Right was to stop Sweden democrats

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my negative view of the liberal party Folkpartiet´s suggestion to ban face veils in schools just weeks before the election. I interpreted that as part of an attempt to hinder the Sweden democrats from entering parliament. But in my opinion it´s not the right way to handle the problem by partly accepting their agenda.

it is much better what has happened in the last days - a total rejection of the Sweden democrats world view (just the name "democrats"..). Channel four decided to not show the party´s election commercial movie, claiming it was breaking the law by making racist remarks (rightly so,

watch it here

). The commercial features women in burqa competing with senior citizen´s to get money from the state. A really awful and disgusting message.

Even better than Channel four´s decision was the documentary made by Lena Sundström, a documentary where she examines the statistics often presented by the Sweden democrats - as it turns out - it is false! How surprising... Watch part of it here (In Swedish)

No, immigrants are not naturally more involved in crime, class is a stronger factor with risc of getting involved in crime. And its not a "dangerous" neighborhood just because it lives immigrants in that area. The more media put forward these issues before the election, the better. And hopefully we can avoid the real threat to Sweden´s democratic society - a stronger Sweden democracy party.

/ The Cat Goes Political

New York times discusses Sweden´s form of government

I am a member of this association myself and attended this meeting (but not pictured in the article). New York Times were there and the result was a very interresting article about Sweden´s form of government, discussing if a monarchy or a republic is the best form of government in Sweden (my own opinion is obvious).

/ The Cat Goes Political

Sweden 3rd best in the world!

Newsweek recently published a list which ranks the best countries in the world. Sweden was ranked third ont his list which includes Quality of life, level of education and health care.Life is Swede...:)

/ The Cat Goes Political

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Islam and USA

Very interresting discussion about islam´s relations with the U.S. And also about the founding father´s positive view on islam. The Daily show with Jon Stewart.

/ The Cat goes political

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Wrong way to stop Sweden democrats

The liberal party Folkpartiet Liberalerna announced today that they want to ban face veils such as niqabs or burquas in Swedish schools.

The argument is that it should be easier to see and communicate with each other and that teachers are suppose to see that they are grading the right pupil.

First I am not going to discuss the issue itself. What strikes me more is the timing of the announcement.

In September its election. It comes at a time where the extreme right-wing party The Sweden democrats have shown risng numbers in the polls. They are close to making the four percent limit line of votes which is required to get seates in the Swedish parliament. This is of course a way to try to bloc them from getting votes, but in my opinion its note the right way to handle this problem.

One should discuss the integration question in large instead of throwing out populist proposals just before the election. By doing like Folkpartiet we are pushing the limits for what is acceptable in society and I believe that unfortunately benefits the Sweden democrats in the long run. The next proposal to blocing the Sweden democrats from the Swedish parliament might be more extreme, the next even more extreme. And so it might continue election after election, which would of course be a dangerous development. I want real discussion about integration, then the Sweden democrats will show their true face and also lose votes. That is my conviction.


This comes not long after the decision in France where as i understand it, no one can no longer wear face weils in public, which I must say is frightening. Of course you must be ablo wear what you want when youre walking on the street!

What is interresting about this subject in general is that it shows one of the fundamental issues within democracy which has to be discussed on a regular basis: When different values which can all be attributed to democracy are clashing.

Take this latest proposal from Folkpartiet. One might argue one must be able to coomunicate in a democracy, especially in a vital institution such as the school. Also, one might claim religion should not be "visible" in the secular "neutral" school. On the other hand you can claim it is violating one´s freedom of religious beliefs. We MUST discuss this and get a intelligent and civilised debate. Otherwise The sweden democrats can continue to blame all society´s ills on immigrants.