Comments on: Norwegian racism on the rise http://insignificances.com/2009/03/26/norwegian-racism-on-the-rise/ same old same old – new wrapping, though Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:26:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bjørnar http://insignificances.com/2009/03/26/norwegian-racism-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Bjørnar Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:57:51 +0000 http://insignificances.com/?p=1479#comment-272 Agreed. I find it insane that so many of our fellow Norwegians seem to equate "freedom of expression" with "freedom to make disrespectful and derogatory statements about people with a different religion and/or skin colour". Norwegians think they are the best/richest/smartest/most rational people on earth. We're not, actually, and we have a bunch to learn (both what to do and what not to do) from people who have dealt with immigration and multiculturalism for a while. Like the US and UK, but also places like Holland, Argentina and Australia. These countries have also dealt with thinking that they are the coolest country on earth and then realising that they're not. In fact, they've also thought they're RICH and then realised they're not. We have a lot to learn, indeed. But, sadly, it's typically Norwegian to think we're best, even when we're far from it. Agreed.
I find it insane that so many of our fellow Norwegians seem to equate “freedom of expression” with “freedom to make disrespectful and derogatory statements about people with a different religion and/or skin colour”.
Norwegians think they are the best/richest/smartest/most rational people on earth. We’re not, actually, and we have a bunch to learn (both what to do and what not to do) from people who have dealt with immigration and multiculturalism for a while. Like the US and UK, but also places like Holland, Argentina and Australia.
These countries have also dealt with thinking that they are the coolest country on earth and then realising that they’re not. In fact, they’ve also thought they’re RICH and then realised they’re not.
We have a lot to learn, indeed.
But, sadly, it’s typically Norwegian to think we’re best, even when we’re far from it.

]]> By: Jarle Petterson http://insignificances.com/2009/03/26/norwegian-racism-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-271 Jarle Petterson Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:38:07 +0000 http://insignificances.com/?p=1479#comment-271 Dear Bjørnar and Hadia, Like both of you, I'm deeply shocked and appalled by the reactions I've seen over these last couple of weeks. Hateful attacks from Progress party sympathisers are as could be expected, I suppose, but Labour's foggy statements of late have sanctioned immigration scepticism as more or less political correctness, thereby instigating a deluge of hate. I find it hard to believe what we're witnessing. Dear Bjørnar and Hadia,

Like both of you, I’m deeply shocked and appalled by the reactions I’ve seen over these last couple of weeks.

Hateful attacks from Progress party sympathisers are as could be expected, I suppose, but Labour’s foggy statements of late have sanctioned immigration scepticism as more or less political correctness, thereby instigating a deluge of hate.

I find it hard to believe what we’re witnessing.

]]> By: Hadia http://insignificances.com/2009/03/26/norwegian-racism-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Hadia Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:38:51 +0000 http://insignificances.com/?p=1479#comment-267 Dear Jarle, If you are interested in a short overview of some of the underlying reasons for this image of Islam in Norwegian (and "Western") culture, and even an attempt at explaining the use of hijab amongst different sorts of Muslim women, I can recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Muslim-Women-Veil-Challenging/dp/1565642872 I don't agree with it fully, though I still think it is a good read :) Have a nice day, and thanks again for letting your voice be heard! Dear Jarle,

If you are interested in a short overview of some of the underlying reasons for this image of Islam in Norwegian (and “Western”) culture, and even an attempt at explaining the use of hijab amongst different sorts of Muslim women, I can recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Muslim-Women-Veil-Challenging/dp/1565642872

I don’t agree with it fully, though I still think it is a good read :)

Have a nice day, and thanks again for letting your voice be heard!

]]> By: Bjørnar http://insignificances.com/2009/03/26/norwegian-racism-on-the-rise/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Bjørnar Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:21:58 +0000 http://insignificances.com/?p=1479#comment-266 I noticed this I while ago, after I left Norway. I lost faith in humanity when reading the comments on db.no, and dreaded going home watching Norwegian TV. I was left with the impression that we are all really racist fucks. But conditions apply. First of all, I think Tabloid on TV2 is ruining this country, and I say that because I mean it. Secondly, there are actually quite a large group of oppegående Norwegians as well. I work with some of them, and I know some other quite decent people too. Thirdly, there are too many racists fuck in this country, and it makes me sad to admit it. We are more racist than any other people I have lived with, except in Malaysia, where the Chinese, Indians and Malays lived separately, as far as I could tell. One thing I did learn in Malaysia, however, was that muslims are like the rest of us. Quite a lot of them pray, and there is no ham there anyway, so no one eats it, apart from the Chinese. Apart from that they are OK. They seem to be behaving OK here in Oslo too. So what the hell is the problem anyway? I noticed this I while ago, after I left Norway. I lost faith in humanity when reading the comments on db.no, and dreaded going home watching Norwegian TV.

I was left with the impression that we are all really racist fucks. But conditions apply.

First of all, I think Tabloid on TV2 is ruining this country, and I say that because I mean it.

Secondly, there are actually quite a large group of oppegående Norwegians as well. I work with some of them, and I know some other quite decent people too.

Thirdly, there are too many racists fuck in this country, and it makes me sad to admit it. We are more racist than any other people I have lived with, except in Malaysia, where the Chinese, Indians and Malays lived separately, as far as I could tell.

One thing I did learn in Malaysia, however, was that muslims are like the rest of us. Quite a lot of them pray, and there is no ham there anyway, so no one eats it, apart from the Chinese. Apart from that they are OK.

They seem to be behaving OK here in Oslo too.

So what the hell is the problem anyway?

]]>