We could have done better than that!

[hrymfaxe]

 So... We have just had an election here in Denmark for the parliament (and hence the government)... This election did not go as I had hoped, and practically ntohing has changed in parliament or the government... After a day of stunned silence on my behalf, both cyber and otherwise, I was riding to work today on my trusty steed, von Backhaus, and I got to thinking...

What kills me about this result is the fact that half a million people voted for the extreme rightwing, national-socialist party that fights for the continuation of selfsatisfaction among the Danes and the closing of the borders so as not to have our fine Danish values corrupted by foreign elements, etc. I think you get the gist. (Now for those who are going: half a million, wtf, who cares? I'll just let you know that this is a small country, and there are only little over 4 million people who can vote and 87 % of these chose to do so Tuesday). The serious problem about the "vote of confidence" *cringes* for this party is that they will now form the parliamentary backing of our supposedly liberal/rightwing government.. I am so disappointed that the Danish population did not take this opportunity to vote against a governement that took us to a war with no basis in international law, that has seen a steady rise in the number of relative poor and that has generally been associated with narrowmindedness and xenophobia. Which, I might add, is also very aggravating to those of my friends who actually are liberal, and cannot recognise themselves in the present government, no matter how it labels itself.

The upside is that the socialist party that I voted for had a landslide election, more than doubling their members in parliament by also getting around half a million votes. Unfortunately this happened by the movement of voters from the social-democrats, and since these parties are in coalition, it meant that there was no increase in the bloc as such.. Still, it shows that there are just as many people in Denmark (and more actually) who are open to the world, and who wish to fight for better opportunities for all, as there are those who are so afraid that they cannot fathom sharing their richness with others and being enriched in turn!

Isn't it sad that the basest instincts will rule this country? We were once known as a tolerant and happy people, and now we are known for having the stricktest immigration laws, and being some of the worst in the world at integration? We are unhappy, bitchy and whiny, and the whole thing makes me want to cry. We have nothing to complain about! We have food on our tables, we do not have to fear for our lives when we step out the door, there are doctors and hospitals and education and it is all bloody free of charge!! We have a democracy, we have freedom of speech and press, we have an uncorrupted government, police force and justice system. I have been to countries that have none of the above, and I have met people there, who were still able to take pleasure in life in a way the Danes seem unable to, even with all this! We could be better than this! We could remember that many of the immigrants who are here, are some we invited ourselves. We could rejoice in the richer cultural offerings, that amongst so many other thiungs don't just include our own 1001 ways to cook a pig, but also kebab, feta, naan, bulgur, rice etc etc. We could and should try to remember that the Denmark that we cherish (and despite it all, even I cherish it) would not have been what it is today without the influences from the outside, without being challenged and rising to the challenge by changing and accomodating to the world! 
 
I hope I do not have to wait another four years to see a change in the Danish mentality..

This is my personal belief, and I do not expect everybody to share it, but I do ask that you all respect my right to express it here. I welcome a discussion about these thoughts, if you feel so inclined, but please be polite and respectful of differing opinions.

Comments

[dawn_felagund]

I don't follow politics very closely, but I found myself nodding along with all of the sentiments that you expressed. Sadly, I have to look to Europe often as an example of how things can be free and fair and still work since my own country has bungled this so badly in the last seven years, and so I'm disheartened to see the same values that so many express in America taking hold in Europe too. It seems we live in such a fearful world, where everyone not just like us is someone to be afraid of. Over here, I see this in people who don't want to help Latinos come to this country but don't want to stop letting them cut their grass, wash their laundry, and pick their lettuce either. Or who laugh at T-shirts that read, "Welcome to America. Now speak English," like we weren't all immigrants once scared and alone and unable to speak the language.

Anyway, much senseless rambling to say I'm sorry to hear that the results were disappointing. :(

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you for listening (or reading in this case). :) The results were deeply disappointing - but now that it has come a little further away, I see a few things more to be happy about. Four years ago, at the last election, pretty much every party was trying to outdo the others with how hard they would be towards immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. But this time, there was an emphasis from the opposition on treating asylum-seekers humanly, and not leaving them in camps for months and years. We also have a historical low unemployment rate, and so can hardly argue that the immigrants steal our jobs - actually we need them to come and work! And so on..
I think it is sad and disheartening too, that fear should so rule us. We shouldn't be sufficient unto ourselves in the degree that we are - we really aren't that good! We need to reach out and communicate, and lay down the prejudice! Sweden, our neighbour, is still known as a neutral and humane country - so hope remains that we can change.