Sweden and the the right to remain stupid
Sweden hasn´t had a war for more than 200 years. They call themselves modern, but they never really exposed themselves to modernity. Not partaking in the destiny and calamities of Europe for these last two centuries, Swedes persist to live in some kind of timeless aloofness. This has had its great advantages – in many respects people have retained some kind of unsophisticated middle age purity, undisturbed by any external influence.
On the other hand, the life habits and demeanour have remained exceptionally obsolete and inexplicably weird.
Indeed, there are many weird things in this country – above all the mentality, and the conspicuous fear for whatever is different and beyond reason…metaphysics doesn´t exist here.
Still today, they don´t recognize their greatest seer Emanuel Swedenborg.
To give a more accurate image, in Swedish the word Mind doesn´t exist…Quite peculiar, don´t you think?
Imagine the implication…
There is an equivalent word after all – Sinne. But “sinne” actually means
sense or inclination…To risk being cynical – which is not the case -,
Intellect is banned over here…Despite many good things, Swedes are really stuck in their provincialism, bigotry and unspeakable narrow-mindedness.
It´s highly surprising that I seem to be the only one describing this country in this way. Many see reality in a similar manner, but they never have the courage to talk openly.
Cowardice is proverbial here – to be neutral, means to take no position for either good or bad. Everything has to be pale, lukewarm and diffuse. If you have a clear standpoint, and display a strong personality, you have reason to worry – you are considered a trouble maker. The sin of being intelligent is severely punished. You can live happily as a hermit, as you will have no friends.
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO QUESTION – or theoretically you can…and become a master in monologue…
Freedom here is to be like someone else. We are democratic, meaning that we all better remain stupid, unobtrusive and obedient to the system and the common view – pack mentality is the thing. If you have the nerve to be an individualist and have your own opinion, you become persona non grata. That is why, there are almost never any intelligent and pertinent debates, cause that would cause disturbance…
WE BELIEVE IN ORDER AND IN GOOD OLD BIASED NARROW MINDED CLARITY!
Now, isn´t it peculiar how Swedes are known to be great peace makers, the great perpetrators of human rights, examples of flawless correctitude, but in effect, swedish democracy – the only sustainable system so far – , is about the right to be stupid, submissive and tight-lipped.
Shut up and be free!
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About julienmatei
I feel un inner urge to express what I see, to communicate and share with others all these impressions. Often the things I see are there, not yet manifest, but waiting... to be observed, talked about, and embraced.
These new insights need another approach, a more vivid curiosity...
Due to fear and prejudice we prefere to see only "the offcial " truth - but THE OFFICIAL TRUTH IS DEAD - being dead, it has nothing to give...
We can continue pretending Death is fascinating or...we can take the trouble to LIVE...
THE NEW has no definition yet...
Again, IT requires another "perception", the courage to apprehend everything differently, from a totally new angle, with new confidence and inquisitive touch. This blogg is not about interesting concepts, it is about participation...finding new solutions, inspiration, togetherness..
Very interesting. Similarily,in America, many people are narrow minded and biased, too. I have noticed a strong inclination to sit like a pregnant duck and do nothing much. I am interested in what you wrote about Sweden. I have no knowledge of the character of the culture. I am looking forward to your post on Swedenborg.
I’ve been reading this post early in the morning today and I was reflecting it over and over all day long. For the very first time, I received no good feelings when I read your postings. For the very first time I was frightened of Your words. It seems as if it wasn’t really you who has written that. It was much more your Ego which was out of control, seemingly.
Suddenly an aggressive, selfish, egoistic, judging and condemning “Julien” emerged. Was that my highly appreciated and deepliest honored friend Julien who wrote that? I doubt that heavily.
It is far far away from any of those hihgly valuable thoughts in your other postings. Don’t let your Ego drag yourself in such a swamp.
Richard
Well Richard
I am afraid to disappoint u but it was really me writing this post as much as the others.
I just expressed the naked truth about the greatest and most ugly disease of our time:
Stupidity with its sister, bigotry.
Truth is uncomfortable and hardly a convenience.
I cannot help the fact that it scared u I am not to blame for that…
Hi Julien!
I was quite curious how my Ego would handle your answer above. So I let the whole thing rest for a while. Thoughts and feelings emerged and vanished like in one of those weird dreams with no central theme and with all that flashes in between.
A major demand was and still is to provide a statement with no missing elements. Like a definition. I found out that this isn’t possible. So I wondered how to express the basics of my thoughts. Let me try it this way:
1. Your posting means no harm to our friendship;
2. I didn’t want to hurt or to blame You;
3. I didn’t notice that I was blaming You;
4. You didn’t disappoint me – it was only frightening for me;
5. The “naked truth” as you describe it isn’t real. It’s only Your individual truth from Your personal point of view. It’s a truth which Your Ego dictates to You;
6. I must have met some sore point of Your Ego;
7. Your or my postings can never mean harm to our friendship since we are bound in unconditioned love.
Richard
http://julienmatei.com/2012/05/27/what-is-philosophy/
Richard,
it would be interesting to know WHAT EXACTLY IN THIS TEXT MADE YOU FEEL FRIGHTENED
This is a great opportunity to explore fear.
Okay. Let’s give it a try.
It wasn’t actual fear what I felt. I felt extremely uncomfortable because suddenly I read these kind of racist and highly arrogant phrases: “Swedes are really stuck in their provincialism, bigotry and unspeakable narrow-mindedness” and “That is why, there are almost never any intelligent and pertinent debates, because that would cause disturbance …”
There was no unconditioned love any more. I felt hatred. I felt that You put Yourself on a higher platform claiming to be much more intelligent than the others. Claiming that only You have recognized THE truth. Putting Yourself in front, eventually. Leaving the path to a better world for all of us which You described as “WE CAN CREATE A NEW SPACE, A NEW CONTEXT OF FREEDOM OF GREAT FORCE, ABUNDANCE AND LOVE!” from http://julienmatei.com/2012/05/27/mirrors-of-encounters-inspiration-joy-and-togetherness/