Multi-racial victimology

Submitted by Michael White (United States), Jul 18, 2002 at 13:57

14 years ago when I lived in Denmark, everyone was a victim. The immigrants were viewed as victims of the Danes and the Danes laboured endlessly to pay pennance, but the ultimate opressor was seen as the US who was "stealing" their wealth and sabotaging their economy with cheap (slave labour) goods and an abundance of raw materials. Oddly, most Danes I knew wanted to come here and live the risky, adventurous, no saftey-net life of the pure capitalist with the caveat that their meagre lives were superior.

Many Danes actually prided themselves on the fact that their military could survive for less than 48 hours in battle with any of their neighbours. I met quite a few gay men who had joined the military for free room and board, for extra medical, and because hooking up was easy and less costly than going to the bars. The military was just another welfare programme they were "entitled to", though they admitted they were "taking advantage" of it.

There was a pervasive ethic of reliance on government, but a longing to be free of governmental restraints: There was an innate sense of self-reliance among the Danes, but there was an adolescent timid justification of entitlements that won out. Maybe they'll grow up again, but I don't think so... at least until their socialism leads them into the inevitable (abject poverty or despotism).

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