Denmark, the Happiest Country

Most Danes must have had a great belly laugh when they read or heard that Denmark was rated as the Happiest Country in the World. The Danes do not see themselves as a “Happy People”. They do not even see themselves as a “Content People”. In fact they would have difficulties describing themselves in any way that involved a label. What would be much more descriptive of Danes is that they are a politically active and socially involved people. They take pride in their social democracy and their place in Europe and the international community. In the TV documentary that described Denmark as a happy country they also talked about the pried that Danes place on their chosen work career, and that no one have to worry about having the money to send their children to University, or looking after ageing parents.

To really understand what makes a Dane or Denmark, different from other cultures you need to know Danish history. I will list a number of significant historical facts and events that helped shape Denmark.
1) There has been a Danes nation for almost two thousand years.
2) The Danevirke, a 30 kilometre wall, was build and maintained in Southern Jutland between 738 and 1864ce. This was the largest ancient defences in Northern Europe . It protected Denmark from the Charlemagne conquest of the Saxons and forced conversion to Christianity. It marked Scandinavia 's political and cultural southern border for more then 1000 years. The Danevirke was finally lost in 1864, when Bismark took the two southern provinces of Slusvick and Holstine from Denmark. Loosing the the southern two provences was a psychological blow to the Danish psychic that is still felt today. The Danes do not trust Germany or the EU.

3) The Danes have never been conquered or subjugated into a foreign empire.
4) It is one of the oldest Democracies in the World.
5) Land reforms occurred relatively early, which established family farms that became a cornerstone of Danish society.
6) Denmark did not join the Holy Roman Empire and there by escaped the religious wars of Germany.
7) There was no Witch burning or religious inquisition in Denmark.
8) Denmark managed to stay neutral during the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War.

9)During the Second World War Denmark was occupied by the Germans. No battles or major destruction occurred in Denmark.
10) During the German occupation an incident occurs that depicts a significant
characteristic of the Danish people. When the Germans told the Danish authorities to hand over their Jews, they were told that there were no Jews in Denmark. There were about ten thousand “Danish People” who were follower of Judaism. All of these people were immediately hidden away by fellow Danes, and then smuggled to safety in Sweden.

It would be an excellent debate to argue, is the Danes the luckiest country in Europe or the smartest. The Danes have so often avoided the horrors that the rest of Europe suffered.

After World War Two, the Danish Government developed a social system where wealth is shared to a high degree, and all citizens receive free education through University, and complete health care.

The Danish nation has survived is Europe, surrounded by much larger and more powerful and aggressive countries, by maintaining a formidable army and navy. It has refused to take sides in European power struggles and maintained its own unique political focus and direction. Today, even as a member of the European Union, Denmark maintains its own monetary currency, and is prepared to step out of the Union if it means loosing it's own independence. The one thing that almost every person will agree on is that the most important thing to them is that they are Danish.

To return to the statement of the Danes being the happiest people, I am not sure that I have the correct word to describe this characteristic accurately. What I will say is that the Danes are focused on “Living Life in the Now” more then most people. My last, but important point, is that the government has made sure that beer prices are low.

The US and Iraq War

For seven years George Bush has been president of the US. I can still not comprehend how the American people elected him their President. During these years I have watched a great country behave like an enraged blind giant being poked with sticks by nasty midget tormenters. It is too late to spend time talking about how they got themselves and other countries involved in a shooting war with Iraq and with the so called Al-Qaeda, forces of international terrorism. The question is that happens now. The Republican Party's candidate, McCain, states clearly that if he becomes President he will stay till the Americans soldiers can leave with Honor. This may take years and billion of more dollars. On the other hand the Democratic Party is all for cutting their losses and getting their soldiers home. The two would be candidates for the Democratic Party is Hillary and Obama. At this point it does not really matter which one becomes the candidate because they both say that they will end the war. The cost to American prestige and the tremendous advantage that this will give to opponents is not a major concern. A Democratic President will deal with these issues by diplomacy and negotiations.

It is very difficult for a Democratic country to fight in a foreign war because as soon as the war becomes nasty and costly in resources and lives of soldiers the liberal or lefties political partys always wants to cut and run. We saw this all too clearly with the Vietnam War. The Americans actually have not won a war since "WWII". The Korean War was a shameful sellout by politicians who were fearful of going to war with China. May be if the Americans had stood fast in Korea, there may not have been a Vietnam War. With Vietnam, the Americans made their usual mistake by not knowing international history. The average American can be an expert on their own history and not know anything about world history. We Canadians know all too well how little the Americans know of us, and we share a five thousand kilometer border with them. What I am trying to say is that if the Americans had known the history of South East Asia, they would never have gone near Vietnam. If the French could not hold it by military force, no one could. By the way, the Americans have sent invading armies to Canada twice. The first time was during their war of independence, and the second time was what we call, the war of 1812. Both times the Americans were defeated and sent fleeing back across our southern boarder. Let's get back to the subject.

The sad truth is that without US being the superpower during the better part of the Twenties Century the world would look and be quit different. I would not relish living in a world where the Nazis or Soviet had come out on top.

