The media is also at fault in this. They demonize those they disagree with. It has caused all this division. Identity politics have also made it more difficult to actually confront some of the issues affecting the West. We have allowed people into our countries that hate them and what we believe. Foolishly in the United States we have even elected them and they roam the hallways of the Capital.
I really appreciate your concise history of the past 20 years in Netherlands. We don't hear much about it in US. I also appreciate that you mention Wilders has toned down rhetoric as I'm sure no one else is mentioning that. I'm tired of the distracting "gotcha" headlines and soundbites from people's pasts. We are what we do now and in the recent past. I learned a lot from your article and it's also a great way to explain to my family members with TDS why we voted for Trump. We're all for open immigration but it can't be fully subsidized and the borders can't be wide open with no filter. Thank you.
We need a whole lot more Wilders, Melonis, Mileis and, yes, dare I say ,Trumps in positions of political power if we want to stop the bleeding out of Western civilization. Culture, tradition, shared values, language, heritage and religion matter. Wake up people.
I used to live in the Netherlands (too many years ago) and am shocked too, but exceedingly pleased. I only hope (even if I doubt it) it shows Europe a new direction. It is still hard to believe that common sense would prevail.
I agree with the points here of the radicalization of Europe, particularly the children of immigrants who fled their countries (Algeria for ex.) because of Islamism. But let’s be honest, Trump was/is a Russian stooge and would do anything for money and power. Now- more than ever - the west does not need a weak-minded criminal running the most powerful country.
The Wilders miracle is not limited to the Netherlands. Look at Italy and Argentina ... I hope it is only a timid beginning. Having lived and worked in the Netherlands (too many years ago), I fully appreciate the size of this peaceful revolution ... and love it.
The "forgotten men and women" finally "woke" up and realized we were indeed forgotten while elites wielded power. The "far-right" label is a media affectation that seeks to define us as extreme. We are not. WE actually represent normalcy.
I have a good friend who lives in the UK, he is a senior. He has worked and lived all his life in the UK. Now that he is in his "golden" years, the health care system is deteriorating and will likely get worse if it is privatized; public services are diminished; and, because he is a single man, he cannot get government subsidized housing, a benefit he has paid for all his life. But - Large families from the Arab countries can live there, because of the EU, no borders, and because that is what the UK decided was more of a prioritiy. Wouldnt we all be hopping mad about this? And, he also observes that many of the Moslems who live in his area are not particularly interested in becoming westerized. Why, I ask, do they then come to western nations? shouldnt they be able to support themselves and their families if they go to another country? If not, then the rest of the citizenship will bear that burden, and resentments will continue to mushroom. It sounds like this is what happened in the Netherlands.
Thank you for writing this. I've sent it to my "shocked" progressive friends and relatives who had all absorbed the MSNBC/NYT talking points. The American elites howl about systemic racism but what we really suffer from is insufferable systemic elitism. Look what Dutch leaders have done to their country. Same for Germany and France. Look what Joe Biden and his open-borders puppet masters are doing to ours. Time to revolt.
I love it that since I disagree with you that makes me a "far left nut job". :) Why do you even read The Free Press? You know nothing about me or my views except that I disagree with your premise and conclusions. It's obvious you have a world view and nothing is going to puncture that bubble.
Here is reality. You are and your friends are not lawyers, not in the government and are not deciding what or who to prosecute. I'd like to point that almost every time a Republican special conceal, DA, etc looks into all of this conspiracy stuff it comes up empty. Remember Arizona and the all of those bad ballots? Oh yeah, nothing there. I can name dozen more if you like.
Our justice system is not perfect but it generally works. The only person I hear who actually SAYS he will weaponize the justice system is Donald Trump. That should scare the hell out of you and everyone else because you never know if you'll end up on his "bad" list.
Re: the first few comments here, quoting Reagan, the Haggadah, and Margaret Thatcher: all had the WISDOM to understand human nature is NOT innately good, and too easily subject to foolishness and base desire. But despite their wise counsel it seems we always must learn the lesson all over again, each time, every time...
So much of what Ms. Ali writes here makes complete and total sense. I don't agree with all the comparisons to Trump, because immigrants in the U.S. have been a positive experience for this country.
