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I don't think the Swedes are unique.

Reader comment on item: Sweden's Populist Surge

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Aug 28, 2015 at 04:20

"Sweden is a special place."

Genetically and linguistically, the Lapps and Finns, and to some extent their Hungarian cousins, are more unique than the Swedes as an example of the "Northern extreme" of Europeans. In modern history, though, the former have been squeezed out by their Scandanavian neighbors. Sweden is unique in European history, as a country that has never been subjugated by a non-Scandanavian country.

Swedish pride in the country's accomplishments translates into an ethical superiority symbolized by the oft-heard claim to be a "moral superpower."

The Swedes have a saying,

You can tell a Swede... but you can't tell him much.

I wonder, though, if that's a uniquely Swedish trait. I'm not Swedish and my wife is; but between the two of us, it would be imprudent to judge which of us is more high-minded or bull-headed, not even touching on "right". Still, people groups have developed reputations over the years; and for the most part, they've earned them.

I'm glad to see that the Swedes are beginning to crawl out from under the burdens of moral and political correctness. I don't know if that's at the root of their immigration problem, though: "morally inferior" people like the Greeks, French and us Americans, also seem unable to solve the dilemna.

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Reader comments (22) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
More Swedes than ever are moving abroad [27 words]PezDispenserJan 11, 2016 17:03227584
Why North Korea? [164 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
GirlOct 14, 2015 10:07225633
Oh yeah? [14 words]KevinSep 21, 2015 22:44225320
same kind of problem with France's Front National [70 words]Yael F.Sep 12, 2015 06:07225000
1Rascist [52 words]tarienSep 16, 2015 07:06225000
1Sweden's conundrum with maintaining its traditional image on the world stage in terms of what is tolerable! [126 words]Robert Arthur GillisSep 7, 2015 21:29224940
4It's not just Sweden that has fallen. [233 words]JennySep 6, 2015 09:40224929
3Effects on Europe of mass immigration [139 words]tarienSep 16, 2015 07:18224929
I don't think the Swedes are unique. [212 words]Michael SAug 28, 2015 04:20224852
2Freedom of Speech would be helpful. [16 words]NewspaniardAug 28, 2015 03:28224850
2Thank God Sweden is taking the blinders off [59 words]CanuckAug 27, 2015 22:10224846
2Sweden's S.D. governing Party and the National Immigration Policies. [89 words]Robert Arthur GillisSep 4, 2015 21:37224846
5Can Common Sense Save Sweden? [231 words]DaveAug 27, 2015 13:11224844
1The 'Die Hard' Left is exactly that [127 words]Doug MayfieldAug 27, 2015 05:59224841
Analysis expanded [58 words]Jan SjunnessonAug 27, 2015 03:21224839
3Brit living in Sweden [123 words]Henry LawAug 26, 2015 13:30224836
1I hope so... [41 words]Paul KellyOct 15, 2015 10:38224836
10The rotten state of Sweden [522 words]BengtAug 26, 2015 07:51224833
3Swedish, US and European "intellectuals". [22 words]steven LAug 25, 2015 23:13224825
Steven is right-group-think on the left in US means most media support left Dems and Repubs, and same for EU [112 words]Mike ConlonSep 13, 2015 16:08224825
2Self preservation kicks in [40 words]Nancy EwartAug 25, 2015 23:06224824
1Populist surge: Cave canem [13 words]steven LAug 25, 2015 23:04224823

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