neo-Nazi rioters Left-wing rioters
While I’m writing this in a civilized manner, extreme groups on the far left and the extreme-authoritarian right clash together in Lund, southern Sweden, in a not-so-civilized way. Sweden of today is, thanks to socialism in combination with mass immigration (an, of course, impossible mix), a hotbed for neo-Nazism. The neo-Nazi group is “celebrating” Karl XII, a Swedish King who was the King of Sweden from 1697 to 1718, who happened to die on this date. I want to tell you all a little about him before attacking BOTH these groups.
At his coronation Karl was only 15 years old (he was born 1682, which makes him exactly 300 years older than me, since I am born 1982 
). In 1700, Denmark-Norway, Saxony, and Russia united in an alliance against Sweden, using the perceived opportunity as Sweden was ruled by the young and inexperienced King. Early that year, all three countries declared war against Sweden and Karl had to deal with these threats one by one. However, Karl was a skilled military leader and tactician and he had inherited Europe’s finest army at that time by his father Karl XI. During the turn of the 18th century, Sweden was at its peak, having a huge northern Empire and Russia and Denmark had no say over the Baltic Sea and its surroundings. Karl succeeded in defeating all three, one by one. The Russians fled, the Saxons (Germans) fled, and the Danes fled. But, alas, as all great leaders, Karl got crazy with power and sought to conquer Russia. Estonia and Latvia/Lithuania was a part of Sweden during this time (as well as Finland) and we attacked Russia from there. However, the Swedish army of ten thousand men was outnumbered four to one by the Russians. But Karl attacked under cover of a long-lasting blizzard, effectively split the Russian army in two and won battle after battle. Many of Peter’s troops that fled the battlefield drowned in the Narva River, and the total number of Russian fatalities reached about 17 000 at the end of the battle, while the Swedish troop lost 667 men. It would have been reasonable one would assume with the history book in the lap to feel satisfied with this. Karl XII had now freed all of north-eastern Europe from the Russians and all of it was now Swedish. But Karl wanted more. He summoned his men and hired more men from the Estonians and the Latvians and then he entered main-land Russia and marched towards Moscow. The Russian Czar Peter the Great embarked on a military reform plan that improved the Russian army. He then showed extraordinary political talents and skills when he united the Ukrainian Cossacks against the Swedes. And furthermore, the weather started to deteriorate. The best defense system in the world ever got its grip over King Karl XII’s Swedes – the Russian Winter. By the time of the decisive Battle of Poltava, Karl had been wounded, one-third of his infantry was dead, and his supply train was destroyed. The king was incapacitated by a coma resulting from his injuries and was unable to lead the Swedish forces. The battle was a disaster for Sweden and the king, and he fled south to the Ottoman Empire, where he set up camp at Bender with about 1000 men who were called Karoleans (after our King’s name). The Poltava Swedish disaster is by historians considered the turning point where the Swedish Empire ended and the Russian Empire started to rise.
Now, we should all cherish history. We should know it and learn it. In recent years the interest in “Swedish culture” has increased among young people of Swedish descent. That is good. It is healthy to know one’s history. But, great deal of the patriotism that these youths find is racist and Nazi. White supremacy music and Nazi-organizations are a huge problem in Sweden. Following this problem, you have the other group of teenagers who call themselves Left-wing and Anti-Nazi. Both of these groups are of course little interested in politics and much more interested in rioting on the streets and kick each other in the head. We who know better, find it quite amusing (and at the same time extremely scary) how neo-Nazis in Sweden adore Karl XII. A King who actually ENDED our Empire and opened up the door for the Russian Empire!! If it hadn’t been for Karl XII’s imperialistic dreams, Russia would not have been what it is today. And he allied with the Arabs and the Turks against Russia – groups who come under fire from the Neo-Nazis today because they are not Aryan. The Turkish Empire at that time (the Ottoman Empire) hosted King Karl after his defeat and they called him Demirbaş Şarl – Karl the Habitué (the guest/resident).
