Last August I wrote an article for The Guardian under the headline: “Refugees should head for Denmark – here are five reasons why”. It created a media storm here in Denmark; within 24 hours I had appeared on every national broadcast media. On the political TV programme Deadline I was confronted by the host: “Do you not acknowledge that a majority of the Danish voters are in favour of a strict asylum policy?”
I received emails and Facebook messages accusing me of being “a traitor” for listing the advantages of my country, and mentioning the fact that many refugees have told me how they have met welcoming, open-minded and helpful Danes. Inviting people to come to your country and praising your country’s benefits is usually called patriotism. But things have been turned upside down and Denmark is now in competition for the title to be the least attractive country for asylum seekers.
The Scandinavian countries face a difficult dilemma. We have always been proud of our human rights standards, equality and social welfare. But if too many people are coming from outside, the balance of the tax-based welfare system is tipping, and our tribal-like culture feels threatened. So, on the one hand we have to respect the conventions and grant Syrians and Eritreans asylum, on the other hand we want to scare them away, which is what has been happening.
I received emails and Facebook messages accusing me of being “a traitor” for listing the advantages of my country, and mentioning the fact that many refugees have told me how they have met welcoming, open-minded and helpful Danes. Inviting people to come to your country and praising your country’s benefits is usually called patriotism. But things have been turned upside down and Denmark is now in competition for the title to be the least attractive country for asylum seekers.
The Scandinavian countries face a difficult dilemma. We have always been proud of our human rights standards, equality and social welfare. But if too many people are coming from outside, the balance of the tax-based welfare system is tipping, and our tribal-like culture feels threatened. So, on the one hand we have to respect the conventions and grant Syrians and Eritreans asylum, on the other hand we want to scare them away, which is what has been happening.
