As I'm starting to try to get back into the Swedish customs, as I'm probably moving there soon and don't want to experience a complete culture shock, what has hit me is that Swedes are incredibly keen on making everyone feel welcome and accepted, which is good - in theory.
I say in theory because I really think it's gone too far on some points. Sweden is like that desperate person who wants everyone to like her and therefore changes everything about herself in accordance with other peoples preferences.
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about gender neutrality, and not to encourage women's rights, but to be politically correct about homosexuals and transgender individuals. There is now a composite word for him and her, and the most recent next is that a high school has made a third changing room for people who don't feel that they are either gender. Seriously? That's a tiny fraction of students!
Being accepting of everyones lifestyle and trying to adapt society to everyones preferences is not the same thing. I don't judge people based on what they do in the bedroom, and if a man wants to dance in a dress or even have his penis chopped off and munch oestrogen, go for it, but that only includes 0.3% of the population, and there are other, larger minorities which have much more urgent issues that should be tended to before we consider whether 1 out of 3 000 people might have to make up their minds as to which changing room to go into.
It's the same with immigrants. Many Swedes, especially in schools, have been told not to wish someone a merry christmas, because people who don't celebrate christmas might be offended.
If you live a different lifestyle you shouldn't be discriminated for it, but society can't adapt to every single different lifestyle! What of people who can't open door handles because they don't have arms, people who are allergic to dogs; should we just ban dogs and doorhandles so that those people don't feel like they're at a disadvantage?
While respecting most different lifestyles - those that don't include raping people etc. - I'm a firm believer in adaptation. We need to form a society which everyone can function in, not one where every single individuals special wishes come true.
If you believe in adaption, why haven’t you adapted to Switzerland? You’ve been there for a long time.
SvaraRaderahow haven't I?
RaderaBut really, I'd like to know. In what way have I not adapted to Switzerland?
Raderayou don’t seem happy there. you don’t seem to want to be there?
Radera