A very sad, sad day in holland. From the dutch news:

Today Theo van Gogh, a controversial but famous filmmaker and family of the great painter "Vincent van Gogh", has been murdered in Amsterdam this morning.

He was shot several times and after he collapsed the murderer stabed him with two knives in his chest. On one of the knives was a letter attached. The suspect a 26 year 'arabic' man has been arrested after a shooting with the police on which one policemen was hit and the suspect was shot in the leg.

Most likely he has been murdered because of his critisism of the islam and passages in the Koran that were insulting to gay and women. Two months ago, he made a TV broadcast together with one of the members of our polictical parties about the discrimination practised by muslim and the koran. Both had to take personal protection when it was broadcasted. After this event the politica has moved to an unknown location and is under police protection now. She and Theo van gogh have recieved several dead threats a few months ago.

Further details are still unknown at this moment.

Ironically his film about the political murder on Pim Fortuyn in May 2002 is going into premiere within 6 days. The murder on both Pim and Theo are very simular and both done by extremists. Theo was 47 years old.

Again we are faced with a world of intollerance. A sad day for freedom of speech. All we can do is trying to educate people (esspecially the minorities) and let them recognize the dutch culture and laws. Despite of all what has been said on this forum about terrorism (yes I certainly see this as an act of terrorism), you cannot protect yourself from this acts of crime, unless you kill everyone who thinks and chooses to live differently.

I hope you think of this when you're going to vote today.

A truly sad Walter,