Seems everybody has an opinion about the movie Geert Wilders is working on. Even though the movie is not released it is already causing quite a stir. I don’t understand it. Why judge it before it has been even released?

Although I strongly disagree with virtually everything Geert Wilders stands for, I’m also a strong proponent of free speech. I really like this quote (apparently by Evelyn Beatrice Hall and not Voltaire as I first thought) which quite clearly explains my personal view on this subject:

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Given the current state of affairs in Dutch politics a quote by Erasmus might be better:

“In a free state, tongues too should be free.”

source: Erasmus, The Education of a Christian Prince (1516).

Our politicians seem more inclined to explain that they cannot forbid this film (yet?), rather than explaining that freedom of expression, freedom of speech among others are of fundamental and utmost importance for a free society such as we (still?) have in the Netherlands.