Matt Around The Globe

Devils and angels

2008-09-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

The question of today is whether it is possible to bargain with your values to reach your goals. The world is in crisis, and most political leaders are handfallen to some men and a few women westwards that of values rejected a savingsplan that could put my own country Sweden pale in socialist comparison. The liberal economics seems to stand on their values and would even let the ship sink than save it with regulations and socialisations. Of course this is irresponsible, not only to the US, but for everyone else around the globe. The ironic thought for the history is that the capitalists were too proud to save capitalism....
If we go from the economic crisis of today to values in our personal lifes instead, would the question be answered differently? Is it possible to bargain with our personal values to reach goals? Too few people of today learn to cherish their values and instead sells themselves for five seconds of fame (be it in school, at work or in the magazines). For the rest of us that tries to keep our values high we soon realise that keeping values in a society were they can be sold at e-bay for a penny is impossible. And with some shame we close our eyes really hard and drive through...

Moved on

2008-09-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

I've moved on, from a socialist Paris to a conservative Aix. I feel it in the air. But on the other side I never really understood how Paris could be as socialist as it really is. The PS must do miracles there. Maybe the socialdemocrats in Stockholm should pay a visit to learn how to hold power for more than one political period.

Big brother vs. moi

2008-07-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

The differences of Sweden and France gets more visiable every day that pass. What is freedom in Sweden is in many respects the opposite in France. State control over citizens habits seems as something very negative in France but can in Sweden be seen as a good way of protection. Where should the limits of state control go? Where should the freedoms of individuals end? And can we today argue that the state is its people as we have for so many years in Sweden?

Am writing an article about pornography for a Swedish leftish magazine at the moment. I do not think the french would appriciate my conclusions, maybe neither the Swedish left.

mysterious paths...

2008-07-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

French poetry, in Swedish by Dan Andersson, then in it's original by Charles Baudelaires. Dedicated to a newfound friend.

De älskandes vin

I dag är livet som en dröm
och utan sadel, tyg och töm
på vinets rygg vi rida fort
till feers och till gudars ort.

Likt tvenne änglar burna i
en het delirium-fantasi,
det fjärran blå vi hinna skall
tvärs genom dagningens kristall.

Mjukt vingen av en storm oss bär
likt den i våra hjärtan är,
rastlöst vi fly, o syster min,
i mina drömmars himlar in.

Le Vin des amants

Aujourd'hui l'espace est splendide !
Sans mors, sans éperons, sans bride,
Partons à cheval sur le vin
Pour un ciel féerique et divin !

Comme deux anges que torture
Une implacable calenture,
Dans le bleu cristal du matin
Suivons le mirage lointain !

Mollement balancés sur l'aile
Du tourbillon intelligent,
Dans un délire parallèle,

Ma soeur, côte à côte nageant,
Nous fuirons sans repos ni trêves
Vers le paradis de mes rêves !

Gay prostitution; a social problem?

2008-07-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's late but there are still thoughts in my head. Have had the most interesting week-end with both laughter, love and friends. A friend of mine is visiting Paris. He's staying at his friends place who sadly seems to have addictive problems. I hope he will find a way out soon...

Me and my friend also talked philosophically about prostitution which I should state has nothing to do with my friends friend. Gay people are often in contact with well-off older men that wants to pay money for a nights affection. My friend was pro this. Me, of course, against. One should make it clear that there really are few prostitutes in this world that can make their living and still feel happiness. On the contrary they often goes into depression, addiction and other bad habits. Economic freedom which leads to slavery under drugs, how can that be freedom?

What also is quite striking is that, as the feminist agenda regarding the relationship men vs. women have come far, it seems to have stopped regarding gay men. Who can in their hearts feel it is okay to buy/sell people (yes even gay men) in the 21th century? Just because you are responsible for your own enslavement (instead of someone else) it doesn't mean you are not walking in chains.

No, it is time to start contrasting sexual liberation and sexual deliberation also in the world of gay people. The right to be who you are (and love whoever you want) does not give you the right to choose not to be free. And even if you truly are the "happy prostitute" most are not. In a society where gay people are turning more merchandised every day someone has to act. It's time for responsibility....

Comments on a review

2008-07-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

Friday morning and I can't sleep. Have been reading the diaries of Kollontai for a week now.I have noticed it got a bad review in a paper. It was said it was too much silly things without political empathis, or something like that. I disagree, it is a personal diary, filled with her thoughts of life. Sometimes even a big revolutionary woman as Kollontai can be just as boring as any one else. But what she shows us is an historic view of life as a USSR diplomat in Sweden during the mid-war time. And to be fair, I doubt that Ms Kollontai, despite her courage, dared challenging the political elite that had replaced all of the old political elite, except of herself. Maybe Ms Kollontai adapted like many others, just lucky to be alive. Communists seems to adapt quite easily to new leaders throughout history... yes even today. That if something, gives a good picture of their capacity and the system of organising without questioning. It is troughfully scary.

