The EU should be stronger and more united. Great Britain should belong to the Union.
Die EU sollte stärker und geeinter sein. Großbritannien sollte der Union angehören.
L'UE devrait être plus forte et plus unie. La Grande-Bretagne devrait appartenir à l'Union.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Einreise verweigert: Den Haag und London streiten über Wilders
Das Einreiseverbot für den niederländischen Rechtspopulisten sorgt für diplomatische Verstimmungen zwischen den Niederlanden und Großbritannien. Den Haag ortet eine Verletzung der Bewegungsfreiheit.
Nachdem dem niederländischen Rechtspopulisten und Islam-Kritiker Geert Wilders die Einreise nach Großbritannien verweigert worden ist, herrscht diplomatische Verstimmung zwischen beiden Ländern. Der Botschafter der Niederlande in London, Pim Waldeck, habe das "Missfallen" seiner Regierung zum Ausdruck gebracht, berichteten Zeitungen am Freitag. Der christdemokratische Außenminister Maxime Verhagen sah sich gezwungen, dem Rechtspopulisten Wilders Unterstützung bei einer möglichen gerichtlichen Beschwerde gegen die britischen Behörden anzubieten.
Zugleich machte Verhagen deutlich, dass Den Haag kein Interesse an einer Eskalation des Streits mit einem seiner engsten Verbündeten habe. Mit dem Versuch, Druck auszuüben, sei eine Einreise Wilders in Großbritannien nicht zu erreichen, sagte er.
Nach Angaben der niederländischen Zeitung "Trouw" reagierte London auf diplomatischem Wege "gereizt" auf die Kritik. In Kommentaren hieß es, das Vorgehen der Briten gegen ein gewähltes Mitglied des niederländischen Parlaments sei ungeachtet der Ansichten von Wilders eine klare Verletzung des Rechts auf Bewegungs- und Meinungsfreiheit in der EU. >>> Ag, DiePresee.com | Freitag, 13, Februar 2009
TAGES ANZEIGER: Holländischer Politiker am Flughafen London festgenommen
Der niederländische Abgeordnete Geert Wilders darf wegen seiner islamkritischen Äusserungen nicht mehr nach England einreisen. Jetzt tat er es doch – und wurde in Heathrow abgefangen.
Die britische Regierung hatte Wilders mitgeteilt, er sei nicht willkommen, weil er eine Bedrohung für «die Harmonie der Gemeinschaft und damit die öffentlichen Sicherheit» darstelle. Seine Abschiebung zurück in die Niederlande stehe unmittelbar bevor, sagte Wilders heute.
Die britische Botschaft in den Niederlanden informierte Wilders in dieser Woche darüber, dass er nicht ins Vereinigte Königreich einreisen dürfe. Der Abgeordnete kritisierte das Verbot als Versuch, die Redefreiheit zu unterdrücken, und reiste dennoch nach Grossbritannien. Dem britischen Premierminister Gordon Brown warf er vor, eine servile Haltung gegenüber dem Islam einzunehmen. Der britische Aussenminister David Miliband sagte dem Sender BBC, Wilders habe sich eines «extremen anti-muslimischen Hasses» schuldig gemacht. >>> oku/ap | Donnerstag, 12. Februar 2009
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Briten verbieten Wilders die Einreise
Der niederländische Islamkritiker Geert Wilders sorgte erneut für Furore: Wegen seiner radikalen Ansichten durfte er nicht nach Großbritannien reisen. In seiner Heimat spricht man von einem Affront - Wilders ist immerhin Parlamentarier.
Hamburg - Eigentlich wollte er Mitgliedern des britischen Oberhauses seinen islamkritischen Film "Fitna" zeigen und mit ihnen über Meinungsfreiheit diskutieren. Doch Geert Wilders kam lediglich bis zum Londoner Flughafen Heathrow. Dort nahmen ihn Zollbeamte in Gewahrsam und teilten ihm mit, dass er nicht willkommen sei und abgeschoben werde. Unverrichteter Dinge musste Wilders zurück in die Niederlande.
Das britische Innenministerium hatte ihm zuvor die Einreise verboten. Begründung: Der niederländische Rechtspopulist sei eine Gefahr für die öffentliche Sicherheit. Wilders war am Donnerstagnachmittag mit den Worten "wir werden ja sehen, was passiert" trotzdem losgeflogen.
