A Scandal in Scandinavia
Despite Claire's proximity, the Queen of Ricochet is doubtless too elevated to bring you this news. So I thought I would (there I go being prurient again):
The King of Sweden has his very own sex scandal.
Count me surprised. I didn't know scandals like this were even possible in Sweden anymore.
My picture of Sweden was of a country where, despite the earnest lack of humor, when it came to sexcapades (at least those of the consensual variety), everyone was OK with pretty much everything. Earnestly.
After all, isn't Sweden a land where Sunday Schools teach more about contraception than resurrection, where even kindergarteners learn the importance of mutual tactile experiences and exploring alternative lifestyles, and where leggy blondes frolic endlessly, wearing practically nothing despite the arctic cold? A place where the Welfare State isn't just "cradle to grave", but "erection to resurrection"?
And yet, it's still scandalous for the king to enjoy strippers. How odd.
- Comment (11)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Jul '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
"After all, the king was not accused of anything illegal and Swedes don't get into a moral panic about extramarital affairs. But the question of strip club visits — frowned upon in Sweden's egalitarian society.... "
They must really be into blindfolds during those "extramarital affairs."
Jul '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
Or is it the "dancing" they disapprove of?
Aug '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
JC, I love you.
Jul '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
MFR (can I say that?), the feeling is completely mutual.
Aug '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
Aww... Call me Midge ;-)
Jul '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
What's the difference between Swedes' extramarital affairs and strip clubs? During extramarital affairs They look the other way.
Sep '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
I don't know much about Sweden but...
I think once the Swedes had destroyed or nullified the traditional, cultural institutions that run counter to the "if it feels good, do it" morality of the 60's & 70's, they have no choice but to destroy whatever institutions are left over. This is iconoclasm as sport for the Swedish press.
This may be nasty because the stakes are so low.
Jun '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
I don't see the problem. They have a post-Christian Swedish King for a post-Christian Sweden. They could institute sharia law (earlier than will happen normally) if they want to punish him...er, not him...the strippers.
May '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
Revealing myself as a humor free ex-Swedish citizen (left in 96), I cannot resist trying to explain some misunderstandings.
Most Swedes do frown upon infidelity and there are sex scandals regularly. Consensuality is important but many Swedes would consider strippers exploited and not participating on their own volition. This goes back to the long anti-capitalist social democratic tradition that most parties have embraced - individuals are weak and cannot do much on their own but they are protected collectively by the good state against evil business. So in this story the strippers are victims while the King and the club owner exploiters.
Swedes also have a conflicted relation to Monarchy. While support for turning Sweden into a republic is very weak, they instinctively dislike the separation between royalty and people and want to make the Monarchy more "democratic". This explains the recent marriage between the crown-princess and a commoner. Exposing the King's human fallability is consistent with the desire for "royals that are like us" and the scandal could in extreme case (not likely) lead to early abdication of the King and a female Head of State who married a commoner.
Aug '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
Thanks for the elucidations, Skarv.
I suspected that Swedes must see strippers as "exploited" for some reason... I admit to playing somewhat dumb when I wrote the post -- easier to get cheap laughs that way.
So let's see... Swedes feel that strippers are exploited. Swedes also feel that the fact that the king enjoys strippers makes the king "more like them". Then... Swedes enjoy exploiting strippers?
No, I'm just playing dumb again. I think I know what you're getting at. It's not about the king really behaving like an ordinary Swede, it's about the king being knocked off his pedestal, such as it is.
I guess if the king can be knocked off his pedestal at all, he must still have a pedestal of some kind -- which probably rankles in a country that prides itself on egalitarianism.
May '10
Re: A Scandal in Scandinavia
Being also obsessed with sex, I understand his interest- after all, we are both guys. But strip clubs? Is it possible to imagine anything less sexy than that? Especially compared to a beeyootifull wife, presuming you have one and she is cooperative?
Ugh.