The eminent Swedish ethnologist Åke Daun once described Norway’s May 17 as a “national delirium.” Talk to Danes and Swedes about the day and they will roll their eyes and chuckle as if to say, “Those Norwegians aren’t like us. Very nationalistic. Rather stuck in the past. Still, they’ve got all that oil so they can do as they please.” Some actually come right out and say all this, adding that the Norwegians are right-wing, reactionary, insular, nationalistic flag-wavers (this from Danes who, as we have heard, will stick their national flag in the cat’s litter tray given the appropriate
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