Insgeheim hatte er wohl auf ein Einknicken der britischen Behörden gehofft. Großbritanniens Premierminister Gordon Brown bezeichnete er als "größten Feigling in Europa". >>> Von Christian Wiesel | Donnerstag, 12. Februar 2009
Misery Is It in This Dawn to Be Alive, and to Be Young Is Very Hell!
The decision of the British government – an excuse for a government in my opinion – to exclude this wonderful, enlightened, and very erudite Dutch politician from the shores of the United Kingdom marks a turning point – a sad turning point – in the history of these isles.
The United Kingdom has for centuries been known throughout the world as a refuge for people with all kinds of opinions which would have got them into trouble at home. We have welcomed all sorts of people to this country, knowing that their opinions were unsavoury to many. Now, after twelve years of Labour government (should that be NuLabour government?) we have reneged on our wonderful past and our traditions; and all in the name of political correctness in general, and in the name of Islam in particular. We have abandoned our principles.
Tens of thousands of people have gone to war to ensure that freedom of speech was enshrined in our way of life, enshrined in our ‘constitution'; yet this fact means nothing to the people that now rule us. Our politicians are as infantile as they are spineless, spunkless, and craven!
The prime minister – the overweight, pudgy specimen that he is – could have intervened; but he didn’t feel it was necessary to do so. Consequently, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, better known as Jackboot Jacqui (alas, not my name for her – wish it were!) has shown that she is unfit to hold the office she does. She should be jackbooted out of that office – forthwith! She is unfit for purpose!
As for Lord Ahmed, he has got far, far too much to say for himself. He should be silenced. He is, if I am not greatly mistaken, one of the ones who is, behind the scenes, pulling the strings.
That we, now, in Great Britain (that’s a minsnomer if ever I heard one!) are allowing Muslims to call the shots is not only a disgrace, it is a harbinger of the dark days that lie ahead of us. Islam is not famous for its forward, enlightened thinking; from now on, unless this ludicrous decision is reversed, and soon, neither will be the United Kingdom’s. The UK has just taken a turn down the road of darkness, down the road of dhimmitude, down the road of benightedness.
Is Obama’s Magic Unravelling? Running the Most Powerful Country on Earth Calls for More Than Sweet Words!
Photo of President Barack Hussein Obama courtesy of The Times
TIMES ONLINE: President Obama suffered a severe blow last night when his second nominee for Commerce Secretary abruptly withdrew from consideration, this time citing insurmountable conflict over the new Administration’s massive economic stimulus plan.
Judd Gregg, a Republican who was picked by Mr Obama after his first choice for Commerce Secretary withdrew because of an ethics investigation, further dashed hopes of a new era of bipartisanship when he declared that he no longer wanted to serve the new Aadministration.
“It has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package . . . there are irresolvable conflicts for me,” Mr Gregg said. Later, at a press conference, he expressed what appeared to be sincere admiration for Mr Obama, but said that joining his Administration was “a bridge too far for me”. President Barack Obama Loses Commerce Secretary Judd Gregg >>> Tim Reid in Washington | Friday, February 13, 2009
Bit by Bit, Gordon Brown's Fantasy Is Being Pulled Apart by the Facts
THE TELEGRAPH: The scale of our problems is at last being recognised by the Bank of England, says Jeff Randall.
In China, they have show trials. The Communist Party's disciplinary inspection group doesn't mess about. Those it suspects of involvement in bribery and corruption are ritually humiliated, forced to confess and shot.
The process is often put on video tape. Alleged culprits can be seen crying on cue, apologising to the people and reciting an ancient saying, the rough translation of which is: "One mistake and sorrow for a thousand years."
In Britain, we do things differently. Which is just as well for the nine bankers (seven Britons, one American and a Spaniard) who this week appeared before the Treasury Select Committee, accused of wrecking the economy. Had the inquiry occurred in Beijing, it is likely that firing-squad rifles would have been loaded even before the chairman's opening remarks.
