Sweden United

When we invite guests to dinner in Sweden they enter our foyer, take off their shoes and jackets, and we try to make them comfortable. If they are new friends I think most hosts would spend some extra time getting to know them. Over the main course, dessert, and coffee we all try to enjoy each others company.

Imagine now if you went to a party and the host invited you in to the foyer. However, they told you not too get too comfortable. Leave your shoes and jacket on and wait right here. While, all the while new guests arrived and were treated cordially and with the respect and kindness most would expect from a host in Sweden. As you are waiting in the foyer, you become frustrated, you try to leave however, the exit is locked.

From the foyer you can hear the voices, the laughter, the happiness of the other guests. After a few hours you are invited in to the party by the host yet, there is no remorse or compassion from them, rather just a reserved sense of propriety.

When you enter the party everyone looks at you rather strange. No one greets you with a warm smile, they all stick to their small groups talking amongst themselves. You wonder to yourself how can you feel so alone even when surrounded by people. You question yourself as to why you accepted the invitation in the first place.

Walking about amongst the other party goers who all seem to have their backs turned to you… your eyes spy a door that has written on it “service entrance” and you test the door handle, it opens for you.

You exit into the courtyard and see others who seem to all share the experience as yourself. There is no where to go and you all wait there for a very long time out in the cold.

This story is a true story for 10’s of thousands of immigrants and second generation immigrants here in Sweden today. We cannot say it applies to all immigrants but it does happen much too often. It is the responsibility of all immigrants and natives alike to see to it that no one is left out in the cold, that we, everyone, are all invited to the society as equals. First as guests and then as long term friends. Only by achieving this level of open and nurturing relationship between immigrants and the rest of society can we move forward.

It is all a matter of perception and the will to change our opinions. I believe that if any of you saw a child crying on the sidewalk you would stop and help it, look for its mother and ensure it was ok. We all have that natural instinct in us,..the natural instinct to help one another, especially those that are vulnerable. Immigrants who may very well have been strong contributors to their society can even find themselves vulnerable here, we all have to overcome our fear of engaging those who are unfamiliar to us, and instead reach out with a helping hand.