This is all a byproduct of the problems they have been having over the past decade not xenophobia. When there are problems with immigrants and a host society it breeds discontent, bias and intolerance. This is why I believe that immigration should be controlled, something the Danes now understand but too late I'm afraid. Failure to see how groups engage with each other over the long run can bring these problems to the forefront but his is by no means a characteristic of the Danish in general, its all new. A society can reach a saturation point if immigration isn't handled properly, clash of culture in small homogenized societies like Denmark is something to consider when bringing in new people. They have a problem they now have to deal with, there would be no point in bringing in more immigrants they are not prepared to cope with.
If that article on Danish racism is representative its a problem not from the last decade, but a problem inherent in Danish society. What was their treatment of Jews in WWII?
There are quite a few muslims in copenhagen, Arhus and Odense. How many mosques is something else. I remember when there was a fuss over an appeal to open a mosque in Nyhaven. Nyhaven is located in the historic district, where they have all the old Danish ships in harbor and the house of Hans Christian Andersen etc. Its a major tourist attraction, anyway Danes objected and I could understand why, this being a signature area of Danish heritage. I'm not sure how they handled it, whether they decided it should be elsewhere but I do know it was never built there. Danes are lutherans traditionally but they're more athiests than anything else, Danes are not open to a grand show of religious tradition save the old churches that were built so long ago.
Sounds like the Saudis in reverse. I understand the total Muslim population of Denmark is around 4%. But I believe only a small minority have citizenship.
They saved the Jews, they helped all of their jews escape to Sweden and they were absolutely against the Nazis but they were too small to fight them off. They helped the jews leave by small boats from the small fishing village called Gilleleje. Its absolutely nonsense to say the Danes are racist, they are probably some of the most tolerant and liberal people I have ever come across, more than the French and English put together. Its bullshit that they are racist, the Danes are decent people and I have known muslim and africans who live there who would say the same. The problem with the second generation immigrants is a problem that has caused a negative backlash, in truth Denmark can only handle a certain number of immigrants that would have to assimilate into the culture for there to be no problem. The Danes are not inherently racist as you put it.
As well only a few should. There's no point giving citizenship to people who will not assimilate into Danish society, its too small to have it any other way.
Neither are the Saudis. They have the same attitudes as the Danes do. Practice any religion you want, just not where we can see it or have to pay for it. I understand that there are only two synagogues in Denmark both in Copenhagen and Jews were vetted for wealth before being let into into the country, that in the 1920s Denmark had closed its doors to further immigration by Jews and that Jews from Denmark ran to Sweden because the Danes pragmatically decided to placate the Nazis. I also understand that there are very few Catholics and non-Lutheran Protestants in Denmark. Clearly, they like their society well defined to their tastes and undiluted by outside influences. Nothing wrong with xenophobia, its worked very well in some societies, its just not one I would want to live in.
They had to placate the Nazis they couldn't fight them directly but they did help save as many jews as they could. The jewish population in Denmark was never very large compared to other pars of Europe, there are jews who live in Denmark now and there are kosher food stores to accommodate them. You can dig all you want Sam for a smoking gun if you like but I do know the Danes well enough to know you are assuming a lot of rubbish without knowing very much about them. Something you claim people do towards you and muslims all the time. Just proves my point that some people cannot mix well without clashing. Sam you come from the largest democracy in the world, I suggest you go back there and live happily after all its not like you really give a shit about Denmark or any western nation for that matter. It really doesn't matter if you think they are racist or not.
It would appear that they had a problem with Jewish immigration at one time [they stopped it]. Now they have problems with Muslim immigrants. They don't like Hindus having noisy festivals. Probably if the Vietnamese got big enough to demand a temple and started having processions in the streets they would manage to annoy the Danes. Maybe even if the Catholics started coming in, it would become a "problem". I'm really not in favour of societies based on such exclusivity. They are like throwbacks to some other age and not really something I see any point in protecting anymore than I would see a point in defending untouchability or some other such notion of exclusivity. edit: I understand that people who live in such societies [Saudis, Danes, Brahmins] would not see it the same way. They can rest assured that I would not settle in a place where such communities exist.
No one likes Hindus celebrating a noisy festival in their front yard unless you are either at the party or a Hindu yourself. Danes are not exclusive this is simply what you have decided they are and you are not in a position to judge. The israeli who married my friend Ditte certainly doesn't find any problems living in Denmark, my ex's muslim roommate who went to live in Denmark from croatia has done very well living in Denmark (he makes a lot of money as a programmer), Duncan an afro-english guy who's been living and working there for at least ten years now seems to like enough with his danish girlfriend. Michel who's mother is Danish and father from Cameroon Africa grew up there and is as Danish as Danish could be though he is dark skinned loves his country. The only person on their high horse denigrating a society they are not acquainted with is you. You can seem so stupid sometimes, no not stupid ignorant, the vietnamese already have temples in DenmarkPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! You're right don't go to Copenhagen or anywhere in Denmark. You're not cool enough.
My cats are like that. I have no problem with an awesome display of Diwali crackers. Don't tell anyone, but sometimes I even buy my own and get this, participate. Quite shameful, really. I do the same for Christmas dances in the gym next door, though some crochety old grumps complain about the noise. Seems to me, that its counter productive to screech " the Muslims are coming", then rush out and get a tikka masala instead of bangers and mash. Maybe the BNP will ban curry and show everyone the way. Thank god for small mercies. The day I get "cool enough" to consider other people's beliefs an imposition, I shall request euthanasia.
But you do find other people's beliefs an imposition, you find zionism an imposition, you find people who want to limit immigration an imposition, you find BNP beliefs an imposition, you find american beliefs about iraq and afghanistan an imposition, you find Danes belief that they have a right to a stable society an imposition. You believe anyone who doesn't want to live in a multi-cultural environment and imposition. Actually you are not really tolerant of any belief that doesn't jive with your own. Funny that. It seems to me you are not much different from anyone else
Nowadays they burn themselves in front of colleges to protest the discrimination they face from affirmative action.
You mean I am intolerant of intolerant ideologies. Thats quite true. I have never pretended not to be biased against such. I don't believe in neutral opinions. At some point in life you have to decide what you stand for, otherwise its all just hot air. If you're not willing to stand up for what you believe in, its time to question if you really stand for anything at all. Me, I like being able to go to the midwest and choose a tom yum soup over biscuits and gravy. I like going down to Parsi dairy farm and eating some delicious Parsi sweets. I like driving down to Chicago and eating Korean lamb. I like walking down London and deciding between crispy duck and Bengali fish curry. I like popping into wayside churches on rainy days. Going for Christmas balls, Hindu poojas and Buddhist temples. I like going to the Hare Krishna mission for some awesome dahi puri. So yeah, when people say they want to protect themselves from these experiences, I consider them dumb.
So you say but I have learned that you are just as intolerant, you just fail to see it. I am never neutral but generally fair. Your claim towards tolerance is unfounded, your too judgmental even if you don't know about something to be tolerant. Something you like to blame in others but fail to see in yourself. You stereotype and lump people together with bits and pieces of information you have decided is true, you judge societies and religions and belief systems like atheism you don't understand and claim they are intolerant. In a sense you are narrow minded.
