Fortuyn voted greatest Dutchman

[Kellanved]

Television viewers in the Netherlands have voted the right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn, killed in 2002, the greatest Dutchman of all time. Mr Fortuyn, who inflamed Dutch society with fierce anti-immigration rhetoric, was shot by an animal rights activist.

He beat the first William of Orange - the 17th-Century founder of the modern Dutch state - into second place.

The vote came amid racial and religious tension after film-maker Theo van Gogh was shot dead by a Muslim extremist.

Before his murder, Pim Fortuyn's right-wing List party was poised to make large gains in the general election of 2002, campaigning on an anti-immigration ticket.

...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4015173.stm

:wtf:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. What is going on with these people?

:shrug:

[sasquatch]

2. WTF is the matter with the Dutch

:wtf::shrug:

[Kellanved]

6. hmm

I've got something to do near the border next week. I think I should cross it and have a look around.

O8)

[James T. Kirk]

3. Pim Fortuyn quote

"I don't hate Islam. I consider it a backwards culture. I have travelled much in the world. And wherever Islam rules, it's terrible. All the hypocrisy. It's a bit like those old Reformed Protestants. The Reformed lie all the time. And why is that? Because they have norms and values that are so high that you can't humanly maintain them. You also see that in Muslim culture. Look at the Netherlands. In what country could a leader of such a large movement as mine be openly homosexual? It's fantastic that it's possible. That's something that we can be proud of. And I want to keep it that way." - Pim Fortuyn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pim_Fortuyn

[Kellanved]

4. he was a RW populist

Him singling out one religion, instead of attacking Theocracies, shows that pretty clearly´.

Granted, in the Netherlands even RW populist are more liberal than in other countries. And one shouldn't put too much importance in a TV show.
Still, especially considering the many great Dutchmen throughout history, the superlative is disturbing.

[Wat_Tyler]

5. Yeah, those two beat Rembrandt. Clearly.

[Fenris]

7. Huh. Pim Fortuyn and William of Orange were the best they could do?

Were the Dutch masters out of town?

[Fenris]

8. The list itself is quite intriguing.

GREATEST DUTCH
1 - Pim Fortuyn - politician
2 - William of Orange - royalty
3 - William Drees - politician
4 - Antony van Leeuwenhoek - scientist
5 - Erasmus - humanist
6 - Johan Cruyff - footballer
7 - Michael de Ruyter - admiral
8 - Anne Frank - diarist
9 - Rembrandt van Rijn - artist
10 - Vincent van Gogh - artist

[TheMightyFavog]

10. What do cheap ass stoagies have to do with great Dutchmen?

Besides, I'm more of a Montecristo man myself.

[MrScorpio]

9. What has happened to Holland since I was last there?

These are not the same Dutch that I've grown to know and love.