no. just. no.

[harborshore]

So the youth section of our main conservative party released a campaign material called "We have a drea(M)." This is. I don't even. Besides the fact that this particular party didn't exactly support the Civil Rights Movement in the US OR the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the sheer gall of using something like MLK's words for a slogan for a political party (who are not known for their diversity--in fact, every kind of inequality has been worsened during their reign, woot) is just. Jesus fucking CHRIST.

This, by the way, is coming on the heels of the mother party's new idea program, in which they assert that their ideas built Sweden, when they have voted against every single goddamn social reform that we are famous for, including public health care, Social Security, daycare, 40-hour work weeks, and--you know, I could go on. They did eventually vote for women getting to vote, but only because they were cornered into it. Said idea program also states that they have fought for justice all along, especially sexual, racial and gender equality, when--well. *beats head against wall*

I mean, the bright spot in it all is the twitter hashtag #stuffmoderaternadid where people make fun of them for claiming to have fought for social justice by making up other things the party obviously did, including inventing the internet, punk rock, and authoring the Bible.

But in general I'm just so fucking furious I don't even know what to do. "We have a drea(M)?" I cannot even.

Comments

This comment could basically be summed up by saying: "I know next to nothing about Sweden"

[the24thkey.livejournal.com]

Is the actual campaign slogan in English? If so, is that common in Sweden (e.g. in advertising etc.)? If not, please ignore this question. ^^''

(This is just barely on topic, so I hope you don't mind? /o\ I just think it's kind of interesting how prevalent English is in other European countries.)

Re: This comment could basically be summed up by saying: "I know next to nothing about Sweden&q

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

The actual campaign slogan is in English, yeah, and that--it happens, especially with certain kinds of phrases. It's more of a "We think it sounds cool" thing usually, but in this case, of course, the iconic phrase is in English.

[delphinapterus.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I don't know more about Swedish politics but is the parenthesis significant? That a party like that would be using "We have a drea(M)" to imply their connection to civil & equality rights is really worrying. I've seen similar things happen in my country and after a time people started believing it was true no matter how much information was presented. Ugh, sorry to be depressing.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

The parenthesis is because their party is called Moderaterna, often abbreviated M.

And yes, that's the problem, exactly. Thankfully people DID notice (the twitter hashtag is joyful reading--unfortunately all in Swedish, or I'd be quoting at length).

[delphinapterus.livejournal.com]

The twitter stuff is great. From my own experiences with historical revisionism I'd strongly suggest calling them out loudly and often in every possible venue. That didn't happen in my country until it was too late and we're dealing with the consequences now. I really don't want it to happen in other countries.

[impertinence.livejournal.com]

UGH. that's so appropriative. :/

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it terrifies me too. I'm glad people ARE noticing, but the Social Democrats are doing so poorly right now, they've somehow lost all their competent people, even though they're definitely the ones who should be going, "Er, no, we did all that, you didn't want us to? A lot?"

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

INCREDIBLY appropriative. Treating it like a glib slogan? BLEARGH.

[redscarfe.livejournal.com]

Ugh that is so frustrating- that they'd have the NERVE to do that and people will probably believe them when they don't deserve it at all. I hope the twitter stuff is getting enough attention to publically call them out. >:|

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

I've got some election rage of my own going, but I think that beats any of the stupidity happening here.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, it's been in all the major newspapers and there was a debate on public television (which is different than the US in that it's one of the three channels that everyone gets for free, and so people watch it a lot). They've always done this--appropriated ideas they hated at first when it became evident that the ideas worked and that people liked them. But this was a little--yeah. The twitter/FB hilarity, I love it, because it actually makes it clear how ridiculous the idea of this particular party supporting things they opposed every step of the way is.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

I love your icon.

And yeah, this is a whole lot of special, right here. *seethes*

[mrsquizzical.livejournal.com]

BLAAARGH! people. hmph. *hugs*

[redscarfe.livejournal.com]

I don't know how it is in the US, but in Australia we have 5 free-to-air channels, so yeah, like how you describe pretty much everyone watches the major debates. Well, it's good at least that a discussion is happening. :/

[desfinado.livejournal.com]

Shit, for REAL? >:( >:( NOT OKAY

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

THANKFULLY. Idk how long it'll last or if the other parties will even remember when the election happens (though they should), but yes, at least there's a discussion.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

PRETTY MUCH. ♥

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

RIGHT? >:( SO MAD.