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But there was a new wrinkle. Trondheim ‘s Adresseavisen daily ran a cartoon which, though not depicting Muhammed, angered “moderate” Muslim lawyer Abid Q. Raja, who – apparently feeling that Adresseavisen had obeyed the word but not the spirit of the Magazinet accords – argued that the cartoon shouldn’t have been published because it would be “misunderstood” by Muslims. Pakistani ambassador Rab Nawaz Khan agreed, calling the cartoon an “act of terror” that can “endanger the lives of Norwegian citizens.” When a cartoon is terrorism and a bomb is a form of expression, you’re in Orwell country.

Yet the star of the moment was Norwegian novelist Dag Solstad, who only days before the bombing delivered what you might call Norway’s version of Rowan Williams’s sharia lecture. Solstad didn’t go in for sharia explicitly – instead, he made the argument that free speech is actually undesirable, since it drowns meritorious works (such as his novels, presumably) in a sea of vulgarity (a category to which he relegated the Muhammed cartoons). Solstad’s colleagues offered polite demurrals.

Scandinavia is a house divided against itself. Tough little Denmark may well be the only Western European country to retain its liberties. As for Norway and Sweden – well, the only rotten thing in Denmark today, alas, is the stink of cowardice wafting in from across the Skagerrak.

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Liam Streets
June 29th, 2008
1:06 PM
Fantastic article! Despite being a "religion of Peace" they kill people just for speaking their mind, our ancestors fought and died for our freedom and i will never let that be in vain. Britian is also a country in dire need of help, i praise the danes for their courage.

Joachim von Trettin
June 27th, 2008
7:06 PM
The Danes have a gutsy inside, Bruce Baver claims, and proved it by shipping almost all their Jews to safety in Sweden. Fact seems to be, that a leading group of Nazi occupants, in Denmark 1943, considering a German military defeat, were eager to keep up their appearences. Following this understandable desire they contacted their Danish counterparts informing them about an order from Berlin to apprehend all Danes of Jewish descent for transport to camps in Eastern Europe. Now, as it happens, the German military forces in Denmark have already planned to engage in extended activities on the Danish westcoast, leaving the eastcost poorly watched. And pertaining to Sweden, the German occupiers, including some people from the Gestapo, ensured the Danes not to worry, because Sweden this time (1943) will not repatriate the Danish Jews, thus saving them from the ugly fate the Norwegian Jews had to face the year before, i.e. 1942. (Fyi: Stalingrad occured 1943).

Anonymous
June 26th, 2008
5:06 PM
I have read and enjoyed Bawer's book - While europe Slept - as well as his many articles. What I don't understand is why Norway's leaders haven't come for him. He offers anecdotes of authors and cartoonists getting in trouble with the authorities and I would presume their sights are on him. How about it Bruce, do you get hassled by the the Scandinavian governments for your writings?

curt jalmo
June 26th, 2008
2:06 PM
hi bruce...living in sweden I totally agree with you...our goverment is a bunch of cowards! your article is right on point...the same dhimmitude is beginning to cover sweden like a fog..its outrageous...we all better wake up soon! very good work!!!

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