For, in addition to destroying shareholder value and causing mayhem in the markets, bankers have embarrassed the Government. By their folly, they have helped expose, albeit unwittingly, the ignorance of ministers, flaws in the Financial Services Authority and impotence at the Bank of England. This will never do. What's more, they have established beyond dispute the Prime Minister's inability to pick a winner. Or, put another way, the Curse of Brown. >>> Jeff Randall | Thursday, February 12, 2009
Six mille néonazis attendus dans l'est Allemagne samedi
LE MONDE: Quelque six mille manifestants néonazis et d'extrême droite sont attendus samedi 14 février par plus de trois mille trois cents policiers allemands pour leur rassemblement annuel traditionnel à Dresde, dans l'est du pays. La "Trauermarsch" ou "marche funèbre" qui a lieu tous les ans à Dresde est une manifestation traditionnelle des néonazis allemands, qui commémorent ainsi le bombardement de la ville en 1945 par les forces alliées.
La police affirme ne pas être en mesure de confirmer le chiffre de six mille manifestants avancé dans la presse allemande, mais déclare "que c'est un chiffre assez réaliste". Une contre-manifestation est également organisée samedi. Selon les organisateurs, elle doit réunir de nombreuses personnalités politiques de gauche, dont le chef du parti social-démocrate, Franz Müntefering. [Source: Le Monde] | LeMonde.fr avec AFP | Mercredi 11 Février 2009
Es waren seine deutlichsten Worte seit dem Fall des Holocaust-Leugners Richard Williamson: Papst Benedikt XVI. hat bei einem Treffen mit jüdischen Spitzenvertretern die Leugnung des Holocausts als untragbar und inakzeptabel bezeichnet. Er kündigte an, selber nach Israel zu reisen.
Bei einem Treffen mit jüdischen Spitzenvertretern hat Papst Benedikt XVI. jeder Leugnung des Holocaust eine klare Absage erteilt. Zugleich wiederholte er wörtlich die Vergebungsbitte, die sein Vorgänger Johannes Paul II. im Jahr 2000 an der Klagemauer in Jerusalem formuliert hatte.
Die Schoah sei ein "Verbrechen gegen Gott und die Menschheit“, sagte der Papst bei einer Begegnung mit den Leitern der „Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations“ im Vatikan. Das müsse „jedem klar sein, besonders denen, die in der Tradition der Heiligen Schriften stehen“. (Hier können Sie die Ansprache des Papstes im Wortlaut nachlesen.)>>> KNA/AP/dpa/ab | Donnerstag, 12. Februar 2009
La Turquie sera prête à entrer dans l'UE d'ici 2013
RIGA | La Turquie sera prête à adhérer à l'Union européenne d'ici 2013, a déclaré jeudi à Riga son ministre des Affaires étrangères Ali Babacan.
"Nous sommes pleinement déterminés à entrer dans l'Union européenne. D'ici 2013, la Turquie se déclarera prête mais nous ne savons pas si l'UE y sera de son côté préparée", a déclaré le chef de la diplomatie turque à la presse.
"Nous ne sommes pas extrêmement pressés", a-t-il ajouté au cours d'une visite officielle en Lettonie, pays balte membre de l'Union depuis 2004. "Dans deux ou trois ans, la Turquie sera différente de ce qu'elle est maintenant", a poursuivi le ministre. >>> AFP | Jeudi 12 Février 2009
Österreich – Staat greift ein: Islamlehrer suspendiert
Foto von jungen Musliminnen in einem Klassenzimmer in Österreich dank der Presse
DIE PRESSE: Nach antisemitischen Äußerungen darf ein Religionslehrer nicht mehr unterrichten. Die Rechtsauslegung des Ministeriums ist ein Bruch mit Nicht-Einmischung in Religionsunterricht.
WIEN. Erstmals wurde ein islamischer Religionslehrer mit einem Unterrichtsverbot belegt, nachdem er Mitte Jänner [Januar] in einer Ottakringer Schule antisemitische Flugblätter verteilt haben soll („Die Presse“ berichtete). Dass er nicht weiter unterrichten darf, geht auf einen Paradigmenwechsel im Unterrichtsministerium zurück. Bisher hatte die Rechtsauslegung gegolten, dass der Staat keine Religionslehrer absetzen kann. >>> Erich Kocina, Die Presse | Donnerstag, 12. Februar 2009
Wilders, who is the leader of the Freedom Party, flew into the UK in the face of a ban from the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith just after 2pm to show an anti-Muslim film at the House of Lords.
He was seized by two border guards who boarded the BMI aircraft as it sat on the tarmac and was marched into a side room in the main Terminal One building.
