Icelandic culture reducing

[FlashVoyager]

I read this article in a English language newspaper aimed at tourists called Grapevine. It mostly centres around tourist attractions and places of interest but often features articles about news and social issues. It's freely available. However, this article caught my eye.

How Not to be Icelandic

There are few things more exhilarating than visiting a foreign country for the first time, that liberating spark of childlike wonder you search out all around the world. Hopefully, my dear reader, you can experience that same feeling. Alas, in my case,disenchantment with that supposed greatness of Iceland has truly set in. Like Biblo Baggins once famously said, I feel "like too little butter spread over too much toast". Iceland has spread out too far, too fast. Somewhat like a ditzy bimbo with silicon lips, breasts and a carrot tan to top. Yes, just like our miss Iceland. Look for her in the local nightclub like Icelandair promised(if sarcasm is lost on you, Miss Iceland also meant to be Iceland itself). Iceland has sort of lost itself in its relentless and overwhelming "happy meal" propaganda, and in the process lost it elflike, wide-eyed innocence - instead, it has gained wide screen televisions for every home and two cars to boot. To understand Icelanders, you must first take this into account: it really does not matter what you talk about, Iceland is the best in ever instance. Take for example the football team. It is not a bad team because they lose nine times out of ten; they are just a great football team not winning because they have a bad coach - or insert another excuse of your choice. The same goes for our food, our brennivín(Black Death) and women. You just don't understand, accent withstanding, the importance of Iceland in the process of pimping ourselves out in order to be the next famous tourist minefield, we have somehow lost contact with everything that makes us truly Icelandic and distinct; instead we contracted an American disease, which some of you might know as affluenza: "the bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with Joneses". Instead of preserving the cultural heritage of the centre of Reykjavík, we throw down Lego-like buildings. Meanwhile, housing prices are skyrocketing and we errect shopping malls like Smáralind, which is shaped like an eternal erection. Inside Smáralind there is a sperm-like line to follow in the shopping paradise of Oz. Next to Smáralind there is a smaller building shaped like a vagina, with a sign with the word: EGG. Go figure, "We are the hollow men. We are the stuffed men." Ask yourselves: is this Icelandic culture of Consumer Culture tearing Icelandic civilization in its jaws? At the same time the centre of Reykjavík is filled with you, my dear readers; however, at the same time Laugavegur is filled with Icelanders driving along the street, no doubt returning from a trip to the local Americanised mall. Where has Icelandic culture gone? from what I can see, we seem to flaunt our cultural heritage in the faces of tourists and people in other countries; however, plebeian customs seem to have high-jacked most aspects of Icelandic culture, which is seldom found in the home of an Icelander. There is entire generation of Icelanders who know more about American idol, Friends and American brand names than Icelandic poets. Of course, If I were to simplify matters I could just blame it all on the AFRTS (Armed Forces Broadcasting), which infiltrated the minds of young Icelanders in the late sixties and early seventies with shows such as Bonanza and cultural icons such as John Wayne. That would be wishful thinking. Rather. I think our rapid loss of distinct Icelandic culture stems from all consuming waves of chronic apathy that affects Icelanders in general. To understand what I mean, you must grasp how our cultural division amidst Icelanders is; a division easily spotted in our nightlife , shopping habits, lifestyles and clothes. Most Icelanders of our generation can be categorised into certain types: either indie(treflar), beatniks/'60s revival types, chavs(hnakkar), wannabe yuppies and yuppies. Nevertheless, the all-encompassing trait that can be found in most of us is a heartbreaking state of apathy. We have become stretched in all directions, a side dish on the plate of consumerism. Icelandic nature, literature and even the language itself seem to be flat-lining . Maybe this is to be expected. Child prostitution seems to have become a problem here in Reykjavik - meanwhile the mayor of Kópavogur is fawning over "exotic dancers" in some sleazy joint. The homeless of Reykjavík are a hidden problem, however that probably does not matter to us. At least the government are riding, i.e. being driven, on sweet wheels while Alþingi is being spruced up. Perhaps apathy is the new Icelandic way. So I have a request, dear reader. Please tell me, along with other Icelanders you meet, how to be Icelandic. You probably either have the Lonely Planet guide to Iceland or some other guidebook(hopefully an old one) - and dare I say, maybe even some Icelandic sagas?

