Corruption in the Embassies

So what are those trouble making Swedish ambassadors up to this time? Frankly, the Swedish Embassies have definitely changed the world's view on how prim and proper ambassadors should behave, all through a simple reality television program called "Diplomaterna." Swedish newspaper, "The Local," characterized the program as a viewing pleasure of watching ambassadors abroad on their luxury yachts and extravagant cocktail parties. And who said they hated reality tv, especially when it came to those crazy partying Swedish diplomats? So, what are our good friends the ambassadors doing abroad besides being naughty? Well, according to the series, the diplomats are hard at work during times of conflict especially regarding Middle Eastern conflicts in places such as Lebanon and Israel. So we can expect more than just Swedish partying and meatballs.  Stay tuned to see the success of this six-part series...! Unfortunately for us living in the States we will be unable to see the local broadcast of the show because it is in SVT, swedish programing. But no fear, I will be searching for online streams!

Susie's Bayers Good Vibes

"No one would agree with me, but maybe some of the vibrations are left over in the clothing."

~Susie Bayer

In George Packers "How Susie Bayer's T-shirt Ended Up on Yusuf Mama's Back" Susie Bayer donates her sweaty old gray University of Pennsylvania workout shirt to the local thrift store in hopes that the shirt will end up in Africa and be able to send "positive vibes "to those around who don the stained garment.  Although, Susie believes she's doing good for those in the impoverished country, how do the natives feel? Isn't this a sense of globalization? Isn't this another move that the westerners feel they must do in order to "save" the world? According to Ugandan Taxi Driver "Ugandan culture will be dead in ten years, because we are all looking to these Western things. Ugandan culture is dying even now. It is dead, Dead and buried." So does that mean that our good deeds are seen as a destroying a culture and replacing it with our own?

So then where did Susie Bayer's sweat stained shirt go? After following it extensively, George Packer picked it up to then realize it was grabbed out of his hand by a Yusuf Mama. Why did Yusuf Mama pick up this specific shirt? Because it was touched by a Westerner. He thought it would be potential good luck from the Western vibes it gave. 

To Be Continued... 

Where To Seek Refuge?

For those who don't know, Sweden has one of the largest populations in the world. It infact has the most Iraqi Refugees than any other country in Europe, and is also easily comparable to the United States for refugees seeking better lives. So then what is so great about Sweden and the U.S. that everyone must seek solace? In his article "The Case Against the West" Kishore Mahbubani argues that the Western Countries especially the U.S. no longer have the appeal they've had for centuries. Rather, he basically compares the U.S. to being a competitve teenage girl unable to give up her spotlight and reigning to those who have finally overcome adversity and are ready to shine. So if other countries are slowly growing into higher power, why are they still seeking refuge in the Western World? We're a world of nuclear proliferations, home of President George W. Bush, the home of Democracy, and we love war. How horrible. And along with Mahbubani, his friend Tony Judt in his article "What Have We Learned, If Anything?" believes that the U.S. and the Western World has sullied their names, and history and the past are reminders of the mistakes we've made. Judt even goes on to throw the "I" word out loosely, arguing that the U.S. is "ignorant of it's true significant" and the ignorance "leads to a misidentification of the enemy." Those are some fighting words Tony. So what does this all come down to? Not everyone's perfect, especially the world we are living in. Why not try and make the world a better place by bettering those who live in it first?

So what's the point of this blog? EVERYONE seems to have a great understanding of those "other" Western countries besides England, Spain, Germany and of course, our favorite, France. But what about the other ones like Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and my personal favorite, Sweden. Are they not good enough to go mainstream? Well, for those who want to raise awareness for the underdog counties especially Sweden ; ) here's the spot.

Sweden is not just another Scandanavian country with beautiful busty blondes, hot soccer players, and a quite an ecclectic array of musical popstars ( ABBA, sigh) but rather a small country with rich culture and quite an interesting government which is often overlooked. So how about it? It's time to indulge ourselves...