But I guess all mindless slaves need some figure to group around – let it be Marx, Hitler, or Karl XII. When I now look at video clips on my computer from the rally I can see nothing but animals, on both sides, acting irrationally and idiotic. What difference is there between your kind and the monkeys at the zoo? Look at the picture above. You savages! They are all a shame of Sweden – both the Nazis and the sc. Anti-Nazis. They are all the same. Right now they are throwing pavement stones at each other and at the police. You savages!
To take proud in who you are, your history, and in your country is no vice. But to hate others for it, is. A part of the patriotic movement is non-racist and should be encouraged. I’m a patriot to some extent and I love Sweden, but I keep it on a non-political level. Here in this group you will also find traditional Nordic folk music, national romantic music and the so-called Viking rock.
But where will this rise of foul nationalism and lack of knowledge in history education amongst the younger generation lead? Remember what George Santayana said: “Those who forget their past are doomed to repeat it.”
I couldn’t agree with you more. Both extremist groups are scum, whose behaviour never would have been tolerated in Charles XII:s army, and of course should not be today.
I doubt if any of them knows half of what you told us about the King, and I am afraid most of them wouldn’t know how to read your article either.
By the way, how many of the nazis rioting do you think follow their idols example and abstain from use of alcoholic substances?
Patrik M
Patrik, it is ok to answer back as well in Swedish if you wish to do so, since I prefer this to be a multicultural-multilingual blog
. But since your English is flawless we can go on.
You are sadly right. I don’t know who to blame for this state of being actually. It is a sad reflection on our once so beautiful country. What do you think is the reason for this deteriorating state?
To answer your question; none.
However, I have read that the National Socialist Front (now the Folk Front) tried before to have a more strict military control on their members and their behavior but they then lost members from it 
.
What is the reason for the deterioration of Sweden? Wow, there is a subject for a PhD-thesis if ever I saw one.
The short answer is of course – SOCIALISM
The long answer is also mainly socialism. The welfare state has in area after area removed the need for responisibility. Whatever you do in Sweden it doesn’t seem to effect you personally.
If you do something good the left wingers shouts “injustice” and the fruits of your work is distributed to the idlers. If you do something bad, we can always blame capitalism, society, a bad childhood or whatever, and the taxpayers are promted to pick up the tab insted of the offender.
This lack of incentives, together with radical pedagogic experimenting in school and a gigantic fear of anything resembling order and dicipline are the main reasons for the failings of education in Sweden.
As to the attraction of extremist ideologies i think another explanation is the human need to be needed, to have a cause to fight for, a group to belong to. In Sweden we tend to focus more on putting people on welfare, than on giving them a task, a role in society. We rob them of the dignity it gives anyone who actually earns their own living instead of living of others.
Finally I would like to mention the importance of values. Not many decades ago we had a almost universally accepted set of values and beliefs in society, derived from christianity as well as from enlightenment philosophy and older ancient thinkers, that promoted modesty, responsibility, respect for traditions and authority and that kept society together.
Today it has been replaced by a culture of raw egotism, of perpetual rebellion against authority, lack of respect and manners, where the gagstas are heroes and the police are villains.
All these trends are apparent in all of the western civilisation, but some countries, like Sweden, are in a worse state, because radical policies have dominated for longer time, and penetrated society deeper than in most other countries.
Not a day goes by without me thinking of emigrating to a friendlier place. I would miss friends and relatives though, and our beautiful nature. Perhaps if the socialists are returned to power in 2010 I finally get the push I need.
Patrik M
Det kan även vara en reaktion av rotlöshet och dålig historisk förankring satt i kontrast till invandrarna med sina levande och färgstarka kulturtraditioner. Den politiska agendan har i Sverige sedan 1930-talet att spola ut både badvatten, barn och därefter slänga bort badkaret. En stark historiemedvetenhet och välförankrad och konstruktiv värdegrund där inte bara behovet av teknologi, utan även behovet av skönhet och kultur är nog en bra motkraft till idiotin.
