National pride

Today two of my kids had their last schoolday for this semester with 2 months of great summerholiday awaiting them. The school had a big celebration, as every year, with the children of different grades singing, a nice rector's speech and I do not think the eyes of any parent were dry when they saw their loved onces up on the stage. In the middle of this ceremony, right before the rector's speech, two nine-graders sang the Swedish national anthem, together with the background choir of all of the parents and the other children. THIS is an ordinary Swedish tradtion. This has been done forever and you can see how proud everyone, Swedish or not, is about the country we live in.

At the same time, in media, it is always discussed wether or not, it should be allowed to sing the Swedish national anthem during school ending ceremonies. The reasons listed include everything from xenophobia to equality. I really canot see this problem. I, myself, am an EU-immigrant to Sweden. My husband is an immgirant form outer-EU and my children are called 2:n generation immigrants. Still, I am very proud to call myself Swedish. I am thankful to live here in Sweden and I want that my children feel the same. With my German background I know what it means not to be able to love and cherrish and be proud of once one country. As German you are immediately called a Nazi if you say that you love Germany or that you are proud to be German. Growing up in Germany I missed this national identity, I felt European. But with the absence of national identity, one cannot demand engagement and loyality towards a country. So, I was not sorry to leave Germany, just sorry to miss my friends.

My point is: let the children sing the national anthem, let them feel the pride to live in Sweden, no matter their own nationality. Because: the national anthem should be enjoyable to any kind of nationality. Be proud to live in Sweden, to be able to enjoy the long summer days and to cuddle with candlelights during the long cold winter nights. Be proud to enjoy one of the world's best healthcare and schools, to be able to study at any age without having to pay for it, to be able to find work and if not, to have a social security net. Be proud to be able to give our children a future in peace and with a great feeling of freedom and equality. Because this is what Sweden stands for in my eyes. And for this: yes, I do too sing the Swedish national anthem on my children's last schoolday! ... and am proud of it!