Like all countries with a Muslim population worth mentioning, we've got problems here in Norway with a very skewed statistic on drownings among children. No wonder, since the ability to swim is also so unevenly distributed. This isn't only a problem here, but it's perhaps more of a problem here than in a number of other countries. I mean, look at a map. Not being able to swim is a problem everywhere, but it's a serious problem in a country with a coastline from literally here to Rome.
This was recently borne out by an accident here in Oslo this week where two young boys, brothers, drowned. They were playing football by a lake, the younger brother (aged 9) got overheated and wanted to go in the lake to cool off. He got in too deep and got in trouble ... the older brother (12) tried to save him but drowned as well. They couldn't swim. Of course these were not Norwegian children. On the occasion of this event a disturbing
statistic was publicized - death by drowning among children younger than 15 is on the rise. So far this year the number is double that from 2008. Sure, it's still a very low number - six children have drowned in Norway so far this year. That's very few, a very low percentage of all the children living in this country. But try telling that to the mother at Romsås who has now lost her two sons.
For whom this is of course sad ... and yet my sympathy is limited. It always has been for this kind of tragedy. IMO it's sad in principle, but I do not pity the bereaved, because they have brought it on themselves. It is their own prejudice, willful ignorance and blind submission to the ravings of an epileptic highwayman that has led them to this pass. 70% of fifth graders here in Oslo can't swim. Yes, of course there are ethnic Norwegians among them. Of course there are ethnic Norwegians who can't swim, children and adults alike - but this is irrelevant; two wrongs don't make a right. And the proportion of potential drownees is as I said completely skewed. The reason for this is something we can't have a proper discussion about, because that would make us racists, boo.
The reason is that there's something wrong with islam; something that is making it non-compatible with the proper functioning of our society. But that's so racist and insensitive and discriminatory, so we can't have that discussion. It must be avoided, even at the cost of children's lives. It's actually quite sickening. There is a
comment in Aftenposten today, by the always interesting Mala Wang-Naveen ... she writes that unfortunately there are many parents in Oslo who apply to have their children excused from
swimming class. Their irrational dumbass reason for this is of course the sinfulness of the human body and of the display of same. Wang-Naveen writes that the most provoking facet of this is that these parents have widespread support in the Muslim community. I disagree. The most provoking thing is that it's even possible for them to make such an application!!
I do not want my child to learn a vital and life-saving skill, because I am superstitious. Why on earth is this not
completely ignored? Why is there even an option to remove children from classes of this massive importance?? This is a matter of
life and death. Muslim parents, you're not living in the desert anymore, take a look at a fucking map.
Upon these ridiculous and nauseating facts I base the title of this post. Because while it is sad that children die before they've had a chance to live, and from a cause that could so easily have been avoided, when the reason for their deaths is the irrational superstitions of their parents, my compassion is just ... let us say diverted to worthier causes. Let their children drown. Since that's the way they want it, let their children drown.
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