Ramblings on Kierkegaard
Tanja and I were a little intoxicated albeit, inspired. We'd made pancakes and listened to Maria Taylor all morning. We cleaned and redecorated the apartment.
We talked about the times I had been asked that daunting question of whether I felt like an American or a Dane. To which I never quite had a clear answer at hand.
Genetically I'm Danish (and a little Swedish I guess too) born in Denmark the first part of my life, visited often. I went to an American school, had American friends, watched American TV shows, learned American mannerisms. It changes more than you'd think. I always felt quite out of place at the get-togethers when I returned ''home''. But now when faced with the question of who I was, I had to think fast.
I guess I'd try Ideology.
''What's a fundamentally Danish paradigm?'' I asked Tanja.
''Janteloven.'' She replied, grinning with truth.
''You're telling me Sandmose is getting more press in the Danish public's hearts than Kierkegaard? That's comforting. That's why we're emotionally stunted.'' I snarked. ''If you ask 100 Americans on the street, 'should we fight for freedom?' I'm confident most of them would reply 'hell yes!', and that comforts me! Morally and Physically!''
''If you ask Danes that most of them would probably ask if you need help getting back to the psychiatric ward or press charges. Or just ignores you. It's just not something people talk about. Some might even flat out say ''Sure, I'm not worth anything at all tee-hehe!'' Tanja said.
So in closing, I'd rather be remembered for being who I am than a collective nation.