I can understand Hatred. I cannot sympathize, but I can understand. The feeling of Hatred is a loathsome mixture of anguish and ignorance combined to frame difference as evil.
I cannot, however, understand Disrespect. The Action of Hatred is much worse than Hatred itself.
Destroying, threatening or injuring others or their property is not only terrifying but invasive and immature. Hate all you want… but disrespect is for the birds.
LP: Så det bygger i en form utav avundsjuka, menar du? =) Nassarna är jantelagsslavar?
Wow, Elizabeth, you have some really good poetry skills there going on.
Din bild av Karl XII är inte speciellt nyanserad den heller. Karl XII startade inget krig, han försvarade sig enbart. Sen så var han en kass diplomat som inte tog chansen att göra fred med Ryssen då de erbjöd det. Men detta var inte p.g.a imperialistiska drömmar, utan för att han ansåg att man kan inte göra en fred som håller med en som bryter sitt ord. Men det är ett vanligt missförstånd att Karl XII var krigsgalen herre som ville erövra världen.
Sen detta med att Nazister hyllar Karl XII grundar ju sig på den gamla nationalistiska hjältedyrkan, inte på att Karl XII var nazist eller något. Vi har väll alla hört vem som tog kåldolmar och kiosker till Sverige
Vet dock inte om det stämmer, men “myten” säger ju att det var Karl XII. Sen tror jag personligen att det finns en viss förklaringsfaktor i framväxten av högerextrema grupper och det förtryck patriotism vi fått uppleva i Sverige. Om man nu kan kalla det förtryck.
Vet inte hur gammal du är. Men då jag växte upp och gick i skolan så samlades vi på skolgården på nationaldagen, såg flaggan hissades och sjöng nationalsången. Sen så blev det fult att ha svenska färger eller känna patriotism/stolthet eller vad man nu vill kalla det. Och jag har ute på min praktik märkt att många av de unga killar som blir högerextremister talar om “jag älskar sverige och jag vill visa det”, sen så dras de in i den andra skiten också. Är antagligen därför vi i Sverige försöker få fram “riktigt” nationaldagsfirande.
Men i grund och botten handlar det om vad man väljer att fira som svenskhet ? Det faktum att Sverige är ett av få länder i Europa där den stora massan av folket har varit fria och representerade i församling. (VI hade fria bönder då resten av europa hade trälar, och vi hade ett eget stånd i riksdagen för Bönder, och under Vasa-sönerna var det tydligen rätt vanligt att bönder tog upp övertramp från adeln hos kungen, och fick rätt). Eller så kan man välja att fira att vi var krigiska, erövrade länder, försvenskade Skåne m.m m.m.
Patrik: Well, I guess that answer to that question was pretty self-given and I too share your concerns. But I was mainly looking for why Sweden of all countries has one of the fastest growing neo-Nazi fraction in Europe. Maybe this can also be linked to socialism, a reason for which I am willing to accept.
It definitely has been an over-focus in adapting the new people to the cradle-to-the-grave system rather than letting them have charge over their own life and actions.
Well, I’m leaning on agreeing with you to some extent. Of course it is harder ofr a person to be brought up in a society where you DON’T have a certain position in order for you when you are being born. Dictatorships and forced-stratified societies are always “easier” to live in for weak individuals. That is no denial about that. Question is if it is something to be desired? I as a libertarian think not. I rather go by the last stanza in the American National Anthem: “The land of the free, and the home of the brave!”.
It basically means that it takes one to be brave to be free. You don’t have to be brave to be unfree, just live like a mental sloth. In a free society you have no one that will feed you, you feed yourself, and no one to tell you what to do unless you want them to voluntarily, you tell yourself what to do.
Some people shun that – both socialists, conservatives (you call it “a culture of raw egotism, of perpetual rebellion against authority”, Nazis etc. Liberals, on the other hand, adore this state of being.
