Semantics: Sweden and All is Well

Sweden has no idea what Trump meant when he said, ‘Youlook at what’s happening … in Sweden’

By Rick Noack February 19 at 8:38 AM

Washington Post

At a Florida rally on Feb. 18, President Trump listed several countries that have taken in large numbers of refugees and have also been recently struck by terror attacks. "Look at what is happening last night in Sweden," Trump said, "They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible." Sweden does not know what Trump is talking about. (Reuters)

If you believe Swedish media, Friday night was relatively uneventful. Among the most noteworthy headlines were reports that a popular Swedish singer had technical problems during a musical competition.

No. Nothing has happened here in Sweden. There has not ben any terrorist attacks here. At all. The main news right now is about Melfest. ->

— @sweden / Emma (@sweden) February 19, 2017

But if you believe President Trump, something happened in Sweden on Friday night that deserved the attention of the world. However, nobody knows what that might be so far, least the Swedes.

During a rally Saturday, Trump referred to several countries that have taken in a disproportionate number of refugees and that have recently been struck by attacks. “We’ve got to keep our country safe. You look at what’s happening in Germany. You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this?” Trump went on to refer to Paris, Nice and Brussels, cities where attacks occurred in the past two years.

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President Trump returned to Melbourne, Fla., for a campaign-style rally on Feb. 18. (Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post)

Although Trump did not explicitly say it, his remarks were widely perceived to suggest that an attack occurred Friday night in Sweden. “Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound,” former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt wrote on Twitter.

Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound. https://t.co/XWgw8Fz7tj

— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 19, 2017

Others reacted by posting photos of how they believe Sweden really looked Friday night, using the hashtag #LastNightInSweden.

Last night in Sweden pic.twitter.com/J73rosqvtu

— Andreas Kynast (@andikynast) February 19, 2017

Sweden, you ok? Call me.

— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) February 19, 2017

The White House already faced criticism this month after it included an incident in the Swedish city of Malmö on its list of allegedly underreported attacks. In October, arson caused smoke damage at an Iraqi community center in Malmö. A judge, however, decided that there was no evidence for treating the incident as a “terror attack” — months before the White House released the list that referred to the incident.

Sweden took in more refugees per capita than any other country in Europe at the height of the influx in 2015. The country has long viewed itself as having a moral obligation to take in refugees from war-torn countries. But Sweden reached its limits as other E.U. neighbors refused to fulfill their commitments.

The influx of refugees has not come without problems in Sweden, but mainstream politicians and immigration experts say the criticism has been disproportionate. In summer 2016, Swedish embassies were tasked to counter rumors or false information on Sweden's experience with taking in large numbers of immigrants.

After the terrible events #lastnightinSweden , IKEA have sold out of this: pic.twitter.com/Bs1XI7ffKG

— Jeanna Skinner (@JeannaLStars) February 19, 2017

Speaking on Friday, one day before Trump's remarks, Henrik Selin of the Swedish Institute said there are “people whose political agenda suggests they would like to tell the story of countries not being able to receive that many refugees, who seem to want to exaggerate problems,” according to Radio Sweden.

Although Sweden views itself as increasingly isolated in regard to its pro-immigration stance, the country found widespread cross-European support on social media Sunday. “Dear @realDonaldTrump,” Alexander Stubb, the former prime minister of Finland tweeted. “Sweden is immigration friendly, international & liberal. One of the most prosperous, richest, safest places on earth.”

Dear @realDonaldTrump, Sweden is immigration friendly, international & liberal. One of the most prosperous, richest, safest places on earth.

— Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) February 19, 2017

And a country with relatively calm Friday nights, it seems.

Oh my.  Trump, perhaps you should have rephrased your statement, and removed 'last night' - otherwise, it is and has been an accurate statement of a country torn apart by immigration.

Funny to read the false statements by people pretending otherwise.

- There are cities in Sweden the Swedish do not go.

- Rapes are up by over 100% in the last 10 years, and those rapes are occurring in cities where the Swedes tend to not go.

-there is a movement in Sweden to stop immigration, to roll it back, and save Sweden

- the government of Sweden put PSAs on TV recommending to Swedish women that they wear more conservative dress to prevent rapes.

The majority of rapes are committed by males who were not born in Sweden and are not European.

The police have developed an interesting perspective on crime, very little registers as terrorism.  The Islamic killer would have to come out on television holding weapons and standing over dead bodies proclaiming his actions terrorism, for the Swedish media to convey that message, and then, probably they would say he was mentally ill, thereby negating whatever confession he made.

If you are interested, look up the label SWEDEN.

Malmo is a city under siege.  Almost a majority of the city are not Swedish, and shootings and murder are common, as is rape.  Sweden is in denial.

Unfortunately for the good people of Sweden.  And covering up these stories is what the Washington Post is doing.  Sad.  

While not directly lying, they are not telling the truth!