Scandinavian Union?

[Al Khalifah]

There is something very wrong with your net beneficiery map!

Indeed there is.
It is a map of the countries proposed for a Nordic Union and countries currently in the European Union.

[Lazul]

Well as I see it, a united Europe is a wonderfull idea... but it doesnt work becouse nations are so different.
So first thing to do is to unite some parts of Europe.
First Scandinavia into one nation (+finland) then Maybe Spain and Portugal together. Germany and Austria. Italy with Malta and Greece.

Just tossing around ideas.

But a Northern European Union sounds good to me as long as it stays on the left o the political scale!

[Al Khalifah]

Such a Union could easily afford to be leftist, because there are no weaker members.
I looked further at this and its quite incredible how similar the Northern nations are to one another.

Economic Freedom Index: (EU rank / nation / global rank)
1 Luxembourg 3
2 Estonia 4
3 Ireland =5
4 United Kingdom 7
5 Denmark =8
6 Sweden 14
7 Finland 15

Corruption Perceptions Index : (EU rank / nation / global rank)
1 Finland 1
2 Denmark =3
3 Sweden 6
4 Netherlands 10
5 United Kingdom 11

Human Development Index : (EU rank / nation / global rank)
1 Sweden 2
2 Netherlands 5
3 Belgium 6
4 Ireland 10
5 United Kingdom 12
6 Finland 13
7 Austria 14
8 Luxembourg 15
9 France 16
10 Denmark 17

[Sjakihata]

instead of a nordic union, let's just back track history and return the lands to the former and right owners, namely Danmark. Norway was ours, Skåne, Halland and Blekinge was ours - imagine if Napoleon had won - our empire would have been huge then :p

at any rate - the nordic union have been tried and it has failed already- the countries cudnt even agree on making such a union - and I think we would gain next to nothing from it. Already great networks exist between scandinavia, trade, police, politics, education etc etc - all is there already, however, not formalized under a union - which I like.

[Al Khalifah]

Maybe I'm just biased towards the Union because I went England to be part of it so I can be re-united with my Norse bretheren. Also I doubt like the EU because its full of scroungers.

[Viking]

Har en hyggelig dag

Nice. I see you`re ready to join the union!

[Kagemusha]

Something about having Finland as a member of a Scandinavian union doesn't make sense to me. The only reason for really having the union would be cultural similiarity, and Finns aren't Germanic. Now, as to whether or not Scandinavia as a country should be on good terms with Finland is an unrelated matter.

What can i say Neongod?I disagree.I dont know how much do you know about Finnish history or culture?Yes we are not germans.We are Finno-Ugrig and there are only about 23 million people in the world who speak these languages.
Finnish have had long and bloody history because we are located literally between East and West,on the other side the Germans and on the other The Slavs.Personally i think its a little miracle that we still exist at all.
About our relationship with our western neighbours here is an example:In early WWII in 1939.Soviet Union attacked Finland in so called Winter War.The only country that really helped Finland was Sweden by supplying us weapons and volunteers.The odds didnt look too good for Finland,at that time Soviet Union didnt wage war against any other country.Sweden went that far that they adopted tens of thousends Finnish children,so there would be some of us left,if the rest would be exterminated.
That kind of people i call good neighbours.

[Krusader]

What can i say Neongod?I disagree.I dont know how much do you know about Finnish history or culture?Yes we are not germans.We are Finno-Ugrig and there are only about 23 million people in the world who speak these languages.
Finnish have had long and bloody history because we are located literally between East and West,on the other side the Germans and on the other The Slavs.Personally i think its a little miracle that we still exist at all.
About our relationship with our western neighbours here is an example:In early WWII in 1939.Soviet Union attacked Finland in so called Winter War.The only country that really helped Finland was Sweden by supplying us weapons and volunteers.The odds didnt look too good for Finland,at that time Soviet Union didnt wage war against any other country.Sweden went that far that they adopted tens of thousends Finnish children,so there would be some of us left,if the rest would be exterminated.
That kind of people i call good neighbours.

Norway did also help

Many men volunteered and as I recall we sent like 50.000 bags (selkäreppu) among a few other things. Although Sweden's help was of course greater.

Plus, being half-Finnish myself and visiting Finland each summer, my opinion is that most Finns feel like they belong more to the Nordic than the Baltic and Russia. Correct kagemusha?

[Kagemusha]

Norway did also help

Many men volunteered and as I recall we sent like 50.000 bags (selkäreppu) among a few other things. Although Sweden's help was of course greater.

Plus, being half-Finnish myself and visiting Finland each summer, my opinion is that most Finns feel like they belong more to the Nordic than the Baltic and Russia. Correct kagemusha?

Definetly!(bloody spelling) Krusader!
I personally dont know single Finn,who would like to be part of Russia.While i dont think that the majority of us have nothing seriously against them.The warlike days are over.

[Ldvs]

Nice. I see you`re ready to join the union!

Hehe, yes I'm considering exile in Scandinavia. Plus, I've heard that French language is quite popular among the female gender in Norway

[Lazul]

instead of a nordic union, let's just back track history and return the lands to the former and right owners, namely Danmark. Norway was ours, Skåne, Halland and Blekinge was ours - imagine if Napoleon had won - our empire would have been huge then :p

at any rate - the nordic union have been tried and it has failed already- the countries cudnt even agree on making such a union - and I think we would gain next to nothing from it. Already great networks exist between scandinavia, trade, police, politics, education etc etc - all is there already, however, not formalized under a union - which I like.

Things have changed, we have no greedy kings ruling supreme this time, we are playing by the rules of democracy!