The politician, who was invited by the UKIP peer Lord Pearson and cross-bencher Baroness Cox, had earlier been warned that Miss Smith viewed his presence in the country as a threat to the “fundamental interests of society”.
The Home Office refused to confirm the flight on which the politician would be placed.
But Mr Wilders’s spokesman in Amsterdam said that he understood that he would sent back to the Dutch capital within two hours.
Der wegen islamfeindlicher Äusserungen in Grossbritannien mit einem Einreiseverbot belegte niederländische Abgeordnete Geert Wilders ist auf dem Londoner Flughafen Heathrow in Gewahrsam genommen worden. In den Niederlanden wird gegen Wilders wegen Volksverhetzung ermittelt.
Der wegen islamfeindlicher Äusserungen in Grossbritannien mit einem Einreiseverbot belegte niederländische Abgeordnete Geert Wilders ist auf dem Londoner Flughafen Heathrow in Gewahrsam genommen worden. Seine Abschiebung in die Niederlande stehe unmittelbar bevor, sagte Wilders am Donnerstag der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Die britische Regierung hatte Wilders mitgeteilt, er sei nicht willkommen, weil er eine Bedrohung für «die Harmonie der Gemeinschaft und damit die öffentlichen Sicherheit» darstelle. >>> ap | Donnerstag, 12. Februar 2009
POLITIKEN: Denmark: Governing Liberal Party Spokesman Lambasts UK
Denmark’s governing Liberal Party Foreign Policy Spokesman Søren Pind has entered the debate concerning a decision by Britain to ban the entry of the populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders because of his extreme views about Islam.
“Unless you’re a terrorist or something like that, you of course should be able to travel freely within the European Union. That’s the whole idea behind European rights and freedoms,” says Pind.
Geert Wilders, who is the leader of the populist Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, is best-known abroad for his film ‘Fitna’ which compares Islam with terrorism and which has caused indignation across the world. The European Parliament has banned the film being shown in the EP.
Wilders was originally invited to the United Kingdom by a peer of the House of Lords to show his film Fitna and take part in a discussion afterwards.
EU rules
Under EU rules, Britain is entitled to deny Wilders entry into the country if he is considered to be a danger to public order.
But Pind says that while it is acceptable to deny large groups of Nazis, squatters and hooligans entry into a country – banning an elected politician from another EU country endangers basic freedoms.
“This case sounds all the alarm bells. When you subject an unimportant Dutch MP to this sort of treatment it shows just how far the authorities are willing to go to put the brakes on his freedoms. That is not gratifying,” Pind says.
Freedoms
“This is an elected politician who has a certain view about an ideology. Some see him as being drastic, but he doesn’t affect the groups that are a danger to public order. This case infringes on our view of freedom,” Pind says. >>> Edited by Julian Isherwood | Thursday, February 12, 2009
PINK NEWS: Gay Humanists Back Dutch MP's Right to Criticise Islam
A gay humanist group has said the Home Secretary was wrong to ban a Dutch MP who is critical of Islam.
Jaqui [sic] Smith said that Geert Wilders, a leading rightwing politician and a fierce critic of Muslims, has been denied permission to enter Britain on the grounds that his presence would damage community relations and threaten public order.
The Pink Triangle Trust (PTT) had declared its opposition to the ban.
"We maintain that in a free society anyone should have the right to criticise religion without being banned, dubbed racist or, even worse, threatened with death as the humanist author Saman Rushdie was over his book The Satanic Verses," said PTT secretary George Broadhead.
"There can be no doubt from reading its holy books, the Qur'an and the Hadith, that Islam is a homophobic religion, which at worst has lead to the barbaric torture and murder of LGBT people in Islamic theocracies like Iran and Saudi Arabia.
"But it is also deeply mysoginist and hostile to apostates and unbelievers like humanists. >>> Staff Writer, Pink News | Thursday, February 12, 2009
Britain was once renowned around the world for defending people's right to speak out. Not any more, says Philip Johnston.
The refusal to admit the oddball Dutch MP Geert Wilders to Britain yesterday marks a further retreat from this country's traditions of free speech. It stands in stark contrast to what happened exactly 20 years ago tomorrow, when Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for insulting the Prophet Mohammed in his book The Satanic Verses.
