Today’s issue of the Norwegian newspaper Vårt Land (Our Country) includes an article by Line Madsen Simenstad about Anja Savosnick, a 23-year-old Oslo college student who’s routinely harassed in public for being Jewish. People have said to her: “Burn in Auschwitz!” She’s constantly tempted to lie about her background: “Always, when I’m at a party or out on the town,” she says, “I have uncomfortable experiences when it comes out that I’m Jewish.”
Although Muslim anti-Semitism is a widespread phenomenon in Oslo, as in other European cities, Savosnick says that most of the anti-Semitism she’s experienced has been directed at her by ethnic Norwegians. No surprise there: a college student in Oslo is less likely to have social contact with Muslims who learned in mosques that Jew-hatred is part and parcel of Islamic belief than with ethnic Norwegian fellow students who’ve learned since childhood – from teachers, professors, media commentators, and distinguished Norwegian authors alike – that Jew-hatred is the only civilized option for an educated, right-thinking Scandinavian.
Savosnick says that when people find out she’s Jewish, they “began to hold me responsible for Israel’s actions.” Her reaction: “I don’t understand why I, as a Norwegian Jew, must take responsibility for Israel’s actions.” Given what Norwegian college students (even Jewish ones) have been told all their lives about Israel, it’s no surprise that absolutely nothing in Savosnick’s comments, as reported by Simenstad, so much as hints at the possibility that any of Israel’s actions might actually be defensible.
Go right back at them about the horrible things the Vikings did. Don’t let up – get them apologizing and being obsequious. Tell them since they’ve never apologized for burning and pillaging their way across Europe, they have nothing to say to you. Call them racist, baby-murderers, nasty smelly bigoted barbarians.
See how fast they twist in the wind.
Norway: Home of the nauseating WWII collaborationist Vidkun Quisling.
That explains a lot.
It is depressing to read about this girls experiences in my neighbourcountry. Norway is in many subtle ways different from Sweden, just look at the location of the country, hidden in mountains and fjords. Here in my part of Sweden,the south, we have large muslim populations in our big cities due to irresponsible immigrationpolitics. Just like in other European countries. Antisemitism here is mostly found in the muslim population. Swedes are generally only interested in discussing muslimproblems.
Hmmm. Norway.
didn’t they collaborate big time with the Nazis
Well, yes and no. As another commentator has noted, our modern word “Quisling” comes from Norway. However, their tiny military, hamstrung both by a government committed to pacifism in the face of Nazi aggression and a society that held them in contempt, punched well above their weight in fighting the German invasion. In the run-up to the assault, the government refused to mobilize, and in fact only authorized a partial mobilization the day prior to the invasion, as German ships and aircraft were already enroute to their targets. It’s heartbreaking to read of the self sacrifice of the Norwegian army, navy and air force against Hitler’s onslaught, and had they been supported by their own government, they could very well have turned back the initial invasion.
As it was, between the Norwegians’ fecklessness and the British late involvement (much as our own government in the critical week prior to Pearl Harbor, the British didn’t really take seriously intelligence indications that Germany was about to invade Norway), the German navy lost one of two heavy cruisers, two of six light cruisers, ten of twenty destroyers, had a pocket battleship knocked out, and their only two battleships chased off by a single RN battlecruiser. Many Norwegian units only surrendered when German forces threatened massive attacks on civilian targets.
Like most European countries, the Norwegians had their share of cowards, traitors, and heroes in the face of Nazism. And their experience during WWII isn’t a reason for anti-Semitism today. After all, our own leftist intelligentsia is mired in it.
Contrary to your statement, the British, specifically, Churchill, expected the Germans to attack Norway and were already planning an Allied invasion of Norway to preempt the Germans. General incompetence in planning and execution by the British created a fiasco costing ships and lives and an embarassing withdrawal.
The British expected a German attack on Norway eventually, and indeed had prepared forces to occupy Narvik to block ore shipments. They were ready to sail but were ordered to remain in port and disembark the troops when early indications of German movement were picked up.
