Sweden is run by morons

Sweden's largest newspaper hosts daily chats with celebrities, government hot-shots and so on. Anyone is allowed to participate, but a group of moderators sort through the questions before they are displayed.

Today, there was a chat session with Laila Freivalds, our Minister of Foreign Affairs. Laila has previously been castigated for handling the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster improperly, and the polls are not in her favor. The topics of discussion were the the Tsunami disaster, and the Mohammad drawings. To those of you who have not followed the news, Swedish embassies have been burnt to the ground by a small selection of radical followers of Islam, simply because we (the Swedes) share ideals with Denmark (the nation of the newspaper "Jyllands-Posten" which originally published the Mohammad drawings).

One early question from one of the participants was about how Sweden would react if we were the same situation. Here's a translated excerpt from the chat log:

Robin says: Hi Laila. How would you have reacted if the caricatures originated from a Swedish newspaper? Laila Freivalds says: I would have acted the same way as I do now. I would immediately have contacted the ambassadors [of foreign nations] and explained our right of free speech, but I would also have apologized to Muslims who feel oppressed [disrespected] by the drawings.

Jyllands-Posten has acted in the same way as Laila claims she is/would be doing. That is, they have offered apologies to followers of Islam, but state they cannot neglect the fundamental rights of free speech in the nation of Denmark. How exactly does apologizing for your fundamental rights *not* become a neglection of them? In turn, I decided to ask a question about the Mohammad drawings, quoted as follows:

Jyllands-Posten recently decided to publish, amongst other Islam-provoking artworks, a drawing of Mohammad with a bomb in his turban. It is, however, less known that the drawer behind this artwork has previously gotten images published by Jyllands-Posten. These early images include Jesus with U.S. dollar signs in his eyes, and the star of David attached to a bomb fuse. Is it not the right thing to do by the parties involved to apologize to other religions who may have felt disrespected by these "jokes"? Why should Islam, in any way, receive special treatment? Is it sufficient to threaten a nation of free speech to make it give in to the demands of these "terrorists" and apologize for something which is within its fundamental rights?

My question was rejected for an unknown reason, and I know for a fact it went through the filter of the chat moderators. Did it lack the entertainment value necessary to reach the eyes of the public? Was it too harsh, or too complicated? Is it taboo to ask a provocative question? Do they not like being called flip-floppers? Do I smell badly?

Anyway, here are some additional excerpts from the chat session, with very little input rising above this level of... intelligence, in my opinion (purposely mistranslated to achieve the same style of grammatical errors included in the original messages, and to piss you all off):

Eric says: how much du you mak a month? Laila Freivalds says: About ninety thousand [11,400 USD] per month. Noname says: If the Social Democrats [the political party of Laila Freivalds] win the the election, do you think you will retain your position as Minister of Foreign Affairs? What will you work with if another party wins? Laila Freivalds says: I hope so. Otherwise I will do something else that's fun. beccis says: heey laila... what is your favoritefood? Laila Freivalds says: Hi Beccis. It is bullock tail stew - I made some last Sunday. Loppan says: ninety thousand after tax? do you think you're worth it? the rest of us normal people who work our asses off are happy if we make around 12 000 [1,500 USD] per month after taxation!! Laila Freivalds says: No. I make that amount of money before taxation, which is more than 50%. ROBBAN says: do you think you're a good minister of foreign affairs? Laila Freivalds says: Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I am. Moderator says: Here comes the final question Mr. Hex says: Do you have George W. Bush's phone number? Laila Freivalds says: No, but I know how I can reach him if I need to. Thanks for all the questions. Bye! Laila

While it hasn't quite reached the point of nonsensical letter/number replacement, abbreviations and porn advertisements yet, I still feel like my country is run by teenage AOL chatroom participants. Argh. I'll let you know once Zelaron becomes an independent nation. Fuck you, Sweden.

At least you don't have Republicans.

I don't see what all the fuss is about these cartoons. They're not inciting racism, or murder, or Jihad.

Most everyday things have been mocked in cartoons, so why should one Religion be exempt?

I've seen one or two of these cartoons, and they don't look like the type of things to burn buildings to the ground over. The thing is though, all these riots and whatever are being led by young Muslims, most of whom haven't a clue about the history of Islam. "They just want to fight!" (says a little voice sat next to me). Older Muslims seem to just brush it off and carry on with life as normal.

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All goverments are stupid. I think that Labour are a load of tossers, and the Conservatives are even worse (and, up until recently, had a vampiric slimeball as a leader). Though I quite like the Lib Dems... so what if they've got everything (Paedophiles, Drunks, Kiddy-Fiddlers, Insecure Bisexuals etc)? They're a damn sight better than the current rubbish. They'd better do pretty damn well in the next election 'cos Labour aren't getting back in and the Conservatives always fuck up the country.

It seems, to me, that some of the better and more successful governments (for a time...until everyone becomes dead) are Dictatorships.

While reading that, I was waiting for someone to say "h3y laila d0 u w4n7 2 cyb3r m3 luv u l0ng tim3".

Yeah, anyway. Bush has the IQ of a monkey.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artma...cle_7779.shtml

When I take over these things will change ...oh they will.

All Hail King Chris!!

Indeed. Rejoice for me ...or you'll be made into dog food!

You make a very good point. Islam should not be receiving any sort of special treatment. The only reason they are is because the Christians and Jews aren't going insane and threatening violence and burning the Swedish flag.

Death to America. Death to the Inifidels. Allah is great...like tabasco sauce in your ass.

And Zelaron as its own nation...that could be interesting.

We don't threaten, we just quietly invade countries .

Damn right. I got some C4 that's begging to take over Illinois and a third of Canada >:E

I've got a garage full of blunt/sharp objects that has Grav's name on it. No, that wasn't a threat. I wrote your name on all of my tools.

Let's see, I'll call this one Grav. OOh! This one too...and how about that one over there. What the hey! You're all Gravses!

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Zelaron as it's own independent nation could be extremely interesting. We could do as all independent nations do and have a corrupt government trying to invade everything else and rule ze world!!

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I've always thought as Muslims as being among the more...violent religions for some reason. Can't for the life of me figure out why...maybe it's because they hate everyone who doesn't do as their religion states.

Heh, that chat room session just proves that the Social Democrats are a bunch of incompetent idiots. Along with the rest of them politicians. Then again, Sweden has always taken pride in being centrist and inoffensive, so I suppose it's alright for the gentry to be frustrated with the lack of action and responsibility.

You weren't kidding, Chruser. That's pretty pathetic.

When picking a candidate that you will think will win, be sure to make sure that the majority of the population has something in common with them. Namely, make sure that candidate is an idiot.

But that'd be -TOO- logical.

I'm here to make stars not scientists, geez.