Debate, Flag | “A ban (formal or informal) against flags other than the Norwegian flag on 17 May is very uninclusive.”

Sandefjord has become a multicultural society where diversity is celebrated daily – in the kindergartens, schools and in our workplaces. Almost a quarter of Sandefjord’s population has a minority background, and together we have built a local community we can all be proud of – where tolerance, respect and inclusion are some of the main elements.

For many years now, we have had a very inclusive May 17 train where all children have walked with the Norwegian flag, and a few have also carried another flag that symbolizes the country the family originally comes from. The flags from some primary schools are more colorful than others, but all celebrate Norway’s constitution with pride.

My own children have done exactly that – walked on the 17 May train with both the Norwegian flag and the flag of Ireland, where I myself come from.

Our children have been raised not to have to choose between the two rich and equal cultures they have grown up with. One is as relevant and significant as the other. One’s culture is not better than another’s. Ole Pooh is the role model – “Yes, thank you both”.

Rødt’s Silje Mikkelsen Haugelund, leader of the 17 May committee, says in the statement that “neither the children’s train nor the citizens’ train are arenas for various political expressions, symbolic demonstrations and various declarations of sympathy.» That’s exactly what I would think the very, very majority would agree with. Carrying a flag that is not your own in the 17 May train is not acceptable, I also think.

But this is where the committee shuffles the cards. Displaying a flag associated with your family’s traditions is not “politics”. It is about common symbols, culture, identity and belonging.

If the point of the statement was to emphasize that 17 May is not a “political” matter, then that is exactly what the committee has done with the statement. The right to express oneself also applies to clothing, flags and other symbols. A ban (formal or informal) against flags other than the Norwegian flag on 17 May is very uninclusive and will also quickly be perceived as a restriction of freedom of expression.

People in Sandefjord have always respected May 17 – to insinuate otherwise is really rather tasteless – to point out three named nations makes it even worse and starts to taste like discrimination. Sandefjord has become one safe harbour for quite a few nations precisely because their homeland is characterized by unrest and war. In our local community, we have people who originally come from over 140 nations. We are all from Sandefjord.

It is perceived as particularly strange that the 17 May committee declares that we must focus our attention on “peace, freedom and democracy” at the same time that their statement will have a strongly limiting effect on children and families with a minority background in their own municipality if this is implemented .

May 17 Committee, clean this up! I would like to encourage people to join us on 17 May and celebrate the day in the way we usually do – with flags, colours, joy, inclusion and respect. Hip, hip hooray for May 17!