The reason was that the British misinterpreted German activity as preparation for a massive fleet breakout into the Atlantic and redeployed the RN to block it. Thus, the northern approaches towards Norway were uncovered and the Germans made their objectives with no initial opposition from the British.
So you are correct to state the British were anticipating a German assault, but when it came the British completely misinterpreted what they were seeing and countered a nonexistent threat.
Eventually the British and French did put troops into Narvik, well after their fleet had destroyed German naval forces there, but it was too little, too late and they ended up withdrawing, leaving all of Norway to the Germans.
One of my favorite stories from WWII comes from the German invasion of Norway. LCOL Erikson,65 years old, commanded the Oskarborg fort on Oslofjord, built in 1905. He had only a few reserve coast artillerymen there, and could man only two of his three 11 inch naval rifles. When he got word the German ships were steaming up the fjord he decided it was his duty to fight.
As the heavy cruiser Blucher came into view Erikson sighted his big 11 inch naval rifles through the bores, then had them loaded and fired. Both shells struck the German. On fire and having lost power, the ship drifted into the arc of the torpedo battery, which put a spread of torpedos into her. She sank, taking with her the German admiral and the Gestapo detatchment that had been tasked with arresting the govrnment and King. They got away, to form a government in exile in Britain and return with victory in 1945. I don’t know if Erickson lived to see the liberation, but I sure hope he did. Norwegians should keep his memory green.
It gets better – since the permanent commander of the torpedo battery was on sick leave, a retired Naval officer, Commander Andresson, was recalled to take charge. Both he and Erikson acted with commendable initiative, liberally interpreting the overly rigid strictures of their orders. As a result, the Kriegsmarine’s newest heavy cruiser was destroyed and the German timetable for taking Oslo thrown into disarray. As you note, they gave the Norwegian government time to evacuate, thus denying the Germans a key part of their planning – the bloodless capture of the King and forced surrender of the country. The Nazis would have to fight for their conquest, and not merely parade to a clean coup.
Another effect of the defenses’ short handed manning was that when the Germans landed troops to assault them, the fortress commanders were forced to withdraw their gun crews for ground defense, thus rendering the coastal defenses useless. The Norwegian government consistently refused to mobilize, on the idiotic grounds that it would be “provocative!”
Since the Germans could not simply drive to Norway, the dogged defense of the few courageous military officers determined to fight for their nation shows how the invasion could have been turned back had the minefields been laid, the forts manned, and all of the ships activated, and realistic orders given for the defense of Norway.
There is always somebody that a society under stress can blame for their ills. It’s so unfortunate that the Jews tend to be the default goat but that’s the way it’s always been and will continue for a short while more. The cultural wealth, intellectual achievement, and humanity is banished from any society that cannot see where the real problem lies and takes it out on the on their Jewish minority. Peace prize country? Great line! Arafat, Carter, Gore, Obama. What a list of losers!
This time, when the Jews begin to flee Europe, as the prescient ones will, we Americans need to open our doors widely.
Last time, we did entirely too little of that, but it still got us the world’s best physicists and an host of other intellectual capital.
And 900 people on the “St. Louis” were denied entry to the USA, and were sent back to Germany, where most, if not all, perished in the camps.
To cite another example, a Canadian minister, asked how many Jews Canada would admit, replied that one would be too many.
Australia concurred.
So why would things be different now?
Point of detail: they were sent back but docked in Antwerp, Belgium. Britain agreed to take in 288 of the passengers, and the rest were split roughly evenly between Belgium, Holland, and France. The ones who went to England were safe: of the rest, a bit more than half survived.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.S._St._Louis
They are leaving. Head rabbi of England came to New York just a few weeks ago and said, “We are leaving…it IS 1939!” Jews are leaving Amsterdam, Belgium, France (where synagogues and Jewish businesses employ armed gaurds to stand by the doors for the French police will not protect them,) and many other European countries. And do not forget – they have fled Arab countries into the MILLIONS.
Dr. Dave, have you looked at the attitudes among our professors and what our college students are being taught? Or in our government? I doubt we will open our doors to the Jews this time either.
