The problems in Sweden are deeper and uglier than banning the flag. Our national anthem was banned at some schools too.

But there is something which I find very disturbing with our parliamentarian democracy. Sweden has a multiparty system with the classical two blocks, left and right. At left are the social democratic party, the old communist party and ideologically the green party is there too. To the right are the two liberal parties, the center party and the remaining conservative party. In addition to these parties, we have the Sweden Democrats, which is a right wing party with an anti immigration agenda. This party was very successful in the latest election last fall. They are now the third biggest party in the parliament and being completely ignored by the established parties. The democracy went out with the bath water. In addition to this, just before Christmas the next step toward something strange. The rules changed so a government can implement its policy even when the government doesn't have the majority of the seats in the parliament.

When a government so openly ignoring the outcome of the election and media does not say anything about it. People I am talking to are worried some a scared when the principles of a democracy shall not be ignored, only because the dislike of the Sweden Democrats among the establishment.

I am worried about this and at the same time somewhat amused, but I have a degree in political science.

Maybe it's time to leave this country again.

What is the link 13 between immigration and the Flag - National Anthem? It can't be that the Flag - Anthem are of Swedish heritage, so a new comer may be uncomfortable because it's not the same as their previous Flag-Anthem. If that's the case I hate to say it but "stay home". An immigrant should be willing to adopt these aspects of the new country. That's how it works in the US and we get far more immigrants than any other country. Most of them are proud of the US Flag.

http://speisa.com/modules/articles/i...democracy.html

http://speisa.com/modules/articles/i...migration.html

So this is what´s happening in Sweden right now?
What the hell went wrong?


Sweden Democrats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_Democrats

Danish People's Party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_People%27s_Party

There´s no great difference between the Danish People's Party and the Sweden Democrats. In Denmark it would be unthinkable that the same situation could arise and even the Danish People's Party and the extreme left do agree on some issues - especially animal welfare.

Originally Posted by JOC

What is the link 13 between immigration and the Flag - National Anthem? It can't be that the Flag - Anthem are of Swedish heritage, so a new comer may be uncomfortable because it's not the same as their previous Flag-Anthem. If that's the case I hate to say it but "stay home". An immigrant should be willing to adopt these aspects of the new country. That's how it works in the US and we get far more immigrants than any other country. Most of them are proud of the US Flag.

The problem in both Sweden and Denmark is that it´s not about immigrants in the true sense of the Word. Most of them are refugees, fortune seekers or criminals who come to us primarily because of our welfare state. The U.S. are much better that os, to integrate people from other nations. In Denmark, the worst to integrate are the Arabs and Somalis mainly because their culture is so distant from our.

Originally Posted by Kesse81

in Sweden right now?
There´s no great difference between the Danish People's Party and the Sweden Democrats. In Denmark it would be unthinkable that the same situation could arise and even the Danish People's Party and the extreme left do agree on some issues - especially animal welfare.

It seems that the Sweden Democrats are basically an anti immigration party that is pretty much being ignored. Whereas this Danish People's Party is a party trying to maintain the culture of Denmark, perhaps by curbing immigration.
According to the link supplied the Danish People's Party doesn't appear to be as extreme nor do they appear to be working in such a undemocratic environment.
But I'm no self proclaimed expert on Swedish-Danish politics.

The issue with banning our flag or the national anthem doesn't have anything to do with the immigrants/refugees, many of them reacts to it as well. They don't see anything wrong with singing our national anthem or waving the flag. The problem is the perception of these two things. In the late 1980s we never paid any attention to the flag nor the anthem. Neo Nazi groups such as the White Aryan Resistance, National Socialistic Front, and similar groups took the opportunity of using our national anthem and our flag. We were never able to take them back.

What's going on here is scary, I am worried, really worried. There are problems with the immigration in Sweden. I have lived in Canada and there is an enormous difference between Canada and Sweden with the integration of immigrants. This hasn't worked here since the 1960s when the industries in Sweden needed the labors from Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy and Finland.

People in Sweden are angry and the burning of Mosques and other facilities will increase when the political establishment totally ignore the outcome of the election and what happened around Christmas. The principles of democracy can never be negotiated, but here they have been. The interesting question is; if the political establishment does this, what will they do next? In the US, you are discussing the different Amendments, but very seldom the 1st Amendment, what is happening here is, Sweden is now ignoring its 1st Amendment.

Originally Posted by Kesse81

The problem in Sweden is that their politicians are so afraid to offend other cultures. Therefore, the Swedes have never had the opportunity to have a public debate on immigration and Islam. Could be the reason why we are beginning to see the burning of mosques in Sweden

In Denmark, we´re not so politically correct. In fact, many Swedes believe that the Danes are far more racist. We´re not, we just have a lot more open debate on the subject.

There´s nothing so pathetic as people who become offended on behalf of others, especially when most immigrants do respect the values of the inhabitants of their new country.

In Denmark, we had a few years ago a big discussion about pork in some kindergartens. Because there were Muslim children in some kindergartens, pork should be taken of the menu The result - the vast majority of Danish children brought their own food. Today it is up to the individual kindergarten if they will serve pork or not.

The moslims in Lebanon realized they could take over democratically by simply outbreeding the Christians and they did. Some say mathematically the same will happen in Europe, and probably the rest of the Western World
if nothing changes.

Originally Posted by JOC

,

Liberal, conservative, black, white, male, female we should all be proud of the flag. Freedom is not free. Just think of the all the Americans that have died defending that flag.

When my husband got elected President it was the 1st time in my life I've been proud of my country-Michelle Obama. Media evidently saw nothing wrong with that.

Originally Posted by George

The moslims in Lebanon realized they could take over democratically by simply outbreeding the Christians and they did. Some say mathematically the same will happen in Europe, and probably the rest of the Western World if nothing changes.

In the US Muslims make up a tiny % of the immigrants most of whom come from Asia and Latin America.

Originally Posted by George

When my husband got elected President it was the 1st time in my life I've been proud of my country-Michelle Obama. Media evidently saw nothing wrong with that.

George I don't put much faith in the media at times. They may report a fact i.e. "A blizzard occurred in Buffalo, NY". But when it comes to politics, descriptions, etc. they do what's needed to sell the most papers, get the most website hits etc.. Exaggerate and play-work up controversy.

Originally Posted by I3BrigPvSk

Maybe it's time to leave this country again.

I'd like to be the first to invite you to the good ol' US of A.. namely the beautiful Hawaiian Islands...

Originally Posted by Sara

I'd like to be the first to invite you to the good ol' US of A.. namely the beautiful Hawaiian Islands...

You have no idea of what you've unleashed.