A thoughtful answer to Neil

Submitted by Octavio Johanson (Italy), Mar 9, 2006 at 11:07

Dear Neil,

I am surprised by your reply: "The Dutch haven't been tolerant to Militant Islam. We just didn't know it existed in our country".

I am not Dutch, but I am European and I can prove you wrong on that one. If you didn't know Militant Islam existed in your country, why did so many Dutch people vote for an anti-immigration party, which specifically targeted Muslims? Do you expect me to believe that the Dutch had never heard about "jihad" and "Islamic fundamentalism" before the brutal assassination of Theo Van Gogh? Of course, they had.

The first time I, as a European, heard the expression "Militant Islam" was when I read "Militant Islam Reaches America" by Daniel Pipes, in 2002. However, the expression "Islamic fundamentalism" was around before the brutal Van Gogh murder, and even before 9-11. Some European countries have been more tolerant than others. Try to compare Britain and France over the issue of the Islamic veil. Is it true that there are single-faith Islamic schools in Holland? Spain, Italy, France and Austria would never allow that. Germany wouldn't. But Denmark has done. In any case, you said that I was talking rubbish, because I mentioned "Dutch mistakes". With all due respect, after two political assassinations in three years (Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh) there must be something wrong in Holland. Some "mistakes" must have taken place. Don't get too angry, Neil.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".