On the other hand, neither political party has lifted a finger to end the plague of violent crime in this country. In Memphis, we need 3 to 4 times as many police officers as we currently have, in order to provide first-rate public safety for the citizens. Neither the Democrat mayors nor the Republican governors have given us those officers, so we live each day amid some of the world's highest rates of murders, rapes, armed robbery, carjackings, and the rest.
Republican politicians presumably believe they are helping Memphis' business climate by maintain low expenditures on law enforcement. But they fail to recognize that businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators are leaving Memphis every day, not wanting to raise their children surrounded by so much violence.
"We disagreed—and still do—with Wilders’ calls for blanket bans on additional asylum seekers, with the notion of banning the Quran (let alone any book), and with his consistent failure to draw a distinction between Islam and Islamism.
But we understand how and why his message resonated with the public."
You understand but disagree with blanket bans on asylum seekers. So what do you propose? Muslim immigrants do not, have not assimilated. In a multicultural, elite-run government they're not even encouraged to. Elites accepting Wilders win? HA! Fat chance.
Electing conservative leaders world-wide is a rational reaction to globalists gone wild. But, finally, the great unwashed have spoken. Hope they continue to.
If they had left Trump alone to succeed or fail on his own steam, this country wouldn't be at such a boiling point. But the globalists (thank you for that insight) could not stand to let the people have a voice. We'll come back even hotter and heavier in 2024. What will they do then?
These leftist movements have a single common thread that runs through them all; feelings. Each movement is created, developed, grown and sustained by appeal to an individual's feelings. Why do so many succumb? Simple. Feelings are easy. Standards, discipline, rules and laws are hard. They require the individual to make sacrifices and work within the system to improve it. Why do the hard stuff when spewing one's emotions on a sign, marching through the street with many others, yelling angry slogans and crying feels so good and requires nothing of substance from the individual. "If it feels good do it" has become the mantra of the current age. Today, it seems to be winning. I'm not so sure about the long term once people begin to materially suffer because of their ill-considered choices. Only time will tell...g.
The media is also at fault in this. They demonize those they disagree with. It has caused all this division. Identity politics have also made it more difficult to actually confront some of the issues affecting the West. We have allowed people into our countries that hate them and what we believe. Foolishly in the United States we have even elected them and they roam the hallways of the Capital.
I really appreciate your concise history of the past 20 years in Netherlands. We don't hear much about it in US. I also appreciate that you mention Wilders has toned down rhetoric as I'm sure no one else is mentioning that. I'm tired of the distracting "gotcha" headlines and soundbites from people's pasts. We are what we do now and in the recent past. I learned a lot from your article and it's also a great way to explain to my family members with TDS why we voted for Trump. We're all for open immigration but it can't be fully subsidized and the borders can't be wide open with no filter. Thank you.
We need a whole lot more Wilders, Melonis, Mileis and, yes, dare I say ,Trumps in positions of political power if we want to stop the bleeding out of Western civilization. Culture, tradition, shared values, language, heritage and religion matter. Wake up people.
I used to live in the Netherlands (too many years ago) and am shocked too, but exceedingly pleased. I only hope (even if I doubt it) it shows Europe a new direction. It is still hard to believe that common sense would prevail.
I agree with the points here of the radicalization of Europe, particularly the children of immigrants who fled their countries (Algeria for ex.) because of Islamism. But let’s be honest, Trump was/is a Russian stooge and would do anything for money and power. Now- more than ever - the west does not need a weak-minded criminal running the most powerful country.
The Wilders miracle is not limited to the Netherlands. Look at Italy and Argentina ... I hope it is only a timid beginning. Having lived and worked in the Netherlands (too many years ago), I fully appreciate the size of this peaceful revolution ... and love it.
The "forgotten men and women" finally "woke" up and realized we were indeed forgotten while elites wielded power. The "far-right" label is a media affectation that seeks to define us as extreme. We are not. WE actually represent normalcy.
