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• Wednesday, October 22, 2008 02:03 AM

  I've lived in Sweden for more than twelve years

  (incidentally, and conveniently, avoiding both terms of the Bush Administration :-)

  While I would not paint Scandanavia with Bayard's (or Zuckerman's) broad, utopian brushstrokes (no society is absolutely perfect), I find myself agreeing with much of this article.

  After growing up in the US, I find non-religous Sweden a refreshingly pleasant environment. I don't have to battle school boards that are trying to force prayer and creationism into my childrens' curriculum, same-sex marriage isn't used as a cudgel to manipulate people at the polls, abortion and contraception are health issues, not political ones.

  In the US I heard time and again that religion is an essential part of society...that without God there is greed, selfishness and anarchy. I have spent over twelve years living among so many practical, helpful, tolerant, fundamentally good people.

  While religion binds people to deeply-held opinions that are resistant to contrary evidence, the Swede's agnosticism makes them more open to new ideas. Sweden actually has a functioning press and an active system of politics where voters meet and interact with candidates, and where people actually listen to and respond to deep, involved debates over important issues. And they vote in very high numbers, because it is important for a functioning society.

  Oh, and the language isn't so big a barrier. I know lots of Americans who have immigrated and picked up Swedish pretty quickly. And so many people speak very good English here that the transition is smooth.

  —samsilver Read samsilver's other letters
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