Immigration, Multiculturalism, and the End of Free Speech in Europe
Unlike most RTC Club events, this was a lecture to a large audiance, rather than a more intimate symposium
Youtube of event
Filip Dewinter, Member of Belgian Parliament and Frank Vanhecke, Member of Euorpean parliament will discuss the threat that multiculturalism, radical Islam, and mass immigration bring to the fundamental European and American values of free speech, tolerance, and representative government in Europe.
About the Vlaams Belang: The Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) is the largest political party in Belgian, recieving 25% of the vote. Like most American conservatives, the Vlaams Belang defends the free market, traditional values, and a cohesive national culture. They focus most strongly, however, for autonomy for the Flemish people, and opposition to mass immigration and the Islamification of their country. The Vlaams Belang is unapologetically populist, in Mr. Dewinter's words "if by populism you mean breaking taboos and saying what ordinary people think, even if it's politically incorrect."
In response to the success of the Vlaams Belang, the establishment socialist and "conservative" parties have attempted to suppresss the Vlaams Belang. They issued a "Cordon Sanitaire" refusing to caucus witht the party. In 2004, the Belgian court's changed the constitution, to ban the Vlaams Belang's earlier incarnation the Vlaams Blok on the grounds they incited racial hatred. Their offense? Printing a pamphlet by a member of Turkish descent criticizing female gential mutilation in Muslim countries. Despite these efforts, the Vlaams Belang remains the most successful true right wing party in Europe. The lecture should both educate Americans about the fate of Europe and give inspiration and ideas so that their success can be duplicated by a genuinely right wing movement in this country.
Filip Dewinter is the party's most prominent member and serves as its floor leader in the Belgium Parliament. Frank Vanhecke serves as the party's chairman and is a member of the European Parliament.
In response to the success of the Vlaams Belang, the establishment socialist and "conservative" parties have attempted to suppresss the Vlaams Belang. They issued a "Cordon Sanitaire" refusing to caucus witht the party. In 2004, the Belgian court's changed the constitution, to ban the Vlaams Belang's earlier incarnation the Vlaams Blok on the grounds they incited racial hatred. Their offense? Printing a pamphlet by a member of Turkish descent criticizing female gential mutilation in Muslim countries. Despite these efforts, the Vlaams Belang remains the most successful true right wing party in Europe. The lecture should both educate Americans about the fate of Europe and give inspiration and ideas so that their success can be duplicated by a genuinely right wing movement in this country.