[Menydh]

From what little I know, Iceland does not seem to have a big problem with immigration, yet. There are few and many are European. Not that the fact that they are European is a good thing by itself.

So I would suppose that Iceland's first and foremost identity problem is americanization?

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

From what little I know, Iceland does not seem to have a big problem with immigration, yet. There are few and many are European. Not that the fact that they are European is a good thing by itself.

So I would suppose that Iceland's first and foremost identity problem is americanization?

Iceland is threatened by liberal policy allowing mass immigration like any other Nordic country. In order to integrate immigrants, Police recruits more and more immigrants for Police service.
Nevertheless there is a growing concern over immigration,
e.g. an intercultural center does not receive fundings from the government. The liberal establishment will not leave any chance out to destroy the native population and heritage, official Icelandic preservation programs tackle environmental issues only.
So Americanization as well as leftist-liberal policy combined make sure a civilization's annihilation is inevitable when not pushed back.

[Aeternitas]

The trend to adopt African children is present there too, as far as I read:
Iceland Adoption Society looks towards Africa

As well as gay pride celebrations:
Reykjavík supports Gay Pride

Moreover, Social Democrats aim at EU membership.

[Ferran]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

From what little I know, Iceland does not seem to have a big problem with immigration

I hope so, but there are some icelanders (small "i" letter in purpose) who don't seem to be happy with that...

http://web.archive.org/web/200211070...storyReader$19

This bit is specially pathetic:

"We need more people who are not like us and have different things to offer. If we do not have more foreigners to live here this country will stay as boring as it is now," says Thorgerdur Gunnarsdóttir

Who did he want to deceive with such crap? Seems to be one of the old (note that this article is from 2001) tricks multiculturalists made use of to impose their model in countries not used to that phenomena. At least now they (supposedly the champions of anti-capitalism) don't even bother to hide that the reason for that irrational interest in immigration is mainly economical.

[Menydh]

The truth is that with a population of only 310,000 even a small number of immigrants can make a big impact there.

This is a year and a half old. Interesting nonetheless:
Iceland, Immigrants, and How Not to End Up Like Denmark - The ReykjavÃ*k Grapevine Online

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Ferran

I hope so, but there are some icelanders (small "i" letter in purpose) who don't seem to be happy with that...

http://web.archive.org/web/200211070...storyReader$19

This bit is specially pathetic:

"We need more people who are not like us and have different things to offer. If we do not have more foreigners to live here this country will stay as boring as it is now," says Thorgerdur Gunnarsdóttir

Who did he want to deceive with such crap? Seems to be one of the old (note that this article is from 2001) tricks multiculturalists made use of to impose their model in countries not used to that phenomena. At least now they (supposedly the champions of anti-capitalism) don't even bother to hide that the reason for that irrational interest in immigration is mainly economical.

With the name ending in "dottir" she must be female. It is worth noting because women seem to be far more attracted to the idea of exotic adoptions from outside Europe. They also seem to really enjoy getting their church group to sponsor a Third World refugee family. A former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson never met a refugee she didn't want to take in.

[dime]

my friend is icelandic and he told me u need to be icelandic to live in iceland(get citizenship)

[Menydh]

Citizenship does not make one Icelandic, or any other ethnicity for that matter. Citizenship is a jacobine concept that means as much as nothing in terms of nationality.

[Aeternitas]

Originally Posted by dime

my friend is icelandic and he told me u need to be icelandic to live in iceland(get citizenship)

I've read that Icelandic law is generally based on the ius sanguinis. But there are still exceptions e.g. for foreign children adopted by Icelandic parents.

Laws and Regulations < Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Aeternitas

I've read that Icelandic law is generally based on the ius sanguinis. But there are still exceptions e.g. for foreign children adopted by Icelandic parents.

Laws and Regulations < Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs

In italy the proposal to pss to jus soli for the moment is in a long waiting line.

Still a dangerous dormant though.

[Caradoc]

i'm an admirer of icelandic culture, it would be a real shame if the already failed multiculture trollop would damage it

[meadhbh]

Like other people have said as far as I know Iceland doesn't have a large amount of people moving there from else where. The climit will probaly prevent any large migrations. Any time you have people visiting and moving into an area though ideals will be exchanged. What Iceland needs to do is come to balance with what they are going to take in from tourists and what they need to do to retain their own culture. I bleive they are the last country to keep traditional surname pratices.