Rooshanie Ejaz, Lahore, Pakistan
My question for the ‘politically correct’ politicians/professors/civil servants in Norway is this: Who will preserve Norwegian culture? Projections show that ethnic Norwegians will be a minority in Oslo within the next half century. Statistics show that some neighborhoods in Oslo already show a majority of immigrants (primarily Muslims) both in residential areas and schools. Diversity is great; the evolutionary future of mankind lies in the mixing of gene pools. But, ‘diversity’ can only work if ethnicities mix; crassly put immigrants need to mix with the locals culturally and socially for a society to become truly diversified.
From an outsider’s view a very different reality is evident. It seems that a majority of policy makers in Norway are either naïve beyond belief or watch far too many Disney movies. For they seem to think that imposition of hijab on toddlers, female genital mutilation, violent protesting and even a spike in crime rates are merely the byproducts of a ‘passionate’ culture; it’s a part of their religion. They turn a blind eye to the atrocities being carried out in their own backyards against women and children and stamp them as ‘culture’. I think it is high time that they opened their eyes to what is an organized, blatant and definite murder of Norwegian culture.
I live in a country where religion is used to abuse people on a daily basis, always for political or financial gain. A crystal clear repetition of similar planned politics for financial gain can be seen in Norway. One of the many examples is the increase in funding of Norwegian Islamic Council (NIC) from 60,000 kroners to half a million (700 % increase) over one year when Minister of Culture and Church Affairs, Tronde Giske, met with Mohammad Hamdani of the NIC in 2006. This came after the sermon incited embassy attacks in Syria. Let’s step back for a second, because I can hardly believe this. The Norwegian politicians have given me, a Muslim from a developing country this impression; I can go there, attack the Norwegians right to free speech, bomb their embassy in my country even after they have issued a public apology, and they’ll give me money for it!
But this strange story doesn’t end here; simply turn your attentions to HRS. Run by two women who argue on the basis of logic. This organization, in my opinion, is standing up for Norwegian culture. And lo and behold, it’s funding is now being threatened because of the possible ‘illegalities’ behind some recordings? Ms. Aden clearly lied to the press, yet HRS did not pursue legal action against her. They simply sent in recordings in order to prove to Directory of Integration and Diversity that her accusations were baseless, and in return they ignore the content of the recording, the far sight employed by HRS in making them in the first place and categorically announce that the nature of the recordings is actually illegal. HRS stands for Norwegian culture, they do not organize protests and threaten to be violent, and they simply speak a truth too many Norwegians are afraid to do. I have listened to and followed the Norwegian Islamic Council’s reports and sermons. They are only trying to gather bigger numbers in my opinion, because the more people that register with them, the more people mosques in Norway can show and finally the more government funding they can receive, as they receive government funding based on the number of people registered with them. Please someone explain to me how this makes sense, how the funding of an organization protecting Norwegian culture and free speech is threatened and the funding of mosques is on an increase.
This whole ordeal is reminding me far too much of recent developments in Pakistan, when a website which was a forum for the Balochi’s of Pakistan was shut down due to lack of funding (and it doesn’t take much to run a website in Pakistan) called Baloch Hall. The website stood for the rights of the Balochi’s of Pakistan, who are largely ignored in regards to development funding, and experience atrocities at the hands of corrupt police and army officials. Is that where the Norwegians are headed? Will they one day have to fight for their right to be themselves?
I sincerely hope that Norway’s defeatist attitude does not cost itself its own identity.