A news report from Sweden this week with its weak domestic governance has the western world beginning to show a tougher line with immigrants from anywhere or any religion.
Both Germany and France have initiated stronger implementation of "one law for all" and the Swedish experiment is beginning to demonstrate the old adage, "give them an inch, they take a mile". The sexual assaults in Germany has the politic in turmoil.
Australia too has been in the limelight in this legal minefield area, whereby far reaching steps, as illustrated in newscasts on our television sets with police raids, are getting to problem areas before they become critical.
The Swedish drama
The article cites Stefan Hedlund, Professor of Russian and East European Studies: "A very strong contributing factor to this development [the Swedish refugee disaster] is in the deeply self-important Swedish view that this country is a moral superpower. We have gleefully acted as the world's conscience. We have made a moral virtue out of staying out of World War II, which others perceived as pure cowardice. And we have been pompous about not joining the military alliance NATO, while coldly calculating that others will come to our aid in the event of war."
This philosophical idea of Sweden being a 'moral superpower' has seen in essence an open door policy for refugees and now the very same social and religious scenarios that are sacrosanct in the Middle East is being imported to Sweden.
Examples are given in the article. In Sweden it is illegal to engage in sex with children under the age of 15. It is considered as rape, even if it is consensual. But that apparently did not stop a Middle Eastern man, while living in the country, from impregnating his 14-year-old wife. Instead of prison, the husband, as well as the girl's parents, have all been rewarded with the permanent residency status.
"This means that the public prosecutor, the police and the Immigration Service have all disregarded that the 'husband' is guilty of a crime which carries a minimum penalty of two years in prison. So, it is fine for grown men to have sex with 13-year-olds in Sweden without any kind of legal ramification? Equality before the law? No way. What kind of signal does it send to other people in a similar situation, or those planning on bringing a child bride here from their own country?
Salutary comment was - "Clearly, Swedish law applies only to Swedes." Australia too has had to deal with such situations and in this article Swedish example after example is provided. Moreover Paul Zanetti's latest opinion piece 'Rape Jihad – It's a Multicultural thing' further clarifies these issues and which highlights Sweden.
Difficult but not impossible
It's on the public record that French authorities are already dealing with so called "no go areas" where French law enforcement feels totally out of their depth. Australia too has had to comer to terms with such likely scenarios and to date, community leaders under huge pressure have kept the peace.
In Sweden there is great concern as this 'moral superpower' philosophy is coming apart at the seams.
The articles cites: December 9: The newspaper Dalarnas Tidning revealed that feeding the residents of Trängslet's asylum house costs staggering amounts — 7 million kronor (about $822,000) a month or 87 million a year (more than $10 million). According to the rules, the food should cost a maximum of 150 kronor ($17.50) per person per day, but Trängslet pays a private company 572 kronor ($67).
The upshot - the resources seem limitless when it comes to asylum seekers, but the standards, as far as what Swedish schoolchildren are fed, are falling. It was recently reported , for instance, that the kids in Alvesta will not get milk with their lunch anymore, and some students may even be forced to pay for their lunches.
The head of the local police union, Stefan Eklund, told Sveriges Television - December 11 - "We feel as if we are being silenced. Quite simply, no one will listen to us,"
This came out of the festive Nobel Banquet which took place in front of the entire world, a silent protest took place outside Stockholm's City Hall. The protesters consisted of a group of policemen who wished to show their discontent with their low wages and work situation. As they were not allowed to use loudspeakers (not to bother the Nobel Prize winners, the King and other dignitaries), the policemen had taped their mouths shut.
Now this Swedish 'moral superpower' is coming under scrutiny from within. Newscasts are promoting Australian tolerance yet within a framework of Australian law and order. This is the tension.
Australia
Australian Christian leaders are all over the place. Conservatives are on the side of law and order whereas the liberals open door policy's philosophy - it will all pan out in the end - has a ring of 'moral superpower' philosophy - which is currently showing signs of falling apart in Sweden.
Yet strangely, the practical issue for Australia is water. The Australian population debate is squarely centred on 'water supply' with social cohesion a societal concern. The Australian politic with its green emphasis has few answers on both, a classic 'moral superpower' philosophy, a 'Peace in our Time' sentiment!
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html