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Several danish parties (even a "liberal" one) have proposed Orwellian policies over the years. The latest such proposals are in regards to citizenship (which aims to suss out anyone lacking wholesale adoption of "danish values")
Both slippery-slope & dog-whistle...
Short thread https://twitter.com/kkrjensen/status/1359060788154142721
Both slippery-slope & dog-whistle...
Short thread https://twitter.com/kkrjensen/status/1359060788154142721
This witch hunt is a political ploy to attract undecided voters - Just like "Catholic & Protestant officials focused witchtrial activity in confessional battlegrounds during Reformation to attract the loyalty of undecided Christians” https://qz.com/1183992/why-europe-was-overrun-by-witch-hunts-in-early-modern-history/
The driving force was mass irrational fear, which was rationalized as rightful angst of “witchcraft”. In the same vein racecraft is conjectured.
This policy proposal is conjecturing an imagined danishness, that positions racialised groups outside it (wonder white that is
)
This policy proposal is conjecturing an imagined danishness, that positions racialised groups outside it (wonder white that is
)
Another example is the long period of Inquisition, which first began in efforts to suss out christian “heretics”. It broadened its scope to the “conversos” (Jews) who had converted to Christianity, but were believed to have been holding on to their previous faith in secret...
So, much like the conversos - this policy proposal will further the societal polarization & make suspect of any muslim.
It is self evident that no amount of economic-educational success, dresscode & whatever is seen as unmuslimness.
What is the barometer? just white could it be
It is self evident that no amount of economic-educational success, dresscode & whatever is seen as unmuslimness.
What is the barometer? just white could it be
It’s a logical conclusion of our discourse.
This statement made by the party’s citizenship spokesman speaks volumes:
“It’s not enough just to have behaved properly. If you want to be a Danish citizen, you must have taken Denmark to heart”
It’s asinine to ignore the ramifications
This statement made by the party’s citizenship spokesman speaks volumes:
“It’s not enough just to have behaved properly. If you want to be a Danish citizen, you must have taken Denmark to heart”
It’s asinine to ignore the ramifications
Why stop at the “test”? How about we use surveillance?
But still wouldn’t be enough - Maybe let ordinary “Danes” tipoff a Gestapo like police force? And later on, why not orchestrate a McCarthy like trial?
Sound absurd? well, history is filled with people who waited too long.
But still wouldn’t be enough - Maybe let ordinary “Danes” tipoff a Gestapo like police force? And later on, why not orchestrate a McCarthy like trial?
Sound absurd? well, history is filled with people who waited too long.
Amazingly this is what the Prime Minister and the Minister for Integration have written today:
“When immigrants get Danish citizenship, the Danish people and society change character forever”.
Do you know who else changed the society?
Women - when they received their full rights
“When immigrants get Danish citizenship, the Danish people and society change character forever”.
Do you know who else changed the society?
Women - when they received their full rights
It is ahistorical to the umpth degree.
Without black freedom struggle to abolish slavery and colonialism - and women’s suffrage etc. we wouldn’t have the Welfare State and Governance structure we enjoy so much. There is a significant negative effect of exclusionary politics.
Without black freedom struggle to abolish slavery and colonialism - and women’s suffrage etc. we wouldn’t have the Welfare State and Governance structure we enjoy so much. There is a significant negative effect of exclusionary politics.
Furthermore, it has been proposed (by far-right politicians) that Denmark ought to retroactively rescind citizenship from law abiding citizens. Think about that. Let it simmer for bit. Good, now know that the center party is trying to appeal to long time rightwing voters.
This statement by (socialist) Hubert Harrison reflects our situation:
Politically, the Negro (& the Muslim - in our present time) is the touchstone of the modern democratic idea. The presence of the Negro (& Muslim) puts our democracy to the test and reveals the falsity of it.
Politically, the Negro (& the Muslim - in our present time) is the touchstone of the modern democratic idea. The presence of the Negro (& Muslim) puts our democracy to the test and reveals the falsity of it.
Lastly, this is standing in the way of correcting the course:
We’ve tied our national identity to exceptional-nonexceptionalism; We’re exceptional and at the same time not. Which leads us to never willingly acknowledging our wrongs, while howling at the moon about our successes
We’ve tied our national identity to exceptional-nonexceptionalism; We’re exceptional and at the same time not. Which leads us to never willingly acknowledging our wrongs, while howling at the moon about our successes
Therefore, in the case of racism in Denmark, there won’t ever be an honest good faith discussion. Many believe these policies are apolitical and “objective” - because the culture that we’ve fostered has an inbuilt excuse.
As Gavan Titley says; racism always lives somewhere else.
As Gavan Titley says; racism always lives somewhere else.
