Thank you!

[Tribesman]

Van Bommel did call for an intifada.

What does intifada mean ?

He claimed he didn't hear it, wich I find hard to believe because the camera in front of him recorded the chanting behind him perfectly fine.

So simple
the camera was in front of him and it recorded what was behind him .
errrrrr......which way do a humans ears point ? what were the people next to his ears shouting ?
So Fenring what do psychoacoustics and auditory masking mean ?
If you find something hard to believe you must have some basis for it eh
If you have no basis then you are just pissing into the wind .

The potential for improper translation is the reason why, if I recall correctly, it is Islamic doctrine that the Qur'an should not be translated

Almost Seamus , its not that it shouldn't be translated its that translations have no real standing .

[Vladimir]

What does intifada mean ?

Another, academic, point.

What is more important: The literal definition of a word; how it is perceived; or the actions that result from it?

Jihad!

[Tribesman]

Another, academic, point.

An important point .
Since he condemned violence both by the Israelis and Palestinians does his use of the word mean he supports the violent version of intifada which he had just condemned or the non-violent version of intifada ?

[Paradox]

What is more important: The literal definition of a word; how it is perceived; or the actions that result from it?

The ignorance surrounding it.

[Kralizec]

What does intifada mean ?

He wasn't wrong of course, IIRC it means "uprising" or something along those lines. But the vast majority of people associate the word with violence. He claims that he didn't intend that particular meaning, and instead claims to have been an incredible jackass.

So simple
the camera was in front of him and it recorded what was behind him .
errrrrr......which way do a humans ears point ? what were the people next to his ears shouting ?
So Fenring what do psychoacoustics and auditory masking mean ?
If you find something hard to believe you must have some basis for it eh
If you have no basis then you are just pissing into the wind .

Yes, I'm aware of the argument. I just think it's far, far more probable that he did hear and didn't care.

It was nice to see Gretta Duisenberg again in the news though, and without putting her own foot in her mouth this time.

EDIT: to clarify, I don't think anything Van Bommel did is worthy of punishment.

[Crazed Rabbit]

If freedom of speech does not extend to and past the speech used by Wilders, to protect that which everyone may consider vulgar, improper, and offensive, it is meaningless.

CR

[Adrian II]

If freedom of speech does not extend to and past the speech used by Wilders, to protect that which everyone may consider vulgar, improper, and offensive, it is meaningless.

CR

[HoreTore]

If freedom of speech does not extend to and past the speech used by Wilders, to protect that which everyone may consider vulgar, improper, and offensive, it is meaningless.

CR

As long as we can ban certain hair-do's, I'm all OK with that.