B.T.: “Danes most openminded”
B.T. Saturday, February 18, 2006
Editorial
Danes are friendly and open-minded
An embittered political minority with a very loud voice claims that Denmark - and especially now during the ongoing cartoon crisis - has only itself to blame for the wave of wrath and destruction confronting Danish goods, tourists and embassies in the arab world and other Moslem communities.
These critics, which include the Danish daily Politiken and which is granted unproportional airtime on DR (Danish Radio and Television channel), allege that Denmark has become a closed and intolerant society under the influence of the present administration and the Danish People’s Party.
These allegations have no basis in reality.
And you don’t have to take my word for it:
Studies done by the Rockwool foundation by Professor Lise Togeby of Århus University, by the Catinet institute and by Eurobarometer have clearly shown that the Danes are more tolerant than most Europeans to immigrants - including some houndred thousand Moslems - and that this tolerance has become more widespread under the present administration. During the same period, foreigners in Denmark have experienced a less discrimination.
Add to that studies that show that noy only are the Danes the most content and happy in the world but also the most "friendly and approachable to others" and the most "open to new ideas and opportunities."
This last study is fresh off the presses from a very thorough international scientific examination of 51 countries done by 78 scientists through interviews with thousands of people in the various countries.
These results belittle the constant compaint about the "xenophobic" majority which has supported the Fogh administration since 2001 and which has become larger during the past few weeks.
The feelings which the wroth critics mistakenly interprete as "xenophobia", intolerance and closedness are in reality a simple but strong desire to maintain a uniquely succesful society - in a time where many in an insulated elite have become "faithless" to the cultural, religious and national communities and dream of a global "multiculture" for the elite to freely and luxuriously wallow in.
But even the most direct, modern and blunt evaluation can see the "danish values." Yesterday, Forbes’ Capital Hospitality Index published a survey which states that Denmark is the most investment-friendly country in the world.
The index evaluates the combined economic growth, international trade, and social factors such as poverty, bureaucracy, technological development and corruption.
Danes are friendly, open, rich and tolerant. We’ve even got the documents to prove it. If that causes hate in some people, it is tempting to think that some people are envious.
Dear Danes:
how does like feeling vilified, hated, smeared, misunderstood, having your flag burnt, your embassies attacked, your football team threatened and now even in the intellectual world, which you are so proudly part of, you are bheing called names like in the guardian.
welcome to being an Israeli. you have been deeling with it for 1 month…we have been dealing with it for 50 years.
Israeli
Comment by israeli — February 19, 2006 @ 9:58 am
Yes, finally we do see what it’s like being Israelis. I would personally like to thank all Israelis for the fair coverage we have received in your media. When the cry went out on the internet “we are all Danes now” the first thing that sprang to my mind was: “No, we are all Israelis now.”
Oh, and don’t worry about the intellectuals. They’ve made themselves irrelevant in the eyes of most Danes by their lack of support for free speech.
Shalom,
Agora
Comment by Administrator — February 19, 2006 @ 10:55 am
A good article!! Check this one out as well from Commitment for Development:
http://sugiero.blogspot.com/2006/03/hunted-denmark-first-on-commitment.html
Comment by sugiero — March 8, 2006 @ 12:41 am
A good and well fundamented article.
http://sugiero.blogspot.com/2006/03/hunted-denmark-first-on-commitment.html
Comment by sugiero — March 8, 2006 @ 12:54 am