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Sweden rings in Iranian new year
www.thelocal.se ^ | 03/20/2007 | TT/The Local

Posted on 03/20/2007 3:51:33 PM PDT by WesternCulture

Most people who fled from Iran or Iraq in the 1980's to Sweden were (by their own words) opposed to Islamofascism.

However, because of the development in Iraq, a lot of Muslims around Europe (especially younger ones) are beginning to doubt the democratic and humanist values westerners have tried to teach them.

The article:

"At 1.30am on Wednesday, around 140,000 people in Sweden will begin celebrating Norouz, the Iranian new year.

The initial celebrations set the tone for two weeks of festivities, characterized by the exchange of gifts, an abundance of food and visits to family and friends. Norouz traditionally marks the beginning of spring.

For the third year in a row, the ancient Zoroastrian holiday will be celebrated at Globen Arena in Stockholm. Around 8,000 people are expected to gather in the venue to dance and listen to music.

One of the artists due to play at Globen is Arash, who came to Sweden as a ten-year-old in the 1980s. Having made his breakthrough both in Sweden and internationally, Norouz is a very hectic time for the singer.

"I was in London a few days ago and I'm also going to be playing in Dubai and Copenhagen. It's great to be able to celebrate the new year with my compatriots around the world," Arash told news agency TT.

Norouz is the most prominent public holiday in Iran, Syria and in Kurdish regions.

"It is something that is very big for us. It is a bit reminiscent of Christmas. We also have a Christmas buffet, even if it looks different, and we put on our best clothes and exchange presents.

"The main difference between celebrating here and in Iran is that then we celebrated with all our relatives. Here it tends to be a bit more lonely," said Arash.

Iranian new year celebrations have become so widespread in Sweden that shop-owners have noticed an increase in their takings. The Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel) estimates that turnover will increase by 120 to 150 million kronor ($17-21 million) as a direct result of Norouz.

"It's really all types of products. People buy a lot of groceries of course. But it is also a holiday for which people dress nicely, so a lot of dress clothes and shoes are bought. Even children are dressed in their finest clothes.

"People also decorate their homes, so there could be a few new living room sofas too," said Meta Troell from the Swedish Trade Federation."


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: eurabia; europe; iran; muslimimmigration; sweden

1 posted on 03/20/2007 3:51:35 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

Ok, your religion is a death cult, your in our country..but its ok because you might buy a new sofa or something.

Hmmmmm....consumerism is a bankrupt replacement for nationalism and christianity.


2 posted on 03/20/2007 3:55:29 PM PDT by DeusExMachina05 (I will not go into Dhimmitude quietly.)
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To: WesternCulture
"However, because of the development in Iraq, a lot of Muslims around Europe (especially younger ones) are beginning to doubt the democratic and humanist values westerners have tried to teach them."

Can someone explain why our efforts to bring democracy and humanist values to Iraq have caused European Muslims to question the values of democracy and humanism?
3 posted on 03/20/2007 4:03:49 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Steve_Seattle

That would be simple:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9ACBA90A-7036-44F4-87C0-754AE9ABA44E.htm?


4 posted on 03/20/2007 4:16:13 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: DeusExMachina05
Ok, your religion is a death cult, your in our country..but its ok because you might buy a new sofa or something.

A large percentage of the refugees from Iran follwing the fall of the Shah were not Muslims but were Christians, Jews and Baha'is.  Most of them, certainly the Baha'is, celebrate the Iranian new year.  The Baha'is call it Naw-ruz, but that's just a difference in the way it's translated from Farsi, the language of Iran.

Most of the large businesses in Iran were owned by Baha'is or Christians, such as the Coca-Cola bottler or the really quite successful Mercedes franchise for the whole country (who supplied most of those cars to the Arab countries as well).

5 posted on 03/20/2007 4:28:10 PM PDT by Phsstpok (Often wrong, but never in doubt)
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To: Steve_Seattle; WesternCulture
In the headeer for the article, but not in the article itself, WesternCulture states: 

"However, because of the development in Iraq, a lot of Muslims around Europe (especially younger ones) are beginning to doubt the democratic and humanist values westerners have tried to teach them."