In retrospect, that was a turning point in the country's history of free speech, an event that appeared to demonstrate indomitability, yet turned out to be a defeat. An unambiguous stand was taken on Rushdie's behalf by the government of the day, which denounced the threat to his life and broke off diplomatic relations with Iran. Sir Geoffrey Howe, then foreign secretary, told the Commons: "This action is taken in plain defence of the right within the law of freedom of speech and the right within the law of freedom of protest."
Despite mass book burnings, protests around the world, including in Bolton and Bradford, and threats of violence, the work continued to be published and sold. How could it be otherwise? This was Britain, after all, the citadel of free speech. We would not be brow beaten into denying the rights of one of our citizens, or anyone else for that matter, from having their say, however controversial or offensive their opinion might be.
Sadly, the past two decades have seen a pusillanimous flight into cowering capitulation. We seem to have forgotten what free speech entails, how hard it was fought for and how important it is to defend. It is the value with which this country is most associated throughout the world. It is why Britain has been home, over the centuries, to so many political dissidents who would have been persecuted elsewhere, and why those who live in autocracies that brook no criticism tune into the BBC World Service.
They see this as a place able to accommodate opinions that are obviously crazy, offensive or even seditious, a country where a view can be held and expressed, provided – and this has always been true – that it does not foment violence.
Geert Wilders is an anti-Islamist who regards the Koran as inherently inflammatory and believes he is justified in saying so. He has made a 17-minute film, Fitna – an Arabic word meaning test of faith – setting out this thesis and was invited to show it at a private screening in the House of Lords. The film can be seen on the internet, so there is no question of stopping its dissemination. It contains some unpleasant images of bomb explosions, of captured hostages facing death and of chanting mobs interlaced with passages from the Koran.
Wilders claims that these verses from the holy book of Islam are being used today to incite modern Muslims to behave violently and anti-democratically. You may think he is wrong to say this; you may agree with him; you might, like the lords who invited him to Britain, think it is something worthy of discussion, given the obvious problems caused around the world by radical Islamism and the violence perpetrated in the name of the religion. It is hard, in a free country, to understand why it is a view that must be suppressed.
What, then, possessed the Home Office to ban Wilders – an unprecedented action against a democratically-elected politician from a European state, who is entitled to free movement within the EU? By any measure, it was an extraordinary decision; yet it was not even raised in parliament, the supposed guardian of our freedoms, though some MPs have commented on the ban, largely to support it. >>> Philip Johnston | Thursday, February 12, 2009
BBC: Geert Wilders Ban: Your Comments
A Dutch MP who described the Koran as a "fascist book" has been banned by the Home Office from entering the UK amid fears his presence would endanger public security.
Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders was due to show his controversial film - which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords.
BBC News website readers have been getting in touch with their views on the decision.
Below is a selection [censored, maybe?] of your comments: >>> | Thursday, February 12, 2009
TIMES ONLINE: Anti-Islamist Politician Geert Wilders Refused Entry to Britain
The far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders was turned away from Heathrow today after testing the Home Secretary’s ban on him entering the country.
Immigration officials denied the Dutch MP entry to the country after the Government decided he should not be allowed to attend a screening of his controversial anti-Islamist film tonight.
Mr Wilders said: "I am in a detention centre at Heathrow ... I am detained. They took my passport. I will not be allowed to enter the country. They will send me back within a few hours.”
On his flight to London, he told The Times that the British Government was “the biggest bunch of cowards in Europe”.
”It is easy to invite people you agree with, it is more difficult to invite people you disagree with and this is the proof of the pudding," he said. >>> David Charter, Heathrow, and Nico Hines | Thursday, February 12, 2009
NRC HANDELSBLAD: The Dutch ambassador to Great Britain, Pieter Willem Waldeck, will meet the leader of the populist Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders, when he arrives in London on Thursday.
Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen said the ambassador will be at the airport to assist the politician who is travelling to Great Britain in spite of a decision by the British government to refuse him entry. The British authorities say Wilders is not welcome because his outspoken views on the Muslim faith could lead to unrest.
