raabjerg

On the streets of Copenhagen

oktober 24th, 2007

Various impressions from the last couple of days wandering aimlessly in the streets of Copenhagen:

Man sitting on the street with a cross-shaped piece of jewelry around his neck, with a nearly empty bowl, and a sign saying: ‘I’m hungry’. I’ve seen him before, and every time I come to think along the lines of Isaiah 58:5-8 and Matthew 25:31-46.

Quite a few people going around with professionally looking folders asking the same question: ‘Would you like to put a stop to torture?’ What do you answer to something like that? ‘No, I don’t want to put a stop to torture’ doesn’t seem quite right. They didn’t ask me though – someone close by went with the answer ‘I don’t have time to do that right now’.

While waiting for a friend, I noticed some prominent people from Dansk Folkeparti standing right beside me arguing their (in my view doubtful) case, probably in response to the recently announced government election. The group featured Kristian Thulesen Dahl, Peter Skaarup, Jesper Langballe, and a woman I didn’t know and still haven’t been able to figure out who is. Of course it would be her – amongst the other well-known people there – who would ask me if I wanted one of their folders. I smiled and said ‘no thanks’. She looked flustered and asked me if I wanted an apple. Again, I smiled and said ‘no thanks’ – this made her look even more flustered (she may have asked again if I was sure – I don’t quite remember). It was only later I came to think of some other stories involving an apple, and suddenly realized why I was reluctant to receive fruit from just that political party. (no offense to the very kind woman, whoever she was)

Entry Filed under: Denmark,Life