Norwegians more skeptical of Islam

Aftenposten (Norway) ^ | February 08 2006

[Mount Athos]

Nearly half of those polled say they have become more skeptical about Islam as a religion after the global uproar around the Mohammed caricatures.

The result comes from a survey carried out by InFact for Norway's best-selling newspaper VG.

According to the survey, which was carried out on Tuesday, 47.8 percent of those asked said they were more skeptical about Islam, while 36.7 percent their opinion of the religion had not been affected by the caricature controversy. A small group of 6.5 percent said they were less skeptical about Islam after the turmoil.

At the same time, 30.8 percent say that they have become more mistrustful towards Norwegian Muslims after the caricature reactions, while 53.6 percent say their attitude towards this group has not been affected. About 6.8 percent said they were less suspicious of Norwegian Muslims after the controversy.

Fully seven out of ten polled said they expected Muslims in Norway to have a harder time in the wake of the international controversy.

[Seydlitz]

I can't quite agree with you on Norwegian anti-Semitism. Half of Norway's Jews were killed during WW II. They had little local support, as the Norwegian Jews were descended from German Hanse traders in the late Middle Ages. Accordingly, they have always been considered outsiders, religiously and ethnically. The original Norwegian constitution (1814) even denied citizenship to Jews. Thankfully, Norwegians did defeat a recent attempt at an official ban on Israeli products.

As for occupation, sure the Norwegians didn't like it. That said, 50,000 of them served with the German military in WW II, including 10,000 with the Waffen-SS (Norway officially admits to 7,000 with the SS; the 10,000 number comes from German records). Norway was also the most active particpant in the Lebensborn program: An effort to have local women bear the children of German soldiers.

[BagelFace]

Norway is indeed a political cesspool, for the most part. Look at the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, for example -- absolute idiots. However, I'm not sure rape is considered tolerable in Norway or that muslims are responsible for 90% of the rapes commited against native Norwegians. And no, the average "Chritina Lundquist" does not walk around wearing a chastity belt, except of course on St. Prudence day.

[Eurotwit]

50 000?

[WKUHilltopper]

Sure took 'em awhile to get it...maybe they have collective brain freeze...

[tomjohn77]

You are a little bit of the truth. Most people have nothing against the Jews. One thing is sure though. We are not hot heads like the Muslims. We are stable people that likes to build and not tear down. The burn flags, buildings, throw stones. We work and build.
This whole thing will stick to the back of our head for a long time.

[csvset]

Perhaps when the first Norwegian's head is lopped off, they'll become even more skeptical.

[tomjohn77]

I am from Norway and I have never heard about girls using chastity belts. By the way Norway is a very safe place to be even though the muslims are making it less safe. If you feel safe in the US you will feel very safe in Norway. Just look at the stats.

[tomjohn77]

Just a couple of days ago there it was big banner hanging from a crossover bridge of the highway saying "Do not kneel for is Islam" with a big Norwegian flag at the bottom.

[brownsfan]

"I am from Norway and I have never heard about girls using chastity belts"

My mistake. It was in Sweden this happened. Link to article.

Another poster mentioned that Norwegians tend to dislike Jews, and blame the U.S. for the problems in the Middle East. This would still tend to produce a result where Norwegians tolerate or even embrace muslims.

[Seydlitz]

50 000?

That number consists overwhelmingly of quasi-military police forces (the Ordenspoliti and the Sikkherspoliti) and the Kriegsmarine auxillaries. Only the Waffen-SS units fought outside of Norway itself. This was generally the pattern throughout occupied Europe. Numerous locals would serve in the security forces, but few fought for the Germans outside of their own countries. Many in Europe regarded the war as the final struggle with Communism. Although they had no love for the Germans, the feeling was that one had to choose sides (it was for this reason that the Germans avoided using western European volunteers against the Anglo-American forces). Besides, the Germans were so starved for manpower that they were happy to recruit as many locals as possible.