Wilders had been invited by a member of the House of Lords to show his short film Fitna. The British refusal to deny entry to a Dutch member of parliament has been condemned by Dutch political parties. Maxime Verhagen appealed to the British government to reconsider its decision. >>> News Staff, NRC Handelsblad | Thursday, February 12, 2009
NRC HANDELSBLAD: Wilders’ Right to Speak
EDITORIAL: The United Kingdom does not want to admit anyone to its territory that would threaten “ Target=_blank>community harmony and therefore public security.” This argument was used to deny member of parliament Geert Wilders of the populist party PVV entry to the country on Tuesday. Too high a barrier to the free movement of people and the freedom of expression has thus been erected. Besides the fact that the law of both the European Union and the Council of Europe seems to be violated by this, the political concept of a free European space has also been damaged.
Ironically, striving for freedom often entails the prospect of confinement. That has now occurred. The fact that the ban affects a member of parliament makes the decision political, in addition to symbolic. The British are concerned about a well-defined political program that is democratically legitimised in the Netherlands. Voltaire is often credited with pointing out that freedom of expression means defending someone’s right to assert that with which one disagrees. That certainly applies to Wilders, who gives plenty of occasion for disagreement. But his freedom to express such disagreeable sentiments should prevail all the more. As should the duty to defend that freedom. Moreover what is at stake here is political freedom, without which other freedoms are all but unthinkable. >>> Editorial | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Read the letter to Geert Wilders from the Home Office here
FOX NEWS: Despite Ban, Dutch Lawmaker Vows to Visit 'Cowardly' Britain
Dutch politician Geert Wilders says he's flying to Great Britain despite a government order banning him from entering the country, and he's daring the "weak and cowardly" British government to arrest him when he gets there.
"I'll see what happens at the border. Let them put me in handcuffs," Wilders told Radio Netherlands in an interview Wednesday. The right-wing lawmaker was invited by a member of Parliament to show his anti-Islam movie "Fitna," which calls the Koran a "fascist" book and accuses Islam of being a violent religion. He was told by the British Embassy in a letter Tuesday that he could not set foot in the country.
Britain's Home Office would not comment specifically on the ban, but it said it "opposes extremism in all its forms" and would work to "stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country." >>> Fox News | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
YAHOO! NEWS: Prince Harry is being sent on an equality and diversity course after a series of race gaffes.
Army chiefs agreed the move after revelations that the 24-year-old called fellow officer Ahmed Raza Khan a "Paki". The decision to send the young prince on the course comes after news that he and the Prince of Wales refer to an Indian polo friend as "Sooty".
Harry aimed the offensive term at his military colleague while waiting at an airport for a flight to Cyprus in 2006. It was caught on video, as was his use of the jibe "raghead" at another officer cadet wearing a camouflage veil.
And this week black stand-up comic Stephen K Amos told a TV audience the prince said to him: "You don't sound like a black chap." >>> ITN | Thursday, February 12, 2009
A four-volume encyclopedia gets pulped in the name of political correctness.
NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Wiley-Blackwell, a major academic press, was set to release its four-volume Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization this month. According to the encyclopedia’s editor, George Thomas Kurian, the set had been copy-edited, fact-checked, proofread, publisher-approved, printed, bound, and formally launched (to high praise) at the recent American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature conference. But protests from a small group of scholars associated with the project have led the press to postpone publication, recall all copies already distributed, and destroy the existing print run. The scholars’ complaint? The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, they have reportedly argued, is “too Christian.” “They also object to historical references to the persecution and massacres of Christians by Muslims,” Kurian says, “but at the same time want references favorable to Islam.”
Political correctness in academic publishing is nothing new, but it would be unusual, to say the least, for ideological pressure to lead a publisher to reverse itself so late in the process, especially given the significant financial losses involved in pulping a print run of a gigantic four-volume encyclopedia. As Kurian puts it, “This is probably the first instance of mass book-burning in the 21st century.” >>> By Edward Feser | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A primary school receptionist, Jennie Cain, whose five-year-old daughter was told off for talking about Jesus in class is now facing the sack for seeking support from her church.
Mrs Cain sent a private email to close friends to ask for prayers for her daughter after she was called into the school where she worked in Crediton, Devon, to be reprimanded.
Her daughter Jasmine had been overheard by a teacher discussing heaven and God with a friend and had been pulled to one side and told off.
Mrs Cain contacted 10 close friends from her church by email but the message fell into the hands of Gary Read, the headmaster of Landscore Primary School where she works.
The 38-year-old mother of two is now being investigated for professional misconduct for allegedly making claims against the school and its staff.
