Hot Air has the story and notes, “Wilders’s point proven.” AP also cuts LiveLeak some slack, writing that now that the video has gone viral, “LiveLeak did its job for as long as it needed to.”
Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.
This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.
Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one anothers culture.
We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high.
LiveLeak.com - Redefining the Media
Well, I haven’t been threatened, so I don’t know how I’d react, so I’m not going to jump all over LiveLeak. And frankly in some ways, this is a really good outcome because it illustrates perfectly the seriousness of what we’re up against. It’s not a joke, a fad, an exaggeration, or fearmongering. People are being forced to choose between free speech and personal safety. That is unacceptable. That is dhimmitude.
From my 4/28/06 post, 101st Fighting Keyboardists, Chairborne Division:
This article by Dan Simmons includes a very prescient description of what is in store for us if we refuse to face the reality that Islamists mean what they say. When they say they want a global caliphate, they mean it. When they require that non-Muslims obey Islamic religious law, like not drawing pictures of Mohammed, they mean it. They don’t have the means to fully enforce it yet - hence the demonstrations in London where they carried signs demanding beheadings, instead of actually beheading people, but they do what they can. Ask Theo van Gogh. Google “honor killings in Germany.” I understand that all Muslims do not agree with the radical Islamists. All Germans did not agree with Hitler, but that did not stop World War II.
The adamant refusal by so many people to take them at their plainly stated words, while at the same time finding hidden meanings and conspiracies in nearly everything their own countrymen on the opposite side of the political spectrum say and do, is perplexing. The actions of the Islamists clearly fit with their words. Furthermore, they are not ignorant savages. The enemy is sophisticated and is easily using our own society and technology against us. They understand public relations. They are waiting out the current administration and hoping for someone more amenable to their long term goals in 2008. Aside from waging war through terrorism, as Iran has done through Hezbollah for nearly 30 years, they use our own free societies and the concept of multiculturalism against us. The demands for Sharia law are increasing in Western countries. Canada has a separate court system for Muslims. There does not need to be a global conspiracy or a fully networked group of people in order to overthrow the West. There only needs to be a shared philosophy.
It is astounding to me to see the lack of support for a war against enemies who have publicly, repeatedly declared their intention to destroy us. To those who say that the United States government is evil, that civil rights are in jeopardy, and that the Bush administration is the enemy, I would recommend a sense of proportion and of priorities. As the Dan Simmons article says, “Your enemy is he who will give his life to kill you. Your enemies are they that wish you and your children and your grandchildren dead and who are willing to sacrifice themselves, or support those fanatics who will sacrifice themselves, to see you and your institutions destroyed. You haven’t figured that out yet – the majority of you fat, sleeping, smug, infinitely stupid Americans and Europeans.” I understand that people of good will can honestly disagree about this. I know that people who say, “if the United States would just stop attacking Muslims, they will leave us alone,” are sincere. Then there are people who say the war is misapplied; they feel it’s more of a “police” issue and if Osama bin Laden could be found and brought to justice, the problem would be solved. At this point both sides have developed their own set of facts. The media chooses not to report on the newly translated Iraqi documents and many other things that don’t forward their agenda. My own brother stands on the opposite side of this debate. I believe the people who believe those things are making a serious category error. If you believe that we can go back to the way things used to be, before 9/11, (or 1998, 1996, 1988, 1983, or 1979…) then look up and learn the meanings of sharia, dhimmi, jizya, hudud, pbuh, kharaz, zakat, qadi, mahram, and burqa. You will need them. Learn what they did when they had control of Fallujah.
A friend of mine asked me why I’m writing this post. I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind, and I don’t want to debate the issue. The Time Traveler in the Dan Simmons article said, “It was important to me to come back to this time early on in the struggle. Even if only to remind myself of how unspeakably blind you all were.”
I’m writing this so that future generations, if they happen to read this, will know that all of us didn’t sign the suicide pact.
I don’t know what it’s going to take to shake us out of this complacency. But I do know that the consequences of it are and will continue to be severe.
written by Laura
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