I was supposed to have celebrated the Swedish national day today. But, as it goes ... no ... I don't think so ...
Celebrating nationalism seems to me a somewhat suspect pass time, considering its dubious record. Surely we can agree on the fact that the phenomena of nationalism has had a tendency to create conflicts here and there during the last century; having on false pretence, started people of thinking in terms of us and them. That the Swedish government suddenly in this day and age, decides to make the national day into a public holiday; well what can I say other than: It sure puzzles me!
So, what am I expected to do on a day like this. Walk around feeling grate about our social welfare system? Or maybe think about how beautiful it is in the Stockholm archipelago. I do both things quite often as it goes. Should there be a special day for this, so that we can all do it at the same time …? I don’t see the point.
National days seem to me like something hopelessly obsolete. I even envisage something a bit nastily unpleasant about it; something reminiscent of past days, when values told people to worship the sovereignty, while looking with suspicious eyes at the rest of the world.
So, why this sudden need to wave the yellow and blue again? Is there for some reason once again a need for using abstract symbols in the identification process? Seems to me very reactionary indeed ...
(This was a rerun of last years national day blog)
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I think it might be nice to celebrate the country for the sake of social unity and to help create sense of purpose. Perhaps a celebration of the geographic country and the beauty of it rather than the sovereignty. The UK is cuurently suffering from a lack of national idenity, although I doubt the politicians will be able to re-create it. They are trying.. I do think moments of social unity are important to the super tribe.
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