Sunday 1 April 2012

NORDIC NATIONALISM (2)

One of the reasons I dislike the rise of right-wing, anti-immigrant parties in the Nordic countries is that it opens the door to even more extreme views. I am not suggesting that the parties themselves embrace these views directly (though some of their members undoubtedly do). Nevertheless, they expand the envelope of what is acceptable, and tacitly encourage others to make that envelope even bigger. The tragedy in Norway last summer is an example of what can go wrong.

Yesterday there was a demonstration in Århus organised by the Danish Defence League. This is a Danish offshoot of the rather nasty English Defence League, which is virulently anti-immigrant and even more virulently anti-Muslim. The march was intended to further links with, and inspire, similar organisations in Europe, particularly in the Nordic countries.

Århus is home to quite a lot of immigrants, so the march was seen as provocative, to put it mildly; and a counter-demonstration was organised. The police appealed for calm, and said officially that they hoped that everything would pass off peacably. It didn't, and 82 people ended up being arrested.

Muslims are not going to leave Europe, but neither are the people who want them to. This is a problem that is likely to grow.

Walter Blotscher 
Posted by Walter Blotscher at 23:01

2 comments:

  1. Michael2 April 2012 at 08:58

    In the controlled English press and radio this demonstration was presented as a flop with anti groups out numbering the poorly attended EDP rally by twenty to one. Yet the reports you have say there was indeed a fracas and a turnout sufficient to lead to 87 arrests.

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  2. Walter Blotscher2 April 2012 at 22:38

    Hi Michael,

    The anti groups were indeed much larger. However, small groups (indeed, individuals) can easily make trouble if they are determined to do so.

    Regards,

    Walter

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