What we do though, or what the Social Democratic movement has tried to do, is to succeed with the mission impossible to mix the good things with liberalism with socialism. This is of course impossible because you cannot have a free society in some ways (abolishment of the forced-stratified society) and add welfare measures to it. It ends up like the result we see of our tragic country today.
I feel you, I would never consider to move back to Sweden if Mona Sahlin would take over the rudder. It can, however, be worse. The Communist MIGHT have a position in the next Swedish government, making us the only (I think?) western democratic country today in that situation.
Mikael: Historien skrivs inte bara genom en enda bild, om jag får låta så subjektivistisk. Visst var det så att Sveriges fiender anföll Sverige först men de gav ju upp sina anspråk direkt efter de första striderna. Jag hoppas du inser hur vagt ditt argument “för att han ansåg att man kan inte göra en fred som håller med en som bryter sitt ord” verkligen är. Det är ju egentligen ingenting att tjafsa om. Om man vill sluta fred med Ryssen så besegrar man dem i några av deras utkanter så att de skadeskjutna flyr tillbaka till Moskva, man fortsätter inte efter dem med bössen i högsta hugg med det uttalade målet att tåga mot den Ryska huvudstaden. Det talar ganska mycket för sig självt.
Det kan nog mycket väl vara så att det var Karl XII som tog hit kåldolmar. Ingen som är lite utbildad påstår väl att Karl XII var nazist. Inte heller jag.
Självklart kan man kalla det förtryck. Jag växte också upp med den traditionen som grund. Jag tillhör till och med den generationen (född 1982) som fick uppleva den abrupta förändringen, inte minst då jag flyttade från landet (bodde ute i Munktorp utanför Köping när jag var liten) till stan när jag var 7-8. Bara regionalt var det alltså en stor skillnad.
Men ja, mycket av detta bottnar ju sig i den massinvandring som drogs igång på 80-talet och som fick effekten att ny-nazism och rakad skalle blev jätteinne ett tag där i början av 90.
Din beskrivning av Sverige pre-1921 är dock en bedrövlig syn när det kommer till demokratifrågor.
.
Demokrati är definitionsfråga. Och det är varje historikers ansvar att jämföra med samtiden. De historiker som sysslar med värderingslekar med nutida normer och värderingar då man dömmer dåtid är i mina ögon förkastliga. I samtidskontext, med dåtidens värderingar och synsätt så var Sverige och Schweiz de länder i Europa som var mest “demokratiskt” under en lång tid. Det är ett faktum, som inte ens en Liberal som påstår att de första goda tankarna kom med Liberalismen borde kunna förneka
Karl XII var en kass diplomat och om han låtit rådet med Görtz i spetsen möjligtvis att styra och ställa med politiken, och Karl XII kriget. Ungefär som Gustav II Adolf och Axel Oxenstierna så hade situationen varit annorlunda och vi hade nog idag haft en helt annan syn på Karl XII tror jag. Men så är ju historien. Hur hade vi sett på Hitler om han satt i halsen då han åt schnitzel i Riksdagshuset 38 ? Antagligen som den som drog upp Tyskland ur missären och gav tyskarna jobb eller något. Så är historien
Absolut, historia omtolkas ju alltid.
Att Gustav var en bättre kung än den (i efterhand sett) ganska omogne kung Karl är ju ingen hemlighet direkt
. Jag tror du har helt rätt i din tolkning av historien dock. Jag undrar dock hur Sverige och framförallt Ryssland (!!) hade sett ut om det hade blivit så. Antagligen hade vi haft en helt annan värld än vad vi har idag?
So the Nazi’s should be allowed to roam the streets unchallenged? The same people who burned a family out of their home recently?
What nonsense.
“Those who forget their past are doomed to repeat it.”
As for blaming Socialism for the state of your nation – if theres a country on the planet not looking at itself in despair in the way you have done I would love to find it. All people fear collapse of social solidarity and standards, its a constant through history and the same is happening in the UK after 35 years of free-market capitalism.
Maybe its just our expectations are too high.
