{"id":50318,"date":"2020-11-04T00:37:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T09:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writers-at-large.com\/riff\/?p=50318"},"modified":"2021-01-10T17:09:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T02:09:57","slug":"perspectives-from-across-the-atlantic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/perspectives-from-across-the-atlantic\/","title":{"rendered":"Perspectives from Across the Atlantic"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On March 11, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced that Denmark would soon be going into lockdown. In just a few days, I would be celebrating my eleventh year as an American ex-patriot living in Denmark. It felt odd that schools, restaurants, movie theatres and shops would be closing down. It was surreal to see keep-your-distance markings painted on the floors by the grocery check-out lines and to chat with the cashier through a Plexiglas barrier. We watched the horrific footage of Corona virus as it gripped Italy and Spain. Things felt strange in an Orwellian sense and I experienced uncertainty, but not fear.<\/p>\n

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The Prime Minister had a plan\u20142.6 billion Danish kroner had been set aside to cover 75% of the salaries of employees from private Danish companies who would otherwise have been fired. The companies would need to pay the remaining 25%. Hourly wage earners who were out of work would receive 90% of their salaries, up to about 4100 in USD, from the Danish government. Small companies could also apply for assistance in the months to come if they showed at least a 30% decrease in income as a result of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

My husband and I run two small businesses. The main one is a tutoring practice, where kids come after school for extra help with Danish, Math or English. We also have an editing and translations company. With the kids being out of school and families being told not to visit friends or relatives, we suddenly lost our students and no new students would be signing up for a while. We wanted to avoid asking the government for help, so we tried to focus more on translations and editing while knowing that if we had substantial income loss, we would be helped. This put us at ease.<\/p>\n

We took walks around the neighborhood, making sure to observe social distancing protocol. We saw whole families walking together, and we were lucky that the endless rain of the last two months had passed. People seemed to be enjoying the nice weather and using the time to get more fresh air and exercise.\u00a0Folks seemed mostly concerned about not spreading the virus to others, especially older people. Adults felt badly for the young people, who quickly grew restless. Teens, in particular, were extremely stressed out and disappointed about not being able to see their friends. Parties were cancelled, confirmations were cancelled, weddings were cancelled and so were concerts, festivals and sporting events, but despite these setbacks I sensed a strong feeling of solidarity among the population. It seemed that most people viewed it as their civic duty to keep others safe.<\/p>\n

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“Folks seemed mostly concerned about not spreading the virus to others…”<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n 200<\/span>7<\/span> I<\/span> got engaged to <\/span>Hans-Henrik, a <\/span>Dane who had been<\/span> working and living in the US for 26 years. <\/span>We were living in New Rochelle, <\/span>New York, <\/span>which we loved, but after many years of working for others, we wanted to <\/span>become self-employed<\/span>,<\/span> preferably from home. Hans-Henrik wanted to<\/span> become a freelance translator<\/span> and I wanted to break into language editing and proofreading<\/span> after years of teaching ESL<\/span>. I wanted something flexible<\/span>,<\/span> s<\/span>omething<\/span> that would allow me to pursue other passions<\/span> that had always been put on the back burner\u2014<\/span>writing<\/span> and singing<\/span>. <\/span>I was 45 <\/span>at the time<\/span> and Hans<\/span>–<\/span>Henrik<\/span>,<\/span> 56. <\/span>To become entrepreneurs so late in life was <\/span>damned <\/span>risky.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I would know. I had previously spent 11 months in LA helping a friend launch a company that got people out of foreclosure. My job was to interview applicants to determine their eligibility. Being eligible meant that the homeowner had 1) a legitimate hardship that prevented them from being able to pay their mortgage, and 2) a solution to the hardship and\/or had a way to get caught up with their payments. Our job was to negotiate a realistic payment plan with the bank on behalf of our client.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During that time, I heard hundreds of stories from people who were losing their homes and the circumstances that had led to it. And while I occasionally spoke to a person who had been irresponsible with their finances, most of the folks I interviewed had simply run into difficult situations that could have happened to anyone. They\u2019d lost a job or a household wage-earner, or maybe they or a family member had become ill and racked up huge hospital bills and therefore insurmountable debt. I saw how easy it was to become destitute and yes, even homeless almost overnight. (This would later become the subject of a screenplay I wrote, but that is another story.) It was against this backdrop that we ventured to start our own business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, having never been to Scandinavia or Europe, I suggested holding our wedding in Demark, <\/span>whi<\/span>c<\/span>h we did<\/span> in May of 2008. On our wedding night while gazing at the stars<\/span> in a perfectly clear sky,<\/span> it was my turn to pop a question. I asked Hans-Henrik how he would feel about moving back to Denmark. I think <\/span>it <\/span>caught him by surprise, but he seemed happy. His mother had recently turned 90 and though she was in good health, <\/span>returning <\/span>to Denmark mean<\/span>t<\/span> he<\/span>\u2019d be able to<\/span> spend time with her.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we told members of Hans-Henrik\u2019s family about our idea, they were <\/span>skeptical<\/span>. They<\/span> warned us that this wonderful weather we\u2019d been having was record-breaking. (In Denmark <\/span>the official <\/span>w<\/span>eather <\/span>s<\/span>ervice <\/span>count<\/span>s<\/span> sun<\/span>shine<\/span> hours <\/span>throughout the year <\/span>because there are so few of them.) They reminded us that <\/span>we <\/span>were on our honeymoon and <\/span>that <\/span>perhaps <\/span>we were <\/span>viewing Denmark through fairytale eyes. Fairytale<\/span> eyes<\/span> or not, I fell in love with Denmark.<\/span><\/p>\n