I have a good friend who lives in the UK, he is a senior. He has worked and lived all his life in the UK. Now that he is in his "golden" years, the health care system is deteriorating and will likely get worse if it is privatized; public services are diminished; and, because he is a single man, he cannot get government subsidized housing, a benefit he has paid for all his life. But - Large families from the Arab countries can live there, because of the EU, no borders, and because that is what the UK decided was more of a prioritiy. Wouldnt we all be hopping mad about this? And, he also observes that many of the Moslems who live in his area are not particularly interested in becoming westerized. Why, I ask, do they then come to western nations? shouldnt they be able to support themselves and their families if they go to another country? If not, then the rest of the citizenship will bear that burden, and resentments will continue to mushroom. It sounds like this is what happened in the Netherlands.
Thank you for writing this. I've sent it to my "shocked" progressive friends and relatives who had all absorbed the MSNBC/NYT talking points. The American elites howl about systemic racism but what we really suffer from is insufferable systemic elitism. Look what Dutch leaders have done to their country. Same for Germany and France. Look what Joe Biden and his open-borders puppet masters are doing to ours. Time to revolt.
I love it that since I disagree with you that makes me a "far left nut job". :) Why do you even read The Free Press? You know nothing about me or my views except that I disagree with your premise and conclusions. It's obvious you have a world view and nothing is going to puncture that bubble.
Here is reality. You are and your friends are not lawyers, not in the government and are not deciding what or who to prosecute. I'd like to point that almost every time a Republican special conceal, DA, etc looks into all of this conspiracy stuff it comes up empty. Remember Arizona and the all of those bad ballots? Oh yeah, nothing there. I can name dozen more if you like.
Our justice system is not perfect but it generally works. The only person I hear who actually SAYS he will weaponize the justice system is Donald Trump. That should scare the hell out of you and everyone else because you never know if you'll end up on his "bad" list.
Thank you.
Re: the first few comments here, quoting Reagan, the Haggadah, and Margaret Thatcher: all had the WISDOM to understand human nature is NOT innately good, and too easily subject to foolishness and base desire. But despite their wise counsel it seems we always must learn the lesson all over again, each time, every time...
https://www.steynonline.com/13949/diversity-rape-of-the-day
So much of what Ms. Ali writes here makes complete and total sense. I don't agree with all the comparisons to Trump, because immigrants in the U.S. have been a positive experience for this country.
On the other hand, neither political party has lifted a finger to end the plague of violent crime in this country. In Memphis, we need 3 to 4 times as many police officers as we currently have, in order to provide first-rate public safety for the citizens. Neither the Democrat mayors nor the Republican governors have given us those officers, so we live each day amid some of the world's highest rates of murders, rapes, armed robbery, carjackings, and the rest.
Republican politicians presumably believe they are helping Memphis' business climate by maintain low expenditures on law enforcement. But they fail to recognize that businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators are leaving Memphis every day, not wanting to raise their children surrounded by so much violence.
"We disagreed—and still do—with Wilders’ calls for blanket bans on additional asylum seekers, with the notion of banning the Quran (let alone any book), and with his consistent failure to draw a distinction between Islam and Islamism.
But we understand how and why his message resonated with the public."
You understand but disagree with blanket bans on asylum seekers. So what do you propose? Muslim immigrants do not, have not assimilated. In a multicultural, elite-run government they're not even encouraged to. Elites accepting Wilders win? HA! Fat chance.
Electing conservative leaders world-wide is a rational reaction to globalists gone wild. But, finally, the great unwashed have spoken. Hope they continue to.
If they had left Trump alone to succeed or fail on his own steam, this country wouldn't be at such a boiling point. But the globalists (thank you for that insight) could not stand to let the people have a voice. We'll come back even hotter and heavier in 2024. What will they do then?
These leftist movements have a single common thread that runs through them all; feelings. Each movement is created, developed, grown and sustained by appeal to an individual's feelings. Why do so many succumb? Simple. Feelings are easy. Standards, discipline, rules and laws are hard. They require the individual to make sacrifices and work within the system to improve it. Why do the hard stuff when spewing one's emotions on a sign, marching through the street with many others, yelling angry slogans and crying feels so good and requires nothing of substance from the individual. "If it feels good do it" has become the mantra of the current age. Today, it seems to be winning. I'm not so sure about the long term once people begin to materially suffer because of their ill-considered choices. Only time will tell...g.