“So the Nazi’s should be allowed to roam the streets unchallenged”
No fool, but they shouldn’t be confronted with the same kind of people. And the sc. autonomous left-wing IS the same kind as them. The sc. autonomous left-wing has carried out probably just as much political violence as the ridiculous Nazi-movement.
And your pathetic question with a killed family by Nazis I don’t give much for. Do you see it as your divine mission to stop young uneducated racist idiots on the streets yourself? Who gave you this mission? And, as this case was about, if they are only expressing their views and opinions (although how ridiculous they are), are you still going to “stop” them – with force if so necessary? Don’t you believe in free speech? Does that right only belong to those with have the “right” opinions and beliefs?
Stevie my friend, this has nothing to do with “free-market capitalism” since you never had it. The only country that can be said to be a little bit like that kind of capitalist society that your compatriot was talking about (Adam Smith) is Hong Kong, and probably also Singapore.
This started out as a problem in the real estate business in the US, created by the State, not by some “free” market. On the contrary, the market has been quite regulated already – especially in the USA where you can find the root of this crisis. Thing is that this is something natural, crisis happens now and then. A recession is sometimes necessary to clean out bad capital and bad institutions in order to replace it with capital and institutions that work well. What we do now, however, is to make sure that the recession turns into a depression – with the help of government bailouts and public spending.
Think about what you had before what you call the “free” market my friend. In what state was your former Empire in the years preceding Thatcher? Were there happy times?
I hope you know the answer, otherwise you haven’t learned your own history. And that is, as we already mentioned, quite bad …
Sorry, I missed seeing that you replied to my new comment. I think perhaps that you have misunderstood some of my comments, so I will start with those, and then turn to your more specified question about the rise of Swedish neo nazism.
You talk about dictatorships and forced stratified societies in a way that might indicate that you believe I am a supporter of such things. Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe in meritocracy. Your position in society should reflect what you achieve, and everyone regardless of birth should have a fair chance to compete about positions and wealth.
When I talk about the need for a role in society, I do not mean the static role of a medieval peasant or artisan, but any productive role. In Sweden we are all to willing to pay people to do – nothing. Instead of demanding that people actually feed themselves to a large extent and allowing simpler jobs, with lower wages and that even a low educated and low motivated person can manage, to exist, we say to these people “We don’t need you. You are so worthless that we are better of paying you to stay idle”.
When I talk about respect for authority, I do not mean the respect a medieval serf gave his Lord out of fear, but the respect for the greater experience and knowledge a pupil might show a teacher, or a kid its parents. I talk about respect for the laws a society has agreed on, and the authority of the police and other tasked with upholding those laws.
I know we do not agree on issues like traditions, authority and self restraint, that is why you call yourself a liberal, and I call myself a conservative.
But I don’t think we should over exaggerate the differences.
About Sweden and the neo nazis. I think the nanny state goes a long way towards explaining irresponsible behavior and the attraction towards extremist ideologies in general. If neo Nazism is more popular in Sweden then elsewhere in Europe I don’t know, but if that is the case, it might be a combination of factors that help explain this.
First. Sweden was never attacked or occupied by the fascist regimes during WWII. Swedish Nazis don’t have to overcome that stigma of being ‘the enemy’ that their colleagues in for instance Norway and Denmark have.
Second. Sweden had experienced the unfortunate combination of large refugee immigration and failed social & economical policies, making the poor refugees passive clients and thus popular scapegoats for all those failed, redundant, and frustrated young white men, who believes that their rightful place in society is being stolen by the migrants, that all the welfare money confiscated from the productive people they used to enjoy now will go to the refugees instead.
Third. Sweden goes further than any country in denying its history and cultural heritage, in discarding with traditions and symbols, and lacks a strong conservative movement that can defend these values. Radical policies almost infallibly cause political reaction. I think some of the attraction of these movements is that they and they alone today, say it is ok to be Swedish, we should be proud of our history and cherish our flag and other symbols.