(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[book] Have you noticed how the debates seem to repeat themselves, only with tiny adjustments? Without going any further, as if we just paint and paint without coming to the door?
One year ago, Ny Tid started the «Norwegian debate», which meant that the Language Council had to revert to its definition of ethnic Norwegians. Then followed the "Negro debate." And the last week, the grinder has painted again. On 19 September, Tromsø's police chief told VG and said that the insulting word "negro" was perfectly fine for the police to use. "In my eyes, this is a perfectly acceptable word. I would never think of reprimanding its use. "
This is what Truls Fyhn says a few days after a university report proves racism in Sør-Trøndelag police district. A report that came again after the "forgetting" of severely injured Ali Farah in Sofienbergparken, which again happened after the father of small children Eugene Obiora was killed during a police arrest – which again led to the acquittal of those responsible.
That's how you think we live in the US on 1967, but then it's just Norway on 2007.
On Saturday, religion historian Hanne Herland wrote an Aftenposten chronicle on "Racism against whites," in which she curses Farah's wife Kohinoor, which in turn leads to television debates. At the same time, another Muhammad debate is ongoing, as during the caricature battle in the winter of 2006, after a Swedish artist drew Muhammad as a dog. Again, it is "our freedom of speech" against "their" protests. Although the European Fatwa Council condemns the threats of violence. And double-morally enough, only this one religion should be exposed to the limits of freedom of expression, while Jews and Christians are spared similar provocations. And in countries that do not yet dare to publish Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.
We are truly living in a strange time, full of double standards and paradoxes. The only ones who seem to profit from today's media-created meta-conflicts seem to be extremists in every country, in fair association.
What about others? Don't despair, the solution is here: A few days ago, the Helsinki Committee's Enver Djuliman and Lillian Hjorth's book Build Bridges, Not Masons (Humanist Publishers) came out. The subtitle of the 450-page book is 97 Human Rights Exercises, Multicultural Understanding and Conflict Management. Here one can practice specific issues about the limits of freedom of expression, the rights of minorities, stereotypes and conflict management.
Actually, Bygg bridges… are most intended for students from the age of 14, but considering the level of knowledge in Norwegian debates, this book should be mandatory reading before police chiefs, language majors and academics next time speak out strongly about the diverse Norway.
[research] From 21 to 29 September, the Research Days 2007 will take place, with over 1000 events at universities, colleges and squares all over Norway. The main theme is the polar year and globalization. At Festplassen in Bergen on 22 September at 13 pm, you will learn why Chinese people are actually three times richer than the World Bank's definitions. And Tuesday the 25th of May is Russian Culture Day in Alta. See forskningdagene.no to find an event near you. This week's online exercise: Join the latest and greatest India analyzes in New Time columnist Seema Guha's newspaper Daily News & Analysis (DNA). See dnaindia.com. ■Do not despair, the solution is here: the book Build Bridges, not Masonry
Building Norway: Children at Tøyen school. PHOTO: ROAR VESTAD / SCANPIX