Mrs Cain has been told she may be disciplined and was warned she could face dismissal.
Her case is being supported by the Christian Institute who said Mrs Cain was the latest example of a Christian being persecuted by society. >>> By Caroline Gammell | February 11, 2009
Eight Wall Street bankers were force fed large slices of humble pie on Capitol Hill as congressmen lined up to vent populist outrage over high living, lavish bonuses and gross incompetence on Wall Street.
The heads of Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of New York Mellon and State Street all wisely took the train or drove to Washington rather than boarding private jets.
But that did not quell the demands for them to show the contrition expressed publicly by their British counterparts.
Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, addressed them and said: "I urge you strongly to cooperate," and respond to questions "not with mumbo jumbo but with reality".
The eight men behind the witness table did their best to placate him.
"It is abundantly clear that we are here amidst broad public anger at our industry," said Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs. "In my 26 years at Goldman Sachs, I have never seen a wider gulf between the financial services industry and the public." >>> By Toby Harnden in Washington | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Michelle Obama Makes Vogue Cover: The First Lady the World’s Been Waiting for
Photo of Michelle Obama on Vogue Magazine courtesy of the BBC
President Barack Obama's wife Michelle is the cover girl for the March edition of fashion magazine Vogue.
t is only the second time an American First Lady has taken the place of a model on a Vogue cover - the other was Hillary Clinton in 1998.
Mrs Obama, who was photographed wearing outfits she chose herself, says she is aware her wardrobe is under scrutiny.
"I'm not going to pretend that I don't care about it. But I also have to be practical," she told Vogue magazine.
Annie Leibovitz photographed Mrs Obama wearing a magenta silk dress designed by Jason Wu for the cover portrait.
It is the second time she has chosen to wear one of his creations for a high-profile public appearance. She wore a long white gown by Wu for the inauguration balls on 20 January.
Mrs Obama's sense of style has proved influential. >>> | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
MAIL Online: A bitter diplomatic row erupted today after Britain banned a controversial Right-wing Dutch politician from the UK.
Geert Wilders had been invited by the Ukip peer Lord Pearson to show his anti-Islam film 'Fitna' and hold a Q&A session in Parliament tomorrow.
The 17-minute documentary features verses from the Koran - which it brands a 'fascist book' - alongside images of the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks.
It equates Islam's holy text with violence and ends with a call to Muslims to remove its 'hate-preaching' verses.
After being alerted to the private screening, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith barred Mr Wilders on the grounds that his visit was a threat to 'community harmony and therefore public security'.
But the move brought a furious response from the Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen - a political opponent of Mr Wilders - who complained directly to the Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a 'curt' telephone call.
'The fact that a Dutch parliamentarian is refused entry to another EU country is highly regrettable,' he said.
However, Britain is refusing to give way, even though Mr Wilders is a democratically-elected politician and the leader of a legitimate political party.
A defiant Mr Wilders, who claims to have visited the House of Lords in December, called the decision 'cowardly' and vowed last night to go ahead with his visit.
'Let them try to detain me,' he said. 'I'll see what happens at the border. Let them put me in handcuffs. We are talking here about a European Union country, one of the oldest democracies in the Western world.'
While Mr Verhagen said the Dutch government would press Britain to reverse the ban, Lord Pearson said he was 'very surprised' to hear the news.
Under UK and EU immigration rules, a person can be refused entry to Britain, 'if his exclusion is justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health.'
The Home Office refused to comment on the individual case of Mr Wilders.
But a spokesman said: 'The Government opposes extremism in all its forms. It will stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country.
'We endorse the original condemnation of the film 'Fitna' by the Dutch Government, and feel that it serves no constructive purpose. >>> By Michael Lea | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Wilders to Travel to Great Britain Despite Ban
The leader of the populist Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, says he will travel to Great Britain on Thursday in spite of a decision by the British government to refuse him entry. The British authorities say he is not welcome because his visit could pose a threat to public order. Mr Wilders had been invited by a member of the House of Lords to show his film Fitna. Members of the British Muslim community have protested against plans to show the film.
The British refusal to deny entry to a Dutch MP has been condemned by politicians from across the Dutch political spectrum. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has contacted his British counterpart David Milibrand and protested against the decision. [Source: RNW] Wednesday, February 11, 2009
AFP: Far-right Dutch MP Ignores Britain on Entry Refusal
THE HAGUE — A far-right Dutch politician facing trial after likening Islam to Nazism vowed Wednesday to press ahead with a planned trip to London despite Britain's refusal to grant him entry.