Nice little social democracy you got there, Haakon. Be a shame if anything happened to it.
For a little Norwegian background:
http://www.frontkjemper.com/
… not that they were unique. Many nations hid or minimized their degree of collaboration with Nazi
movements after the war.
For much of the war, there were more non-German Europeans in the SS than Germans. The largest contingent was French but there were also Dutch, Danes and many others. I believe one of the main dead-ender units defending the Reichstag at the very end was a French SS unit.
I believe that the Dutch, per capita, had the highest non-German membership in the SS. But don’t forget the large numbers of Muslims recruited into the SS by the Mufti of Jerusalem.
Only a fool would trust the USG to open its doors to fleeing Jews from Europe. The smart approach would be via the Rio Grand with all the other amnesty fodder.
The best parts of European society were sent to die in Auschwitz. Then, the stupid bastards doubled down and imported Islamists.
Milo got it right. I’m no Jew, but it is incredible how accurate his simple statement is. One other thing. America is not coming to help you next time. You’ve done your best to cripple her. You will be on your own from here on out.
Ergo, the Jews were the best part of European society. Nothing quite like a little racism in the name of combatting racism, eh?
There is nothing yet to indicate that Jews in Europe are in danger of their lives. Should the day come they have their own ethnostate to flee to. Unlike the Norwegians or anyone else, they’re the only ethnicity still allowed to have one.
“Savosnick says that when people find out she’s Jewish, they ‘began to hold me responsible for Israel’s actions.’”
What more vindication could you ask for, for the decision to create Israel. Jews seem not to be safe in Europe over the long term, and perhaps not safe anywhere. That is sad, disgusting, revolting, but apparently true.
KenB,
You just about quoted Theodor Hertzl’s argument over 100 years ago for the creation of a Jewish state.
“Savosnick says that when people find out she’s Jewish, they ‘began to hold me responsible for Israel’s actions.’”
What more vindication could you ask for, for the decision to create Israel. It seems Jews are not safe in Europe over the long term, and perhaps not anywhere. That is sad, disgusting, revolting, but apparently true.
Like Danish Christians did during Nazi occupation, I have for several years been wearing a Star of David at all times. I know there is relatively little risk in doing so now, but that could change. I hope decent folk out there will consider doing likewise. Not only does it make it difficult for the bastards to pick out the Jews, it provides opportunities to excoriate the anti-Semitic pricks. Also, if we study history we should not be in the least surprised that anti-Semitism is today largely a phenomenon of the left.
Note to Norway (and Bruce):
Those Israeli missiles can now reach Norway – with thermonuclear payloads on them.
It might make the Norwegians think twice about continuing to do what they are doing.
And Bruce, if the Islamists attacking you for being gay is not enough to drive you back to New York (which will recognize gay marriages, BTW), then the threat of a threatened Israel nuking you in Oslo should do the trick.
Anti-semitism is a poison I thought we got rid of when I was a teen in the fifties and sixties but I obviously am wrong. As a non-Jew I stand beside Jews in America and elsewhere. We should not tolerate this hatred in our public discourse or our government policies. Enough.
The article does not say what kind the antisemitic hecklers are: racist far “right” elements, leftist “useful idiots” of the Islamists, Arab immigrants themselves, or all of the above. Sadly, my money is on “all of the above”. I’ve reached the conclusion that there is no future for Jews in Europe some time ago.
There are no far right racists you stupid fool. The Jews don’t stand a chance with friends like you alienating their only allies.
From my reading of Bawer’s book (see my comment #22, I would wager that the hecklers were ethnic Norwegians of the left.
It’s fun to see people act like they were surprised or like nothing like this could ever happen in the US. How much fun, exactly, do you think confessing to being a Jew is at your average US Campus? Let me tell you there’ll be plenty of self-appointed experts at the Middle East and Western imperialism that’ll jump all over you demanding your denounce racist, imperialist Israel – or else…
I just don’t get this rise in anti-Semitism. Even if we go with the stereotypes, people hate them for what? Being productive and wealthy and smart and faithful to their God? It makes no sense. Then again, I grew up in conservative Texas, and I’ve actually never seen anti-Semitism around here. No, really. I didn’t know it was still so pervasive as I was growing up until I was exposed to more lefty intellectual types. Kind of surprising, eh?
