islamic countries. Against the huge problem with Moroccans in the Netherlands. I cannot remain silent about it; I have to speak out. That is my duty, I have to address it, I must warn for it, I have to propose solutions for it.
I had to give up my freedom to do this and I will continue. Always. People who want to stop me will have to murder me first.
And so, I stand here before you. Alone. But I am not alone. My voice is the voice of many. In 2012, nearly 1 million Dutch have voted for me. And there will be many more on March 15th.
According to the latest poll, soon, we are going to have two million voters. Members of the court, you know these people. You meet them every day. As many as one in five Dutch citizens would vote the Party for Freedom, today. Perhaps your own driver, your gardener, your doctor or your domestic aid, the girlfriend of a registrar, your physiotherapist, the nurse at the nursing home of your parents, or the baker in your neighborhood. They are ordinary people, ordinary Dutch. The people I am so proud of.
They have elected me to speak on their behalf. I am their spokesman. I am their representative. I say what they think. I speak on their behalf. And I do so determinedly and passionately. Every day again, including here, today.
So, do not forget that, when you judge me, you are not just passing judgment on a single man, but on millions of men and women in the Netherlands. You are judging millions of people. People who agree with me. People who will not understand a conviction. People who want their country back, who are sick and tired of not being listened to, who cherish freedom of expression.
Members of the court, you are passing judgment on the future of the Netherlands. And I tell you: if you convict me, you will convict half of the Netherlands. And many Dutch will lose their last bit of trust in the rule of law.



3 comments:

Dutch Treat said...

The last year of my mom's life I asked her what was bugging her. She replied: Thanksgiving. We spend so much time slaving in preparation, then sit around and watch endless football games, rush through dinner, then race to the malls to get the latest deals, all while everyone's trying to shove Christmas down my throat. What I'd like to know is: Whatever happened to giving thanks? As I reflect on that it makes all the more thankful to be surrounded by a family, church family, and prophecy family who really appreciates what this day is all about. So thanks to all of you and to Scott for including me into you family, even if we don't always agree on every little item.

ChristineInCleveland said...

Here's a good one for ya... I have never been a fan of turkey, so we had something totally untraditional for our Thanksgiving dinner; scalloped potatoes & ham! No football here either, since my son isn't much into that sport. And I wouldn't go near a mall this weekend if you paid me! Always seek stores when most people are at work or in for the night... why deal with crowds?
So like you Dutch Treat,sure haven't forgotten our many blessings this Thanksgiving, and give God all the glory!
This blog is my go to place for keeping up on the latest, much thanks to you Scott!
As for commercial Christmas hype, I tune out ads on TV & don't listen to Christmas music on the radio til almost Christmas Eve. Otherwise I'd go bloomin batty, hearing the same few songs played over & over!
Hope everyone here had a lovely Thanksgiving & who knows, maybe this will be the one we are Home with Jesus to celebrate this Christmas...? Maranatha!

foretastes said...

Amen, Dutch. Hope you and all here had a good day. The things of this world continue to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!