Important thread which gives great insights into French racism (and buffers my above mentioned arguments) 
https://twitter.com/drsepinwall/status/1359209595948814340
https://twitter.com/drsepinwall/status/1359209595948814340
Importantly, what can be accomplished with policies of explicit racism? To make cohesion and integration impossible.
It is very relevant to ask our fellow citizens with a bit more melanin than the average joe - (as W.E.B. Dubois said: “How does it feel to be a problem?”....
It is very relevant to ask our fellow citizens with a bit more melanin than the average joe - (as W.E.B. Dubois said: “How does it feel to be a problem?”....
— I don’t (nor Dubois) mean problems in the sense of having regular everyday problems - but to be the problem.
If people in this country understood “integration” through this prism, then they would realize that minorities are succeeding in spite of, not be because of the system.
If people in this country understood “integration” through this prism, then they would realize that minorities are succeeding in spite of, not be because of the system.
When Dubois wrote the following, he wrote of black American men. But this is true for Danmark as well (so I’ll paraphrase):
"He/she simply wishes to make it possible for a man/woman to be both a Negro/Muslim and a Dane, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows...
"He/she simply wishes to make it possible for a man/woman to be both a Negro/Muslim and a Dane, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows...
“One ever feels his/her twoness, -- A Dane, a Negro/Muslim; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder”
There are endless studies that show how harmful permanent state of stigmatization (on individual & societal level).
These policies never include this perspective (white is that?).
This fosters conditions that breeds inequalities, resentment & political polarization —by design
These policies never include this perspective (white is that?
).This fosters conditions that breeds inequalities, resentment & political polarization —by design
Discourse of deservingness is racially charged - frames citizenship around a vague notion of “Danishness”, of which no one is in agreement.
Purpose of these policies:
1) deterrent; aimed at potential asylum seekers.
2) perpetually shifting the goal post for POC to become “Dane”
Purpose of these policies:
1) deterrent; aimed at potential asylum seekers.
2) perpetually shifting the goal post for POC to become “Dane”
This is partially based on this:
Denmark now has record low number of asylum seekers.
Before COVID had record number of “non-westerners” in job market — that groups children are succeeding in education on par with their “native” peers.
And naturalization rates are very low https://twitter.com/maartenpvink/status/1359215732601552896
Denmark now has record low number of asylum seekers.
Before COVID had record number of “non-westerners” in job market — that groups children are succeeding in education on par with their “native” peers.
And naturalization rates are very low
https://twitter.com/maartenpvink/status/1359215732601552896
Furthermore — one of the most puzzling aspects of the policy proposal is that it aims to mirror the job market (throughout the process) — with a motivated application & a personal interview.
Here’s why and how this is highly problematic, to say the least
Here’s why and how this is highly problematic, to say the least
The Danish job market is very susceptible to bias (there's no difference between private & public) - studies have shown that applicants with Muslim-sounding names have far less chance of getting to the job interview (with equal qualifications backgrounds)
https://bss.au.dk/om-aarhus-bss/nyheder/vis/artikel/peter-kommer-lettere-til-jobsamtale-end-ali/?fbclid=IwAR0X_Z2gOKdP_5xDu7mvylaRZanucX_GGt6iHCmoTZP2Hwyh6ATS5X6n11U
https://bss.au.dk/om-aarhus-bss/nyheder/vis/artikel/peter-kommer-lettere-til-jobsamtale-end-ali/?fbclid=IwAR0X_Z2gOKdP_5xDu7mvylaRZanucX_GGt6iHCmoTZP2Hwyh6ATS5X6n11U
Furthermore, women that wear a hijab have to send 60 pct more applications than native danish women, while "non-westerners" that don't wear hijab have to send 18 pct more - just to get to the job interview. https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/for-foerste-gang-har-forskning-kortlagt-at-kvinder-med-toerklaede-vaelges
"This study shows that ethnic minorities in Denmark, have a substantially more difficult path to employment than native job seekers - findings suggest that better performing organizations tend to discriminate less" https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/puar.13094
Depending on one's politics, it is highly questionable whether this government is performing adequately in regards to "integration" and immigration. It´s impossible (with this political climate) that the citizenship test won't be just as (actually more) biased than the jobmarket
One could argue that the current citizenship laws and tests shouldn't be as strict as it is. But they are (as they stand) significantly closer to a fair, meritocratic, and neutral process than this proposal - that is nothing better than an apartheid system of governing minorities
Another great thread — and yet another example of non-exceptional-exceptionalism; in this case it is the Netherlands that believes racism is either elsewhere or worse somewhere else. https://twitter.com/sjccorn/status/1359187016882282501
https://twitter.com/sjccorn/status/1359187016882282501
