A Response to Geert Wilders's Op-Ed in The New York Times

On November 19, 2015, The New York Times published an op-ed penned by Dutch MP Geert Wilders. In it Wilders repeated his views that he expressed in an op-ed published by Dutch daily de Volkskrant on November 5, 2015: anti-Islamism, anti-multiculturalism, and preservation of national identity. The following is a response to Wilders's The New York Times piece styled as a Letter to the Editor.

To the Editor:
Re "Let My People Vote" (Op-Ed Contributor, Nov. 20): Geert Wilders's wisdom is as profound as anyone else's that manages to look smart wearing a suit, yet he gets to debate as an MP in Dutch parliament about grave issues. The result: Talks about head rag taxes, Eurabia, and desert religions instead of truth, wisdom, and justice.

He holds a myopic view regarding the European migrant crisis, seeking the solution in economic terms, thinking that closing the borders is the solution. He calls for direct democracy in a society that appreciates free speech but that's not geared up for freethinking.

Wilders lacks the capacity to argue for altruism in a world that takes egoism for granted. Plato argued for rule by philosopher-kings for a reason.

Laurens Sipahelut

The writer is a publisher based in Indonesia who has recently published an Indonesian edition of The Eternal Return of Fascism by Dutch philosopher Rob Riemen.

Kekekalan Laten Fasisme

Tulisan di atas diturunkan dalam rangka terbitnya Kekekalan Laten Fasisme, esai filsuf Belanda Rob Riemen yang mengingatkan terhadap bahaya laten fasisme di Eropa dan menunjuk politikus Geert Wilders sebagai prototipe fasisme masa kini. Untuk info terkini tentang Kekekalan Laten Fasisme pantau kicauan ber-tagar #KekekalanLatenFasisme pada Twitter. Kekekalan Laten Fasisme dapat dipesan pada Pionir Books dan outlet daring pilihan.