And Steve_Seattle asks 

Can someone explain why our efforts to bring democracy and humanist values to Iraq have caused European Muslims to question the values of democracy and humanism?

As I say, nothing in the article supports the contention about "Muslims around Europe ... beginning to doubt the democratic and humanist values westerners have tried to teach them."

Where does that come from?  Personal observation?  It really doesn't seem to have anything directly to do with the article. 

6 posted on 03/20/2007 4:32:46 PM PDT by Phsstpok (Often wrong, but never in doubt)
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To: Phsstpok

You haven't heard?

Young muslims of today's Europe don't have much of a future. Because of these circumstances, some of them they turn to Islamofascism.

There are good as well as sinister forces within the world of Islam.

In any case, The Europeans are beginning to develop an animosity towards Muslim Manifestations.

If Muslim propaganda on European soil continues to escalate, their will be trouble.


7 posted on 03/20/2007 5:15:38 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

That's not the point. This article has nothing to do with the contention that "young Muslims of today's Europe don't have much of a future."

Usually when you include a conclusion in a post of an article your conclusion has some relationship to the article being posted. Again, I'm not challenging your conclusion except to say that you've provided no evidence to support it.


8 posted on 03/20/2007 5:53:39 PM PDT by Phsstpok (Often wrong, but never in doubt)
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To: Phsstpok

- The article has got a lot to do with the obvious fact that young European Muslims aren't getting jobs and some of them therefore turn hostile towards society.

I too wish reality was different.


9 posted on 03/20/2007 6:12:43 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: Phsstpok

- The article has got a lot to do with the obvious fact that young European Muslims aren't getting jobs and some of them therefore turn hostile towards society.

I too wish reality was different.


10 posted on 03/20/2007 6:13:07 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
- The article has got a lot to do with the obvious fact that young European Muslims aren't getting jobs and some of them therefore turn hostile towards society.

The article says not one word about European Muslims not getting jobs or some of them becoming hostile.  It's talking about a new years celebration and partying.  The only slightly negative thing in the entire article is the comment "'The main difference between celebrating here and in Iran is that then we celebrated with all our relatives. Here it tends to be a bit more lonely,' said Arash."

I too wish reality was different.

Apparently reality is different for you.  At least as compared to real reality.

Again, you may be 100% right about your contentions, but you've provided absolutely zero evidence and this article isn't related in any way to your contention.

Did you actually read the article?

If so please provide a quote from this article that in any way supports your comments.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.  It is, however, proof positive of no evidence.  Q.E.D.
 

11 posted on 03/20/2007 6:30:14 PM PDT by Phsstpok (Often wrong, but never in doubt)
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To: Phsstpok

That's a little like asking for proof that Hitler's 'Weltanschaung' had something to do with The Holocaust.


12 posted on 03/21/2007 12:58:10 AM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

Skol!


13 posted on 03/21/2007 12:59:47 AM PDT by Pro-Bush (hater)
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To: Pro-Bush

Skol!

However, it's actually 'Skål'. Despite the fact that a lot of Vikings settled on Britsh soil, the English language is still lacking the appealing Nordic vowels of Å, Ä and Ö.

;-)

Cheers!


14 posted on 03/21/2007 1:19:34 AM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
Cheers broham, I don't have a fancy keyboard like you.

..Now drink up!
15 posted on 03/21/2007 1:52:03 AM PDT by Pro-Bush (hater)
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To: Pro-Bush

"Cheers broham, I don't have a fancy keyboard like you"

It isn't fancy or anything. I bought it at IKEA for a lousy Euro and after screwing for ten hours my girlfriend and I finally got it to work.


16 posted on 03/21/2007 12:36:42 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
Great comeback. ..Ikea, lol.
17 posted on 03/22/2007 1:27:23 AM PDT by Pro-Bush (hater)
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