"I am going tomorrow. We will see what will happen," Geert Wilders, best known for his anti-Islam short film "Fitna", told AFP.
He said his plane was scheduled to land at Heathrow airport on Thursday at 1305 GMT.
Wilders, 45, is the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), which has nine seats in parliament.
British authorities informed Wilders on Tuesday that his presence in the United Kingdom would pose a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society".
"Your statements about Muslims and their beliefs, as expressed in your film 'Fitna' and elsewhere, would threaten community harmony and therefore public security," said a letter addressed to Wilders and made available to AFP. >>> | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
If anyone had doubted the extent to which Britain has capitulated to Islamic terror, the banning of Geert Wilders a few hours ago should surely open their eyes. Wilders, the Dutch member of parliament who had made an uncompromising stand against the Koranic sources of Islamist extremism and violence, was due to give a screening of Fitna, his film on this subject, at the House of Lords on Thursday. This meeting had been postponed after Lord Ahmed had previously threatened the House of Lords authorities that he would bring a force of 10,000 Muslims to lay siege to the Lords if Wilders was allowed to speak. To their credit, the Lords authorities had stood firm and said extra police would be drafted in to meet this threat and the Wilders meeting should go ahead.
But now the government has announced that it is banning Wilders from the country. A letter from the Home Secretary’s office to Wilders, delivered via the British embassy in the Hague, said:
...the Secretary of State is of the view that your presence in the UK would pose a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society. The Secretary of State is satisfied that your statements about Muslims and their beliefs, as expressed in your film Fitna and elsewhere would threaten community harmony and therefore public security in the UK.
So let’s get this straight. The British government allows people to march through British streets screaming support for Hamas, it allows Hizb ut Tahrir to recruit on campus for the jihad against Britain and the west, it takes no action against a Muslim peer who threatens mass intimidation of Parliament, but it bans from the country a member of parliament of a European democracy who wishes to address the British Parliament on the threat to life and liberty in the west from religious fascism.
It is he, not them, who is considered a ‘serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society’. Why? Because the result of this stand for life and liberty against those who would destroy them might be an attack by violent thugs. The response is not to face down such a threat of violence but to capitulate to it instead. >>> Melanie Phillips | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Prince Harry has become embroiled in a new race row after allegedly telling a comedian, Stephen K Amos, that he did not "sound like a black chap".
Mr Amos has claimed that the Prince made the remark when they met after the stand-up show We Are Not Amused for the Prince of Wales' 60th birthday celebrations in November 2008.
Mr Amos, from south-west London, made the disclosure on Five's The Wright Stuff on Tuesday.
He told presenter Matthew Wright that Prince Harry, 24, congratulated him on his performance before saying: "You don't sound like a black chap."
As Mr Wright looked on in disbelief, Mr Amos added: "I wanted to say, 'How is [sic] I supposed to sound?'"
Asked if the remark had been made in jest, he replied: "I hope it was."
The comedian, who has appeared on many television shows including the BBC's Have I Got News For You, put the comment down to a poor attempt at making banter.
However, fellow panellist Lowri Turner, the television presenter, then said: "That's not the point."
The new row comes just a month after Prince Harry was accused of racism when it emerged he had referred to a Sandhurst colleague as "our little Paki friend". >>> By Lucy Cockcroft | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
TIMES ONLINE: Israel faced what could be weeks of political uncertainty today after an election that ended with clashing claims of victory by the Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her rival Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nearly final results gave Ms Livni's Kadima party 28 seats to 27 for Mr Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party in the 120-member parliament. The Foreign Minister said she would become Prime Minister and invited him to join a "unity government".
Mr Netanyahu, pointing to what he called a large "nationalist camp" in parliament, said he would head a coalition government, comprised of rightist parties.
"With God's help I will lead the next government," Mr Netanyahu, 59, told Likud supporters.
Addressing cheering Kadima activists, Ms Livni, 50, said: "The Israeli public can smile again when we form the government."
She would become Israel's first woman prime minister since Golda Meir governed in the 1970s.
Summing up the stalemate was the front page of Israel's biggest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, with "I won," next to photos of both candidates. >>> Times Online | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
