A Stupid Open Letter to Geert Wilders Pt 2

September 26, 2016


Dear Mr. Geert Wilders,

A STUPID OPEN LETTER TO GEERT WILDERS PT 2

It was with great interest that I read your preliminary election program for the forthcoming elections in the Netherlands, a one-pager you announced through social media in late August, and also the research report that you commissioned that made a case for direct democracy in the Netherlands along the lines of the Swiss model, a more involved piece that you announced through social media in mid September.

The program, however, is tilting at windmills. It seeks to control things it cannot control. It's aware of it too, hence the use of forceful language. It seeks to transform heterogeneity into homogeneity. Is that though what the purpose is of a nation state? Is that how you think a nation state can justify its presence?

The report, meanwhile, calls on the Swiss model. Models can be very useful indeed: they simplify things to enable us to see the forest for the trees. In the report, the Swiss model is treated as a benchmark. Not that I have anything against Switzerland but what makes that country so special? How sure are the authors of the report that Switzerland cuts the mustard vis-à-vis answering the questions of what the purpose of the Netherlands is and how the Netherlands is supposed to justify itself as a nation state in this day and age?

Both documents come over as you trying to find a way to ensure that each year Santa will give you the exact presents that you want for Christmas. To do so you scoured every God-fearing country in the world in the hope of finding one that seems to have cracked the secret.

Kids are allowed to do that but you're a grown-up. Grown-ups know Santa doesn't exist. As a grown-up it's the moral behind the myth and not the presents that counts.

Enclosed please find something that you may find interesting. Thank you for your time.


Sincerely,

Laurens Sipahelut
Translator


Enclosure: 10 Questions for Multiculturalists: Answered

cc: Mr. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Kekekalan Laten Fasisme

Kekekalan Laten Fasisme karya Rob Riemen diluncurkan pada Sabtu, 4 Juni 2016, di Toko Buku Gunung Agung Margocity, Depok, dengan menghadirkan narasumber Rocky Gerung (FIB UI). Buku dapat dibeli pada Toko Buku Gunung Agung cabang:

• Jakarta Pusat (Atrium, Kwitang 06, Kwitang 38)
• Jakarta Barat (Trisakti)
• Jakarta Timur (Arion, Kramat Jati, Pondok Gede, Tamini Square)
• Jakarta Selatan (Blok M Plaza, Senayan City)
• Tangerang Selatan (BSD)
• Tangerang (Tangcity Mall)
• Bandung (BIP)
• Bekasi (Bekasi CyberPark)
• Depok (Margo City)
• Semarang (Citraland Semarang, Paragon Mall)
• Surabaya (Galaxy Surabaya, Surabaya Delta)
• Denpasar (LIBBI Denpasar)