We all know the famous Shakespeare quote about the state of Denmark.
As the results of Denmarks elections came in I now see foreign reporting on how the left and moderates fought off the (extreme) right.
Specifically there's mentions on how this is a win for those favouring closer international cooperation, humane treatment of all people etc etc...
It appears most of these articles project non-Danish concepts on Danish political reality.
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1/4
Social Democrats, the party of the current prime minister, Mette Frederiksen won the 2019 elections in part as they shifted to an anti-immigration platform.
They won from the right-wing party (Venstre) then led by the man now described as a potential kingmaker (Lars Løkke Rasmussen, man with pipe) who pioneered those policies.
Since then Denmark has just shifted more right-wing and anti-other-people.
In some towns in our "rural" community openly xenophobic parties got 35% of the votes.
2/4
You don't notice it when you go to the large cities.
But you do notice it in the more rural (and still rich) areas like the one we call home.
Being openly xenophobic, even being openly racist.. is not a reason to be shunned these days. Instead it's a position you and your neighbour can "debate".
For those patriotism for "Danish things" is often a thin cover for nationalism, (open) xenophobia & racism. People genuinely believe in a Danish native superiority over "other peoples".
3/4
It's happening across Europe, and it saddens me that when I try to discuss this with Europeans, the response I often get is "this is happening purely because of Russian propaganda."
They're so xenophobic that their first instinct about anything, including their own xenophobia, is to blame it on foreigners.
This is not my experience. Yes, I read and hear about fear, helplessness and complacency.
I also see people building communities of mutual aid, locally and globally. Neighbours who help each other, bit by bit finding out where it hurts and what to do. Growing trust and faith in humanity.
Act, rather than add our opinion to the plethora of narratives. Prepare, don't scare.
Oh, I agree, there are also a lot of people across the world building strong ties of solidarity and rejecting the legitimacy of their own governments, and that fills me with joy. I continue to be optimistic that a better world is possible.
Sadly it's not everyone, and my experience is that nowadays Europeans are far more fond of barbed wire around the borders than we Africans are.
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