Van Gogh

[gerbie]

Second class this morning: "Sir, do you know why they killed Theo van Gogh?"

After a few seconds I answered the truth: "I didn't even know he was killed."

He was:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3974179.stm

From then on, I tried to get some news during my work today (hardly possible) and after I got home. Exactly what I feared is happening. Mass hystery again. 'attack on freedom of speech' and more big words from people in influencial positions. Worse: journalists asking 'the man in the street' for their opinion.

The truth is that most of you hated him. You didn't give a damn when he spoke about what he thought of the world. Yet he always managed to provoke a reaction. Unfortunately for him, he did manage to do that once more. It wasn't the right reaction. Killing is never an option. Killing is never a solution. Killing is always wrong.

I adored Van Gogh for his interviews, nobody was as good as he was the last decade. He was also a great film director, made some great movies. He was an average columnist, who deliberately aimed at provoking. Combing these last two talents probably meant his end. The world is a lot poorer without him.

But please can we be spared the mass history, let alone all the racist abuse (the murderer has been caught and has dual nationality) and the cries for a tougher country will only make things worse.

I'm almost becoming a hippie, but I can only quote Lenny Kravitz here: We've got to let love rule.

Comments

[jeroen.livejournal.com]

'attack on freedom of speech'

how else you'd call it?

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

One idiot doing something he shouldn't have done.

[jeroen.livejournal.com]

De Kneet is ook overleden vandaag :/

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

Het begin van het einde. Een zwarte dag in de geschiedenis van de mensheid.

[itsmeagain.livejournal.com]

"Hysteria" is the word you're looking for, isn't it?

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid it is.

[yourownworld.livejournal.com]

i read about this in the news today and thought of you right away. sad...

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

Because it happened in my country? Because you knew I was going to post about it? Because you thought I was involved somehow?

[yourownworld.livejournal.com]

the first two...the third never entered my mind.

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

:-) just curious..

[yourownworld.livejournal.com]

Totally, I woulsd be as well..Don’t know why I didn’t mention it when I commented the first time around. Hey...I’d love to hear your reaction to our most recent elections. Consider it a request...

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

That will take some days, but it could go nicely into the series. Thanx!

(I did mention a bit in my journal just a few minutes ago, but I will try and manage to give a serious and well thought response soon)

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

That will take some days, but it could go nicely into the series. Thanx!

(I did mention a bit in my journal just a few minutes ago, but I will try and manage to give a serious and well thought response soon)

[mathewg.livejournal.com]

He wasn't a very well-loved man in life. Funny how many people showed up for the gathering in Dam Square. We watched on TV and agreed that ANYONE who is murdered deserves to have the recognition of the fact impact their fellow man in the same way.

Being famous doesn't make you MORE important than someone not famous. It does not make your life inherently more valuable.

Theo said things people didn't like. This is no different than people who are killed over arguements and differences in opinion every day all over the world. He is not the first person to be killed this year in the NL, and may not be the last. (We can always HOPE that he is.)

The loss of life is a tragedy. The fact that it happened to one person or another is not the issue, and in the end if he was killed over what he said or whose wife he eyed doesn't matter. Dead is dead, and nothing will bring him, or any other victim of a murder back.

The problem is societal, and the solution is not more bodyguards for rich people, famous people, and politicians. The solution is better understanding of each other. Because we're all from different backgrounds, even if we do live in the same country . . . not a single one of us had an identical set of experiences growing up. It doesn't make me an "evil american" nor does it make anyone else a stereotype. We're all human. Let's try to figure out together what that means . . . and not try and fix problems by "increasing security" the way certain other governments are . . .

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I do understand though that people do get more cynical when they grow older. I just hope I manage to keep my principles and never end up voting for personal gain.