I believe it’s because Jewish culture consists largely of people that are successful and peaceful. If you are as successful as Jews often are, people become jealous. It’s human nature.
I have no problem with Jews being so good at everything. And they should add a little more aggressiveness to the mix. My suggestion would be to stop complaining that people are anti semitic. And hit them over the head with a frying pan instead.
If you let Norwegians bully you – seriously!! you need to toughen up.
There is a resurgence of anti semitism in Canada, even among ‘respectable’ people. Or perhaps, I should say, overt anti-semitism, the kind where one can talk of “The Jew”…
As to Norwegians: Like their Viking forebears, they have spent the 20th century over fishing and destroying the West Highland and Islands fisheries, and are now trying (through the EU) to destroy Scottish fish hatcheries. The owner of Canna island (John Lorne Campbell) attempted (for 30 years) to stop this destruction, but with no help from the British government, could only rage as the Hebridean populations fell and almost disappeared (while the equivalents in Norway flourished.)
It is also interesting that, when the Danish Jewish population escaped from the Nazis, they escaped to Sweden. Not Norway. Hmmmm.
I wish I could remember who said it: “Europe used to have a minority group that was generally law-abiding, creative, and hardworking. They killed it. Now Europe has the minority group it deserves.”
And yes, although it might be nice for the young lady to arm herself with facts with which to respond to the falsehoods that one usually hears from anti-Israel elements, it sounds like she’s just trying to get by and I can’t blame her.
I’m not excusing the Norwegians by any means, Heathermc. And my guess is a lot of the people giving the gal trouble are ethnic Norwegians; their trade union movement, for example, is quite anti-Israel. But at least they can’t be blamed for not being the Danish Jews’ refuge–as a glance at a map will tell you.
In his book While Europe Slept, Bruce Bawer relates being introduced to Norwegians who hone in on asking him if he were Jewish. Which he wasn’t. Anti-Semitism never went away. It just got buried, only to reappear.
Large numbers of Norwegian men volunteered to fight for the nazis and did so with fierceness.
Having traveled in Norway many times over the last 44 years and having Norwegian ethnic ancestry I have learned that there are none in Europe more smug, clueless,and narrow-minded than Norwegians certainly the world’s most self-congratulating people.
Another interesting fact was that significant numbers of Norwegian women were more than willing participants in Hitler’s breed blond “aryan” babies program using selected members of the Nazi occupation forces in Norway as studs.
The vast majority of the people who volunteered to fight for the Nazi’s, did so due to their fear of the communist threat, not because they supported the Nazi ideology. Most of them were brave, solid young men who simply was mislead by the powerful propaganda ministry of the Nazi’s, believing that the only decent thing to do was to fight the evil communism (The “lex superior” principle.)
And when it comes to the few Norwegian girl’s who had relationship with German soldiers….they sure got to pay for that error when the war ended…
Where are you people getting some of this stuff? My Norwegian relatives live in a small town on the border with Sweden. During WWII, they were invaded by Germany. The men were conscripted to work in the heavy water plant and absolutely HATED being forced to help the Nazis! My great aunt escaped with her baby across the snowy fields to Sweden, from where she was brought to the States by my grandmother. Contrary to common impression, most Norwegians are dark in color, not blond like the Swedes next door, so Hitler wouldn’t have gotten “aryan” babies from them! To this day, they do not trust Germans.
My parents lived in occupied Norway and both my father and my uncle were active in the Resistance Movement.My uncle was arrested and spent 3 years in a German prison.Not once did I ever hear them utter a anti-Semitic word. They fought for what they believed in, and they instilled that virtue in me. There are those,in every country,the USA included,that are racist and intolerant of anyone who is different from them. Norway remains a very homogeneous country and with the influx of “foreigners”,I’m sure that some feel,to some extent,that they are being invaded again.
People love to hate those who succeed and Israel has definitely been a success.