One of the world’s biggest green-energy public-policy experiments is coming to a bitter end in Germany, with important lessons for policymakers elsewhere.

CARPE DIEM: First the Dutch Pull the Plug on Wind Subsidies, Now Germany Throws in Towel on Solar Subsidies

Geert Wilders 1, Jihad 0

Geert Wilders:
FITNA

(Reuters) - Dutch populist politician Geert Wilders was acquitted of inciting hatred of Muslims in a court ruling on Thursday that may strengthen his political influence and exacerbate tensions over immigration policy.

Dutch populist Geert Wilders acquitted of hate speech

Il Silenzio (aka TAPS) - UPDATES

From a friend:

Thought all of you would enjoy this! I found this very moving.

You may never have heard the full rendition of Il Silenzio, otherwise known as "Taps". This is a most beautiful rendition.

The girl's name is Melissa Venema and is playing with maestro Andre Rieu from Maastriecht in the Netherlands. She is 13 and has been performing for years. This performance is in 2008 Masstriecht where city officials sealed off the town square and closed everything down so they get perfect noise control. Any of you that have studied music will appreciate such talent from such a 13 year old young lady. This is the first time I have ever heard the full rendition of Taps and I enjoyed it very much. It is a wonderful performance.

VIDEO

UPDATE - I just received this comment (which is in the comments below but I am also posting it here):

I suspect that your inspiration to post this article came from viewing my long running post on Musicouch: http://musicouch.com/musicouching/il-silenzio-and-bugle-call-a-k-a-taps/ and my blog at http://www.wdcplace.blogspot.com/. To my knowledge, I am the only person on the web who has dubbed il Silenzio as Taps. I did so after much research - read the comments on Musicouch. You might want to link my two addresses to your post since your material came from my posts. Wess

UPDATE #2: I just received another comment (which is in the comments below) but I am also posting it here since it, too, adds to the information about this piece of music:

Correct information on this piece can be found at:

www.tapsbugler.com/bugle-calls-in-other-nations/

Bottom line. It's a nice piece of music but

IT IS NOT TAPS

Thanks to both people who posted--it's great to learn more via people who are generous with their time and their knowledge!

UPDATE #3:

FROM A FRIEND: The link to the performance has been around before but I have never seen the story of the performance. At least one country celebrates their liberation by the Americans.

About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home. Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.

This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.

Some people get it

Some people "get it" judging by one of the comments here by someone named Paranam: Dutch Braced For 'Koran Insult' Backlash

There is a portion of the Muslim population that does hold extreme views that are incompatible with Western civilization and democracy. The percentage of Muslims that believe in the following is hard to calculate. It is probably large, but not a majority.

1.  The interpretation of jihad as a duty to convert non-Muslims to Islam by force.

2.  The rejection of the separation of church and state.

3.  The rejection of Western laws based on Judeo / Christian / Roman / Greek foundations.

4.  The belief that all people, even non-Muslims, must obey Sharia law and duties.

5.  The rejection of women’s political rights.

6.  The segregation of women and their subjugation to second-class status.

7.  The circumcision of young women.

8.  The refusal to integrate into, and follow the rules, of western societies.

9.  Honor killing of Muslims who date or marry non-Muslims.

10.  Honor killing of non-Muslims who try to convert Muslims.

11.  Violent attacks on anyone who questions or criticizes Islam.

I have no doubt that many Muslims who emigrate to the West are not interested in melting into Western society. Rather they hope to convert the West to Islam by persuasion- if possible, or force- if necessary. This view makes them invaders, not immigrants.