February 2011 Monthly Meeting Program Information - Sons of Norway Atlanta
Hello Fellow Venner:
Please remember our regular Vennekretsen meeting this Sunday afternoon ( Superbowl Sunday pre-empted our first Sunday theme this month )
We hope to see you this Sunday - We have a lot of important details for spring events that need discussing.
See you there !!!
Kind Regards,
Erik Kind and the Vennekretsen Officers
404/ 934-6942 cell
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We will have a very interesting program this month.
Janteloven: The hidden "Laws" in the Norwegian psyche that shape and
limit self expression and can hinder fulfillment. AND... more importantly, how to be aware of these cultural traits and how to combat them, where necessary.
Janteloven:
The ten rules state:
1. You shall not believe that you are anything special.
2. You shall not believe that you are as much (as great ) as us.
3. You shall not believe that you are wiser (more clever) than us.
4. You shall not convince yourself that you're better than us.
5. You shall not believe that you know more than us.
6. You shall not believe that you are more than us.
7. You shall not believe that you will amount to anything
(significant) / exceptional.
8. You shall not laugh at us.
9. You shall not think anyone (actually is concerned about)/cares
about you.
10. You shall not think that you can teach us anything.
============== and one additional corollary
11. You shall not think that there is anything we don't know about
you.
Don’t think you are better than us or that you are special.
This statement is the basis of an old Scandinavian concept that has been engrained in Scandinavian societies since before WWII.
The author Aksel Sandemose, a Danish/Norwegian novelist created the concept of Janteloven in his book En flygtning krydser sit spor (A Refugee Crosses his Tracks), in which Sandemose portrays a fictional town called Jante, a small town much like his hometown where everyone knows everyone. For those of you that live a small town or perhaps come from a small town, you know how fast gossip spreads. Although hearing gossip can be interesting and spreading it can be all too easy, I think individuals who live in small towns would prefer that there wasn’t so much gossip. Life in a small town is much more comfortable when social stability is intact. Most of Norway up until the last couple of decades consisted of many small towns and villages. Even today most Norwegians live in relatively small communities where it’s difficult to remain anonymous. Aksel Sandemose’s Janteloven have long been believed to assist small communities in remaining stable.
Not very encouraging, is it? It basically discourages originality and the unusual.
While the interpretation of Janteloven is contested, the primary consensus believes it is meant promote social equality and fairness, two qualities for which Scandinavian societies are well known for. Perhaps hearing about these concepts over and over again really has engrained the idea into Scandinavian society. Some say Janteloven is a serious obstacle that inhibits Norwegians from high achievements and seeking to stand out. There are of course good arguments in support of and against Janteloven. Scandinavian societies are no doubt great role models in terms of gender equality and governmental support for its people, but there are many Norwegian individuals who have achieved great things and proved that just because a society is strongly based on a code beliefs, one person can stand out a make a differenence.
