Common Sense?

Overlooked in discussions between those that think we must support European politicians with troubling past (and likely future of dissembling about said past) and those opposed to any hint of ethnic nationalism, is the fast growing alternative to Vlaams Belang. Lijst Dedecker is heralding the defection of yet another “Flemish Interest” candidate.

Google translates:

An Bonne: "Flemish Interest is increasing in the move towards more extreme positions, and the party proves her constituents no service by its representatives silenced it."

Original text:

An Bonné: "Vlaams Belang is steeds meer aan het opschuiven naar meer extreme standpunten, en de partij bewijst haar kiezers helemaal geen dienst door haar mandatarissen monddood te maken."

A couple of opinions that I gleaned from the translations that google provides causes me to think that this political party might be better suited to ally with Center for Vigilant Freedom in a desire to support European parties that resist the further accommodation of islam.

Concerning integration of immigrants,

Positive discrimination is fatal for the integration process. Integration will indeed slow, on the basis of mutual trust. Because immigrants positively discriminate confidence is repeatedly undermined and racist sentiments in the hand. Migrants are rarely served with. These are typical leftist measures that the general interest of the entire society subject to shareholders' short-sighted electoral importance.

Positieve discriminatie is dodelijk voor het integratieproces. Integratie komt er, inderdaad langzaam, op basis van wederzijds vertrouwen. Door allochtonen positief te discrimineren wordt het vertrouwen telkens weer ondermijnd en racistische gevoelens in de hand gewerkt. Migranten zijn daar overigens zelden mee gediend. Dit zijn typische linkse maatregelen die het algemeen belang van de ganse samenleving ondergeschikt maken aan het eigen kortzichtig electoraal belang.

On freedom of speech,

Racisten find that people are not equivalent and have criminal and radical solutions to social problems arising from the coexistence of different ethnic groups. I can not forbid them to think and to say. I will continue to argue that they are wrong. That their solutions are no solutions, that only larger and more problematic. But as long as they only express opinions and adhere to the law, they are free to those admittedly idiotic opinions proclaim.

Racisten vinden dat mensen niet gelijkwaardig zijn en hebben radicale en criminele oplossingen voor maatschappelijke problemen die voortvloeien uit het samenleven van verschillende bevolkingsgroepen. Ik kan ze niet verbieden dit te denken, en te zeggen. Ik zal blijven argumenteren dat ze ongelijk hebben. Dat hun oplossingen geen oplossingen zijn, dat die alleen maar grotere en meer problemen opleveren. Maar zolang zij alleen maar meningen uiten en zich aan de wet houden zijn zij vrij om die weliswaar idiote mening te verkondigen.

I think I get the gist of what they are saying but perhaps a Dutch speaker could provide a better translation. If the fun of pretending that we, and our opinions of Dewinter, are the center of the universe is finally worn off, then perhaps, some constructive criticsm toward the fulfillment of CVF's stated principles could be discussed. Or have we a problem with their stated principles?

Surely, if either actually reads this, GOV supporters will think that I too quickly discount Dewinter, and IBA will think that I am too comfortable with nationalism based on ethnicity.

To the former, I will say that if we act responsibly then we can look forward to being called "know-nothings," by nominally muslims, just as nominally Catholics, veritably Americans, continue to make mockery of both their faith and those that resisted said faiths formerly international and usurping power. Besides, Dewinter is not the only politician that resists islam.

To the latter, I will say that Flanders was once a place largely inhabited by...the Flemmish. And among those Flemmish did arise classically liberal ideals. There is nothing inately "NAZI" about the Flemmish nor Arabic. Understandably ethnic nationalism gives many an uneasey feeling, largely because the ideals of such nationalism are so ill defined. But, it can not be assumed that ethnic nationalist are inherently violent. The "friend not family" calculus of Nick Griffin is not what I'd prefer societies be built upon, but it is a decidely more enlightened view than what National Socialists of 1930's Germany espoused.