Monday, January 16, 2006

An American Considers Malmö

 
A week ago we received an email from a young man inquiring about conditions at the University of Lund in Sweden, which is near Malmö:
    MalmöHi, I’m applying to study abroad at Lund University in Sweden from June to December of this year. I am currently attending UCLA. After reading about all the troubles with Muslim and other immigrants, I am worried, especially since Lund is right next to Malmo. I used to have the “grass is greener on the other side” (other side being Europe, to which I’ve never been) syndrome. But now I’m thinking that my time in Sweden and the rest of Europe might be ruined. What are your thoughts and advice on this?
Your input appreciated,
Patrick
After I posted on it, a surprising number of comments came in, mostly consisting of an argument among two Swedes and a Norwegian (Fjordman). Luckily for us, it was mostly in English. I recommend a visit to the original post to get the full flavor of the discussion.

Commenters Anders and NoDhimmitude, who are both Swedes, offered conflicting advice to Patrick. Each made him an offer of assistance, which I am reproducing below. I am emailing the same thing to Patrick.

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Anders said...

My initial posting was meant to make Patrick comfortable when he hopefully comes to Lund to study. Others have done their best to draw a picture of Sweden in general and Malmö in particular as a place where mad Arabs rape Swedish women by the thousands.

So, dear Patrick. If you read this (or if anyone who knows his email address would please forward this to him):

When you come to the friendly and lovely town of Lund (and I do hope that you will) let me invite you to a guided tour through Malmö. I can offer you this (and I’m completely serious):

  • A visit to the Mollevang Square area with its many ethnic restaurants and food stores
  • A visit to Rosengard center with many ethnic stores
  • A visit to the Rosengard housing area, the so called slum
  • A visit at a Muslim family’s home to have some Middle East food
  • A visit to the Rosengard school where all the really bad kids go
  • A visit to the big mosque to see the imam
  • A visit to the Rosengard boxing center. If we are lucky we will meet the legendary Senegalese boxing instructor “Dallas”.

Does it sound scary? It isn’t. I can guarantee you that you will be safe.

You’ll get plenty of opportunities the talk to Arabs, Gypsies, Somalis, Bosnians, Turks and so on. You’ll get a chance to ask all sorts of questions, many speak good English.

So what do you say, are you open minded enough to go with me on that guided tour or do you prefer to listen to what others have had to say here?

— Anders

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NoDhimmitude said...

Apart from the fact that you still have not answered any of my questions, I will say that your last post is indeed a gracious invitation.

Lund is of course a very different place and, for students and academics, a quite nice place. Also, you can take the train into Malmö in the summer, go down to Lilla Torg, stay there for the party, then return home again in relative safety.

Having said that, and I would indeed suggest he takes you up on your offer, allow me to give a few advices myself.

Mollevangen: please do enjoy the ethnic food, in fact, close your eyes in the daytime, listen to the sounds, “feel the vibe”, cheapest trip to the ME you will ever get :) and, can be quite nice.

BUT, also, go there late in the evening (NOT ALONE), take a table by the window in one of the pubs there. See, witness. And for God’s sake, don’t look people too long in their eyes…

When you visit the school (and in all fairness, the worst is not Rosengard, but Hermodsdal), do talk to students there as well, especially try and see if you can find Swedish female students, and see how they feel about their environment (Anders: this goes to show about recent articles about blondes actually coloring their hair, as to not be “too Swedish”, as well as all the debates about Swedish girls being called whores).

While in Rosengard, make a point to witness the area, the people, the state of buildings, public transport etc. In fact, you should talk to the local police about their escort of ambulance and firefighters too :)

Anders: you have indeed disappointed here, with the exception of the invitation, and I must say it is seldom someone has put more words in my mouth, belied my arguments, and avoided to answer basically any fact, figure, or direct question. You should consider this.

I have not, nor has Fjordman, described Malmö in those terms that you ascribe to us, but we have not, unlike you, tried to diminish the truth, the statistics, and the general feeling among young people in Malmö. You should actually know that, yet you persist in your “I know better then you…” attitude.

It is in fact precisely because of people like yourself, that the current state of affairs in Malmö and other cities have been allowed to come to be unchecked for so long, and the problems escalating the way they have (again, facts, figures, stats). It is sad, but it is never the less true.

Final note again: Anders, you have NOT answered any questions basically. But I have no expectations that you ever will. Your denial will most likely last until someone you care about enters the statistics him/her self. Sad that such a heavy price must be paid for what should be plain for the naked eye to see.

So I, one in your words racist Nazi (who’s labelling who again?) will just let you continue your delusion, but I will not let your lies go unanswered when I see them. :)

5 comments:

John Sobieski said...

Uh, I thought we were goint to downtown Malmo, not Casablanca? Seriously, I read that and thought, is this Sweden or Mecca. Too weird.

Bad Penny said...

" A visit at a Muslim family’s home to have some Middle East food
A visit to the Rosengard school where all the really bad kids go
A visit to the big mosque to see the imam
A visit to the Rosengard boxing center. If we are lucky we will meet the legendary Senegalese boxing instructor “Dallas”."


I smell dawa.

Anders said...

So you are Norwegian, NoDhimmitude. That explains a lot ;-)

Anders said...

Norway has a reputation for being maybe the most xenofobic country in Europe, manifestated in the succes for the xenofobic Fremskridspartiet in the last general elections, so I can see that you feel at home there. Many Norwegians seem to believe that there is such a thing as a pure Norwegian race and culture (Ein Volk, Ein Stat) which of course is pure nonsense.

Anders said...

"reality have this funny thing of not caring too much of what propagandists say"
well, thats why most people don't listen to the likes of you.