I have started to make friends in Paris, it is nice, but I am also feeling quite tierd. Needs to do something about that. Christoph is on a visit, it is nice to meet old friends, once in a while :)

Fête Nationale

2008-07-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

Today is the French national holiday. It's somehow still very imperial ambitions are visioned in a big army parade around Champs-Elyssées but there the resemblences with countries like Russia stops. No, this event is also a public event. In Paris last evening there was a big free concert at La Bastille and thereafter the firemen in the city held free bals in the firestations all around the city. One can say many things about the French but at least they know the meaning of spreading culture to the people. I think I will come to like France and its people alot.

2008-07-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have started the summer readings. I am reading the diaries of Alexandra Kollontai. They exite me in a very peculiar way. She is one of the few people I admire politically in this world. And yet, it is not because of her politics (which I have no passion for), but because of her strength and willingness.

Besides this I have just been noticed of being admitted to a course in Chriminology this autumn. It will be conducted on the internet while I will be staying in Aix. It will definitely help me get to know the circles of crime better!

Almedalen

2008-07-09T15:36:00.001-07:00

At the moment a big political event is taking place on the island of Gotland in Sweden. It goes under the name of Almedalen, and is by the analysts a place where politician go to socialize with old friends and make decisions for the future. For me, it is primarily a PR event, and in many respects a bad one. Many of my friends are there but although I have often had the chance to go myself I have never been entertained by watching neoliberal lobbyism combined with going to the circus (the biggest clowns this year is surely the government). No, even though I utterly hate my French grammar home-work for tomorrow, I prefer being anywhere but at Gotland right now.

And yes sometimes even I can be a very cynical person ;)

The seventh day is the day of rest....

2008-07-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I waived off a Brazilian friend leaving Paris to go home to Sao Paolo after three years in Europe. Imagine not to have met your family for so long time. How even to sum up three years of your life in stories to your family? Some people, like him, a true socialist in heart, sacrifice alot just to gain what some of us takes for granted.

Now he's finally going home to apply as a diplomat. I wish him good luck in finding his path in life, sure that our roads will pass one day again.

My, myself and... luck?

2008-07-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in my dormitory room, at the Swedish student house, in Paris, in France...
It is slowly turning Sunday after a Saturday night, which I can honestly say was no night full of partying on the Paris streets. Me and a friend went to the cinemas and saw a very typical but allright french comedy instead. That was good enough.

The entire sorroundings are surreal, in a way that I'm not really usued to. I feel privilaged in a way I haven't felt for a long time, just to be staying in this rather beautiful house. It is somehow surreal that a working class boy, with quite shitty grades from school, gets a scholarship to study at one of the most prestigous language courses in Paris, at Sorbonne, and to live where I live today. I often reflect over my lifefortunes and wonders when it all will end.

The last years I have met people from virtually all over the world. And not only that, but these people will become some of the most influential guys and girls in their countries one day. It sets myself in questioning of who I am. I am nothing of a genious when it comes to studies and did not like my friends have top marks in school. I am simply just this working class boy that happened to be born in a rather good country, with quite some luck on the road and to always have met people who have inspired me and pushed me forward (giving me the idea that even I can succeed in life). Even when I saw the dark days, with beeing quite ill (picturing a retirement at the age of 30) I was lucky enough to get help and treatment. Today I can walk and run just as any normal man in his mid 20's. For that I am greatful.
But somedays it really is too frightening to be out in the world all by yourself. I simply can't stop thinking of when all good things comes to an end, and I wish I had friends who came from the same environment as me. It's lonelyness in an ungratefull way that I am not proud of. I have no right to complain.

Paris Gay Pride

2008-06-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

First week in Paris. Where to start... where to end?

Well first; France is surely a much more simple country to immigrate to than Russia. Everything has gone so simple that I am simply waiting for The problem to occur.

Yesterday I did participate in the biggest demo I have EVER been in. 600 000 people joined the Paris Pride Parade, which is a chocking number. Instead of the regular demos, which are full of anger, this was of happiness, joy and freedom. It was very beautiful, although I could have wished more people over 18 could have joined up. It is astonishingly good that the young crowd of Paris participates but we need everybody to stand up against the horrible views of oppression and conservative values.

The FRA legislation

2008-06-15T20:03:00.001-07:00

As everyone else in the blog society in Sweden I must make my statement of the FRA-legislation which our right wing government are pushing through this week. It is astonishing how soon history seems to be forgotten. Merely a decade after the Cold War has finished the free liberal world, which won, tries the methods of the old Eastern bloc. Seldom has the comparisons with Eastern Germany (DDR) been so close as with the new legislation of FRA. Not often in my life have I gone down on my knees and begged liberals to act for what should be every liberals (and democratic socialists) foundational value. Freedom and democracy. We need four liberals in the parliament that has some guts to stand against this crime of liberty. Do it for the people, not for us in the parliaments opposition, and I will salute you as the Swedish freedom fighters of the year.

The start of a New Era

2008-03-11T17:07:00.001-07:00

The start of a New Blog of a Man that never seems to stay at one place for a long time. This is a blog for the restless soul of me, including thoughts of life, culture and politics.