The news that has dominated the weekend in Sweden is the Malmo shootings. It’s apparent that this is no ordinary random shootings but the motive points to a racist gunman. There have been two more shootings today and so far all of the people who have been shot at have been of an ethnic minority. Over the past twelve months there have been seventeen shootings and police now believe that it is the work of the same gunman.
It appears that there is growing tension in Sweden over immigration, especially following the election results in which the far right Swedish democrats had a large turnout and as a result elected members within the Swedish Parliament. Immigrants were the target of the “laserman” shootings back in 1991 and 1992 and it appears that the pattern maybe repeating itself.
One of the things that I knew before I moved is that Sweden was a very fast moving multi-cultural society. 15% of the population are of a non-Scandinavian origin and there is no doubt that there is an issue that many Swedes are against this. I’m not going to dwell into my own personal feelings as several blog entries cover this but overall I cannot and will not abide racism in any shape nor form. If the far right became the overall majority in the Swedish government then I would leave immediately.
Yesterday I went to see my first ever football in Sweden. IFK Norrkoping played Sundsvall and it was a great game. The scorer for Sundsvall was black and he played very well. However mid-way through the second half the player went to take a corner and I heard an entire section of Norrkoping fans making racist noises that I have not heard nor witnessed since the 1980’s in the UK. How on earth can such players make racial abuse at a player when players like Henrik Larsson whose father was from Cape Verde is such an iconic hero? It seriously does not make sense.
Rather amazingly the section of the crowd next to the ones making the abuse, supporting the same team, immediately began to boo those making the abuse. It was a crazy scenario and one I thought was removed from football decades ago.
Sweden is a wonderful country that is offering those from less fortunate countries a chance to better their lives in a new and fresh environment and those who are against this need to just grow up and move into the 21st century.
I myself have moved to Sweden to not only better my life but to also experience a new and challenging environment and all those Swedes whom I have met have been nothing short of friendly, wonderful and more than welcome.
It’s just a shame that there is such an idiotic minority that still believe in an out of date and non-existent prejudiced time.