The damage done by this President can be overcome and to some extent forgiven. Bush is mentally challenged after all. We need to get through the next year with out further damage to the stability of international relationships, and the economic welfare of the world economy. The two Democratic candidates Clinton and Obama, both talk of bringing the troops home and ending the war. This sounds good, but what will the actually results be of another lost war and American withdrawal be. One thing I have learned over the years is not to get into a fight that I am prepared to loose. All the good advice about not getting into the war in Iraq is past. The Americans are in it, and the enemy or opponents will keep coming now that the fight is on. We are told that Islamic extremists will wake over all Moslem governments and will become the ultimate threat to western democracy. I don't believe a word of this, but also I am not in favor of letting them win power in Iraq or anywhere else. Actually, I believe the real demon in this whole mess is Saudi Arabia. My suspicion is that most of the financing to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda comes from the Saudis. But no American government that totally dependent on Mid East oil is going to confront them.

The choice for the next US President is a tough one. Elect an intelligent Republican that will continue the fight, or elect a Democrat that will cut and run. Since I will not be eligible to vote in the up coming election all I can do is sit back and observe and write my blog. Now I would get very upset if anyone ever called me an Republican. If some someone called me an American Democrat I would likely punch them out.

Danish Cartoons

This morning I heard on the radio that three Muslims, one a Danish citizen, were arrested for plotting to kill one of the Cartoonists who drew the Mohammad cartoons in 2005. The reason given by Moslems for the riots all over the Middle East was that the cartoons offended Islam. We all know that the riots were promoted by the Syrian and Iranian political leadership. The purpose for the riots and attacks on Danish interest had nothing to do with religion. The cartoons had been published a year earlier and had almost been forgotten. Denmark was the perfect attack target to get back at the west. Denmark is a small well respected country, but could do little to retaliate against the attackers. Of course, the US sat back and did nothing to support Denmark. If the New York Times had shown courage and pride in free speech and Democracy, it would have printed the Cartoons. But no, it didn’t. So Denmark took a month of international abuse from Middle Eastern politicians who were pretending to be offended devotees of the prophet Mohammed. Most of the people running around rioting and destroying Danish property had no idea that there was a country named Denmark, and had never seen the cartoons, but they would do what ever their religious politicians told them to do.

Now two years after the riots, we have three opportunists plotting to murder one of the Cartoonists. I suspect that the three “would be killers” will say that their actions was in revenge to the insult to Islam. I also suspect that there was a very big check in the mail from the same religious political leaders who first instigated the riots. Let me finish by saying that Islam is no worse then Christianity or Judaism. But at this time Islam does have the absolute worse leadership.

World Conflicts

I do not know of a period in history when there was not major and serious world conflicts going on. I grew up with the Soviet Union and the Western Alliance pointing nuclear missiles at each other. My father lived through WW II. A war over territory and resources.

Today we are told that the Western World is at war with Elkida, an Islamic terrorist organization whose aim is to destroy Democracy and the so called “free World”, lead by Omar bin Laden. Canadian soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan , supporting a government that is anything but Democratic. Today in Afghanistan women have no rights, and there is more Poppy being grown then ever before.

My belief is that these international conflicts are created and manufactured to divert our attentions away from what is really going on in the world. I believe that Elkida is no more a danger to the West then overeating at MacDonald's restaurants. The war against international Terrorist's is a huge manipulation by interest groups on both sides. No one is interested in establishing Democracy in Iraq or Afghanistan . The history and cultures in these countries are totally opposed to the Democratic process. The word Democracy gets both sides up in arms. The naïve Western idealist will go to war and fight for the rights of individuals to live as they wish, where women can walk around in mini skirts and men can get married to each other. (Please note that I have nothing against bare legs or men doing what ever with each other) The other side is made up of people with no history of individual liberalism, who value tribal loyalties and conservative Islam. They will go to war against Democracy because they see it as something that will destroy their way of life. Two rights always make a wrong.

At some point in the future these Muslim countries may develop into some sort of Democracies. They will have to do this in their own way, not have it imposed by a Western power that talks Democracy but has a difficult time actually practicing it.

Some Of My Heathen Beliefs

The religion of Heathens is Asatru, which consists of the Nordic Pantheon, the Gods of Aesir and Vanir. This Blog is not an Asatru religious sight but rather a place for a Heathens to voice his thoughts, opinions, beliefs and philosophy. Some common beliefs that most Heathens share are as following:

1. Spirituality is personal and no other person should ever tell you what to believe or how to behavior in the practice of your religion.
2. No person should ever come between you and your Gods.
3. Proselytizing your religion is disrespectful and ignorant behavior. Only when someone shows interest and ask or inquires about your religion should you involve them.
4. Secular Democracy is an awful way of governing as State or Country. As soon as a better system in invented, it will be replaced.
5. It is a duty and responsibility of every citizen to participate in a Democracy by voting and holding our elected leaders accountable. Nother responsibility is to follow and obey the laws of the land. Disobedience should only be considered when it is obvious that the Government is no longer a Democracy.

These are a few of my main beliefs. I am sure I will add to it during my discourses.

What is a Heathen

A Heathen is a person of Northern Europe descent who follows the pre-christian Ethical and Spiritual teachings of his Culture and Ancestors. Heathenism is more then a religion; it is a Way of Life.