[Viking]

Plus, I've heard that French language is quite popular among the female gender in Norway

If that`s right, you better teach me some french right away

[Nelson]

If you're looking for Nordic types you might want to invite Wisconsin and Minnesota to join too. They would have to successfully secede of course and that has been problematic for others making the attempt in the past.

[Kagemusha]

If you're looking for Nordic types you might want to invite Wisconsin and Minnesota to join too. They would have to successfully secede of course and that has been problematic for others making the attempt in the past.

Why not?

[GoreBag]

What can i say Neongod?I disagree.I dont know how much do you know about Finnish history or culture?Yes we are not germans.We are Finno-Ugrig and there are only about 23 million people in the world who speak these languages.
Finnish have had long and bloody history because we are located literally between East and West,on the other side the Germans and on the other The Slavs.Personally i think its a little miracle that we still exist at all.
About our relationship with our western neighbours here is an example:In early WWII in 1939.Soviet Union attacked Finland in so called Winter War.The only country that really helped Finland was Sweden by supplying us weapons and volunteers.The odds didnt look too good for Finland,at that time Soviet Union didnt wage war against any other country.Sweden went that far that they adopted tens of thousends Finnish children,so there would be some of us left,if the rest would be exterminated.
That kind of people i call good neighbours.

I....don't see a refutation of anything I've said.

[Kagemusha]

I....don't see a refutation of anything I've said.

What i meant,was that in matter of fact we have very similar culture with Sweden and Norway.While we are not germans.If you look at Switzerland,are they homogenetic people?

[Lazul]

what has race got to do with it? its not all Swedes are germanic and so on. We got alot of Kurd, Turks, Albanians, Serbs, Greeks, English and Americans etc etc.

Actually I couple of Americans moved in to brothers neighborhood (sp?) from California. When my brothers wife asked them, they said that Bush is destroying their country.
might add that I laughed for a second or two

[Kagemusha]

I dont support races at all.I think we are all just human beings.

[Al Khalifah]

What about Estonia ?

Might be a mistake to leave the beautiful people of Talinn out of any such union.

[GoreBag]

What i meant,was that in matter of fact we have very similar culture with Sweden and Norway.While we are not germans.If you look at Switzerland,are they homogenetic people?

Culture and race are different things.

Switzerland isn't trying to justify its place in a Scandinavian union.

While, yes, there is mixing, and nothing is black and white, Finland, while still very cold, grim, tough and all those good things, is not part of Scandinavia.

[asilv]

Finland, while still very cold, grim, tough and all those good things, is not part of Scandinavia.

Well if start nitpicking, then Denmark and Iceland can't join either as geographically they are not part of Scandinavian penisula.

[CBR]

I do think most of us consider Finland to be part of Scandinavia/Nordic Countries. They might have different language but history/culture binds us together.


CBR

[Byzantine Prince]

Well if start nitpicking, then Denmark and Iceland can't join either as geographically they are not part of Scandinavian penisula.

So neither can some fjords and islands?

[Krusader]

Scandinavia is the cultural and historic region of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian countries are Norway, Sweden and Denmark, which mutually recognize each other as parts of Scandinavia. The collective label "Scandinavia" reflects the cultural similarity, and the strong historical ties, between these countries despite their political independence.

The usage and meaning of the term outside Scandinavia is somewhat ambiguous:

* Finland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland are sometimes counted as parts of Scandinavia.
* In a German mindset, Norway, Sweden and Finland are usually included, but Denmark is not.
* In a British mindset, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are usually included, often with the addition of Iceland, Finland, and sometimes even Greenland.

These alternative meanings are considered incorrect in Scandinavia, and occasionally some people may take offense by such usage in English.

The term the Nordic countries is used unambiguously for the Scandinavian kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the republics of Finland and Iceland.

The terms Fennoscandia and Fenno-Scandinavia may either be used to include the Scandinavian peninsula, the Kola peninsula, Karelia and Finland under the same term alluding to the Fennoscandian Shield, or they may be used in a more cultural sense, more or less as a synonym for the Nordic countries, to signify the historically close contact between Finnic, Sami and Scandinavian peoples and cultures.

From Wikipedia, which I concur with.

[Sjakihata]

so do I, and it is correct. originally, scandinavia is s, n and dk.

[Kagemusha]

Culture and race are different things.

Switzerland isn't trying to justify its place in a Scandinavian union.

While, yes, there is mixing, and nothing is black and white, Finland, while still very cold, grim, tough and all those good things, is not part of Scandinavia.

Are you insulting my people?What country are you from? And what do you know about my country.Why should we justify enything to enyone. If you look at our history even a little bit you should know were we stand.
Im sorry but i have to ask you because you seem to know all the answers.Where are we if not in Scandinavia geophragigally speaking?

[bmolsson]

Actually, Scandinavia is only Sweden and Norway. Denmark on the other hand as the oldest Nordic country has had control over Scandinavia several time through history.....

[Lazul]

NeonGod, try not to insult the Finns

A Scandinavian Union should be based on Culture and Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway are all very much alike. Even the Languages are much alike.
All this talk about Finns not being part of the germanic "race" and so on, well, unless your a damn Nazi you wouldnt have a problem with that.

[Sjakihata]

incorrect bmolosson. originally scandinavia derives from the latin word Scandinavia or Skåne. Also the ancient icelandic word skani or skaney means skåne, Plinius (23-79) uses both words to define the nordic countries (sweden, norway and denmark). Both words are from the ancient nordic word Skaoinawjo (which also means Skåne)

[Lazul]

we could just call the whole thing: United Nations of Thule, Thule Union