Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance by ian buruma

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

I found it an interesting read, however, Ian Buruma, in attempting to present his story fairly, made it somehow flat. I’ll give an example of what I mean. P258. “He (a Muslim) would certainly welcome it if everyone shared his faith (Islam), but then so would most Christians.” There was a lot of this, balancing out of the comments. It lacks commitment and makes for a duller read. It is as if the author does not want to take a stand, must be politically correct, be perceived as a fair thinker. He is afraid to step out of this mould. But then perhaps he is right to be nervous. People have died giving a strong opinion.

0 0 Reply

Nerdodivergent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

The well-traveled Ian Buruma, a Bard College professor, previously published Occidentalism: The West in the Eyes of Its Enemies (2005) and The Wages of Guilt: Memories of War in Germany and Japan (2002), among others. Buruma's account of Theo van Gogh's death was first published in the New Yorker in January 2005. The book, an expanded version of the magazine piece, is timely. Buruma receives much praise for his writing and reporting skills, though several critics comment on the book's lack of structure. Buruma's willingness to examine the story from all angles is his strength, leading in the final analysis to a nuanced understanding of the situation and an evenhanded piece on a seemingly impenetrable issue. The book suffers from this impenetrability as well: Buruma provides a record of the events but few answers to the questions he inevitably raises. But has anyone else managed to answer these questions yet?<BR>Copyright 2006 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.

0 0 Reply

LordAgustin08

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

A good sociological analysis of the conditions surrounding the murder of Theo van Gogh. It provides great insight into Dutch society at the turn of the millennium.

0 0 Reply

MinoriKaemon

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

The author writes of the murder of Theo Van Gogh a controversial filmmaker, personality in Amsterdam. Theo Van Gogh angered a lot of people, by his remarks and the making of the film Submission with Ayaan Hirsi Ali which would be his downfall. The author writes how the murder has affected the politics and everyday life of people living in Amsterdam.

0 0 Reply

Ayano_4man

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

I read this book for my book club and 3 out of 4 of us could not get through it, including me. It was a bit preachy and all over the place. Very hard to follow and we just could not get into it.

0 0 Reply

Moriette

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

My headline is not original. It's a quote from another review below. I used it because it is so apt.

Buruma's writing flows. It's like having coffee with him as he recounts his experiences with Theo and describes Theo's life, TV show and art. He explains the earlier, but separate, murder of Pim Fortuyn. The flamboyant libertarian/conservative Fortuyn, killed by an animal rights activist, credits the Enlightenment with his ability as a gay man to be elected to public office. He saw the intolerance of Muslim culture as a threat to the fulfillment of civil rights that Dutch society has finally evolved to provide.

Most provocative are Buruma's interviews. He meets with Ayaan Hersi Ali and (something like) her Dutch foster family. He talks with a psychiatrist, friends of Theo, Theo's mother, young Moroccan women who work in a shelter for Muslim women, welfare workers, teachers... and many others representing a wide range of opinion.

Buruma explains how WWII and its myths and legends hang over the Netherlands of today. Buruma cites the influence of this recent past on the immigration policy and the climate of tolerance. The book takes us to the last "home" of Anne Frank and into "dish cities". The question posed by the subtitle, how to be tolerant of an intolerant society is debated on many levels.

I highly recommend this book.

0 0 Reply

IGoogledYou

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

April 26,2025

I could barely put this book down. One morning in 2004, the great-grand-nephew of Vincent Van Gogh was killed as he bicycled on his way to work. Theo Van Gogh was a controversial public figure and filmmaker. He’d recently completed a film with another controversial figure Ayaan Hirsi Ali, about women and Islam. A Muslim Dutch citizen shot and stabbed Van Gogh. He also stuffed a letter into Van Gogh’s body threatening Hirsi Ali as well.
“Islam may soon become the majority religion in countries whose churches have been turned more and more into tourist sites, apartment houses, theatres, and places of entertainment. The French scholar Olivier Roy is right: Islam is now a European religion.”
The above quote struck me as so true. When I was in Europe four years ago, I was shocked to see a church in my old hometown that had turned into a mosque.
The author addresses the challenges of a historically liberal and tolerant culture.

0 0 Reply