Posted on 05/17/2002 6:08:18 AM PDT by knighthawk
There appeared a thread yesterday:
It said that Pim Fortuyn was 'a powerful advocate or paedophilia'. The article in the Scotsman is based on an 1999 column of Pim Fortuyn.
The article there leaves out the things that make one understand what he is saying.
1. If it was true this was such a vile column, Elsevier would have never allowed it to be printed
2. If it was true this was such a vile column, the media an left parties would have brought it to the attention of people months ago. And by doing so stopping Fortuyn cold in his tracks before he could break down the left
3. If it was true this was such a vile column, and he is a sexual pervert, then way did nobody claimed the 2250 dollar reward a leftist organization awarded the first man that could bring out information about Fortuyn's sexual past that would descredit him. Not ONE single person managed to come up with anything.
I a furious, not about the article, but they way it was presented and pinged around.
This is exactly what led to the death of Pim Fortuyn in the first place, the demonization of the media and politicians, who lied and published selected half-true things, leaving out the rest.
He was murdered by a man who thought that shooting so was a good thing to do.
Take some time to grieve and then come back. And know that many of us mourn with you.
a.cricket
knighthawk retreat for awhile but don't give those who hurt you satifaction of a permanent defeat.
You are one of the strongest voices on Free Republic, which is one of the most influential websites in existence.
Take a break, lick your wounds, and come back stronger than ever.
Don't let the bastards grind you down, or they win.
Hope you will reconsider leaving FReepers.
Knighthawk you're leaving would be a great loss!
Please reconsider!
In no way could we (and especially I) let you after reading these words from your profile page:
Almost two centuries ago a group of disturbed men met in the small Pennsylvania State House. They gathered to decide on a course of action. Behind the locked and guarded doors they debated for hours whether or not to sign the Declaration which had been presented for their consideration. For hours the talk was treason and its price the headsman's axe, the gallows and noose. The talk went on and decision was not forthcoming.
Then, Jefferson writes, a voice was heard coming from the balcony:
"They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust.""To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom; but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but hear. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death, not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom the bible of the rights of man forever."
"Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would still implore you to remember this truth: God has given America to be free."
As he finished, the speaker sank back in his seat exhausted. Inspired by his eloquence the delegates rushed forward to sign the Declaration of Independence. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words he couldn't be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room.
This text I think embodies the true spirit of America: even when faced with death we choose to be free!
We are fighting because others have fought for us, for our rights, for our freedom. We must fight this evil so it can no longer harm anyone again. Also we must keep on fighing to make others free (remember the Battle Hymne of the Republic: "as he died to make men holy, let us die to make man free").
Some people believe that we are giving in. Never I say! When George Washington faced a much larger British amry, did they choose not to fight for their (and our) freedom? Did the men who defended the Alamo give in? No, even when they knew they would all be killed and the Mexicans offered them safe passage, they choose to fight. They died so that others could be free, they gave their lives so others wouldn't die. When the Japanse army made their strike at Pearl Harbor, did we give in? Or when the US Amny landed at the beaches in Normandy and things went really bad? No! They fought on to victory!
I urge all Americans to remember the story behind the "Star Spangled Banner": even after the 25 hour bombardement of Fort McHenry, our flag was still there. Why? Because real Americans don't give in! We don't call America "the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" for nothing!
The terrorist attacks on 9/11 was our darkest hour, but now we must stand united and show that the fire of the spirit of freedom that lives in ALL of us has not weakened. Fueled by our desire to be free and victorious it shall rise like the Phoenix! From the rubble we must stand up and cry for freedom and keep the dream of liberty alive! We must rebuild the WTC with an even bigger one and show the world that Americans stand tall, even when faced with the greatest dangers. The USA was made the greatest country by people who fought and even died for it, making it free or while defending it, we must fight to honor them and to ensure that those who were killed on 9/11 are the last Americans to die by the hands of terrorists!
Show to the world you are proud to be an American, to be proud of living in such a beautiful country and hang up as much Old Glory's as you can, 24/7, forever, to remember that GOD HAS GIVEN AMERICA TO BE FREE!!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Take some time away, and return with perspective, and maybe I'll let you in on who the unknown speaker was.
Get back over here and get to work.....YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY FROM US THAT EASILY!!!
Understand me, young un'????
I absolutely agree, and he will if I have anything to say about it!
I was tied up at the dentist yesterday (root canal with a grad student
dentist - OUCH!), so I'm playin' catchup on posts to me. Once I work thru
the comments here, I'm gonna send a post to him myself and a FReepmail to boot!
It was ever so refreshing to me to see a bright spot from Europe - such is knighthawk!
Yes, I can believe that. You know, if I had known that that article would have led to this, I would NEVER have pinged you to it (post #37). I did that so you could defend him. It was YOUR posts that led me to understand that even though Pim Fortuyn did NOT fit perfectly into the conservative mold that we have in our minds here at FR (and, mind you, we DON'T all agree as to what that is!), that he was a breath of fresh air in the politics of the Netherlands and gave HOPE to many good people there. If you will go BACK to that thread, you will notice that I also made comments to a few folks there that, although Pim Fortuyn was gay, he was NOT a pedophile. Now, how did I know that? Because I recalled your comment previously to others trying to accuse him of being a pedophile. Your stated that if that was TRUE (which is was NOT), then why didn't his opposition use that against him in the campaign. See? I remembered that!......
Consider this, Knighthawk: READ this thread and see that there is an OVERWHELMING number of folks that appreciated your posts and opinions, and many that express that without your input, we FReepers would be left in a VOID regarding what is happening in NL politics. I know that's true for me!
I also think you probably just need a break. You've most certainly been dealt the ultimate blows with the assassination of the number one conservative in the Netherlands, PLUS now the blow of a SMEAR after his death.
If the FReepers beckoning call for you to stay with FR to keep us informed on conservative politics (and the TRUTH therein), then stay for this (below). I saw you post this on articles a number of times!:
I am proud to have voted for Pim Fortuyn!I am not nearly as eloquent as so many of the FReepers here on FR, but I surely hope that you reconsider and let reason sink in that you need to stay! And quoting FReeper Rebelbase in post #41, There is no shame in coming back.
IN MEMORIAM
PIM FORTUYN
1948 - 2002
I agree! Come on in, the water's fine!
As for why Fortuyn wasn't attacked on this score by the Left in the Netherlands, obviously they cannot attack what they themselves support.
Since I have resigned on principle myself at times in my life, I have no quarrel with anyone who wants to do the same. The words, "Always in your life you come up to the proverbial hill to die on. This is mine," have guided me more than once. I can't but wonder in your case, however, if the hill you've chosen to die on is a hill worth taking.
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