Soapbox

Big news today: Iraqi al-Qaeda leader al-Zarqawi has been killed (BBC.co.uk; CNN.com). Political leaders from across the globe were happy and relieved, and said (among other things) that it's "a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror", "a happy day for Iraq, the Iraqi people, and all free people", and "a significant victory".

Excuse me?

Perhaps it's just me, but isn't it wrong to celebrate the death of a person? Isn't this exactly what those terrorists do? How are we supposed to be the "good guys", when we commit the same attrocities? I'm not saying this man was innocent, misunderstood or confused. He was a terrorist; one of the worst ones, I believe. But we should never celebrate the death of another human being, or we will become just like them! I hope people will finally learn this.

It reminds me of what's happening in Israel/Palestine. Both sides commit horrible bloody crimes against one another, leading to reactions of violence again. It doesn't even matter who's right anymore; both sides are wrong. Why can they not agree? A Jewish state, and a Palestinian state. Apparently neither side are willing to give up on the Promised Land, so why not just draw a line and call it a border? One both parties can agree on, of course. No more settlers into foreign territories (never have I felt pity for those that were removed from their illegal settlements), and no more suicide bombers (never has any politician changed his mind because of it).

Ah, I'm so frustrated with these insane policies. I could go on and on, but no-one that can change it, is going to read this anyway. Maybe countries, or communities, would work better if they were smaller. Maybe then democracy can really bloom; when everyone knows what their peers think of things, and can together reach a compromise. Democracy cannot be enforced upon people; it wouldn't be democracy anymore.


Just two more things before I get down from my soapbox.


First, it seems that CIA flights have taken place across Europe afterall. Some countries have even cooperated with the transport, alleged imprisonment and torture of terrorist suspects. Of course, Washington has immediately denied any such claims.

Am I the only one who is concerned by this? People accused of terrorism or connections to terrorist networks, not even convicted, are probably transported across the globe and possibly tortured for information. Information gathered by torture is known to be unreliable, and probably leads to false leads, which leads to even more people arrested and undergone the same treatment. Or sent to Guantanamo Bay, where similar suspects have been imprisoned for over 4 years without trial. Innocent, harmless people are being held there and from what we've heard, it's not a great place to be jailed.


Okay, one more thing and I'm done for the day.


You might have heard about Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She is, or rather, was a Dutch politician. Being apparently quite popular among foreign reporters, it might have been surprising that she is not that loved in the Netherlands.

She is an outspoken person, who often criticises the Islam. Theo van Gogh, the controversial filmmaker that was murdered as a terrorist act, was a good friend of her, and Ali recieved death threats from fundamentalist Muslims, too. Ali has been a defender of freedom of speech, and therefore, her leaving the country is internationally regarded as a telltale sign that freedom of speech in the Netherlands is declining.

Here are some comments from one who lives in this oppressive country without freedoms. Yes, me.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali (or whatever her true name is) is not the great politician you apparently think she is. She just shouts rude remarks about the Islam, among which that it is "a retarded culture". These do not seem to be based on arguments or evidence, but rather on her personal beliefs. Sure, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, and freedom of speech is exactly that, but why needlessly insult people? Engage in discussions, don't impose your views on others.

Agreed, reveiving death threats for voicing your opinion is just wrong. But insulting is wrong, too, and only leads to polarisation. You're not winning the debate like that. I believe she is responsible for at least some of the polarisation within the Dutch Muslim population.

Another thing. Hirsi Ali did not leave the country because of "growing clamour from both the Muslim and the secular communities to silence her", but because she had lied. Lied about her name, and the reason for fleeing her home country. Lying in official documents about being a refugee. Because of this, she was never truly a Dutch woman, because the name on her passport (or whatever she's got) is not her name. She had to leave the country because of lying.

I, for one, am glad she left the country. I might not agree with the refugee policy all the time, but I do feel no exception should be made for her.

So, good people of the United States of America: enjoy her stay. Let me know if you appreciate her still after a year or so.


Okay, I know. The soapbox goes back under the bed. I just had to get it off my chest.