After<\/span> return<\/span>ing<\/span> to New York<\/span>,<\/span> w<\/span>e contacted the Danish Embassy and started an application fo<\/span>r me to become a resident<\/span>. We had to come up with about 10,00<\/span>0<\/span> dollars<\/span> that would stay<\/span> frozen in a <\/span>bank account<\/span> as<\/span> security<\/span> that I wouldn\u2019t become a burden on the state<\/span> should something happen<\/span>.<\/span> A year later we relocated to a suburb of Copenhagen, living with Hans<\/span>–<\/span>Henrik\u2019s brother while we got established.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/pexels-markus-winkler-2862156-scaled.jpg” alt=”Enjoy life” title_text=”danish-flag-pexels-markus-winkler-2862156″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”10%||||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px||3px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”original” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”rgba(0,103,119,0.64)” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-26%|3px||-32%|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0%|||0%|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”7%|5%|7%|5%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″]<\/p>\n

As soon as we <\/span>arrived<\/span>, I registered with the local municipal office. <\/span>A couple of weeks later I<\/span> received an insurance card and could enro<\/span>l<\/span>l<\/span> in free Danish language lessons. I obtained temporary residence for three years. <\/span>Permanent residence<\/span> depended on several things, including passing a Danish <\/span>language <\/span>exam and being economically self-sufficient. It was not enough that I was <\/span>married to a<\/span> Dane<\/span>\u2014<\/span>I needed to <\/span>demonstrate<\/span> that I <\/span>was<\/span> a contributing member of society<\/span> and <\/span>would not become a <\/span>financial burden to the state<\/span>. I had to<\/span> prov<\/span>e<\/span> that I had full<\/span>–<\/span>time work.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Danes are called the happiest people in the world or a bunch of socialists, depending on who is talking.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Danes are <\/span>called<\/span> the happiest<\/span> people<\/span> in the world<\/span> or<\/span> a<\/span> bunch of socialists, depending on who <\/span>is talking<\/span>. <\/span>The healthcare, higher education and assistance to those in need are not free. <\/span>Danes<\/span> pay<\/span> a lot of taxes, yet a<\/span> Gallup poll of 2014 showed that 9 out of 10 Danes were happy to pay taxes<\/span>, and here I cite why:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason behind the high level of support for the welfare state in Denmark is the awareness of the fact that the welfare model turns our collective wealth into well-being. We are not paying taxes. We are investing in our society. We are purchasing\u202fquality of life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Source<\/span>: <\/span>https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/best-countries\/articles\/2016-01-20\/why-danes-happily-pay-high-rates-of-taxes<\/span><\/a> )<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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When a government invests in its people, regardless of their race, sex, religion, or anything else, everyone has a chance to attain a decent quality of life. In terms of finances, anyone who wants an education can get it here, whether it be university, trade school or business school. If you come from a poorer family neither you nor they have to worry about whether they\u2019ll be able to afford your education. The investment we make in the form of taxes is used to create an infrastructure that supports human resources.<\/p>\n

Many argue that if you give people a handout, you make them lazy. This is not the case. The government doesn\u2019t just give people handouts. If you lose your job and don\u2019t have unemployment insurance, you can get financial aid under the proviso that you actively seek work. This means applying for jobs, going on interviews, and regularly reporting your progress. If too much time goes by, you may be urged to do some \u201cvolunteer work\u201d (which you are already getting paid to do) or settle for work that was not your first choice. This works as an incentive for the person to look harder. I have also seen many people get offered further education to make themselves more employable. I have not even gone into minimum wage here, but suffice it to say, people do not have to work two jobs to have a roof over their heads, food and health care.<\/p>\n

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I love my life in Denmark and feel it is a privilege to <\/span>be<\/span> here.<\/span> What has made me the happiest is that <\/span>here I have been able to create a space for <\/span>my <\/span>art. Most of my<\/span> adult<\/span> life, I <\/span>have allowed my anxiety about financial survival to overpower my desire to create art. I saw this keenly during the end of my Danish language school<\/span> when<\/span> I read a fictionalized diary of Hans Christian Andersen. I had never realized that at the age of 14, he left his home town for Copenhagen to be a performing artist and writer with absolutely no guarantee of any kind. He was a tight rope walker without a ne<\/span>t\u2014something I have<\/span> not<\/span> been willing to do but deeply admire in others.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cRather than making me lazy, that net is what makes me braver and more productive.”<\/p>\n

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What I discovered, though, is that I like having that net beneath me. Rather than making me lazy, that net is what makes me braver and more productive. As I have had the chance to live in different countries outside of the US\u2014Japan and Denmark\u2014and personally experienced how it is to live in different societal structures, I have seen that it is possible to have a civic set-up that cares for the well-being of all without endangering the\u00a0wealth and stature of the country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I am not saying that our system is perfect. No system really is, but from what I can see, it works.<\/p>\n

And I admit that it is unfair to compare a country the size of Denmark to the United States. However, when I sit on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and hear criticism of the \u201cradical left,” I realize how insulated some members of the US population have become. These \u201cradical\u201d changes that people are so afraid of are more the norm in the rest of the developed world, and the US is decades behind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While political affiliation and racial inequality stand out as prominent issues, I believe that the paradigm shift we need in the US goes even deeper and embraces these elements. It has to do more fundamentally with what people consider to be human rights. I believe that making health care and education available to all people falls under human rights. These are in fact stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Without these basic needs being met, the playing field will never be level, nor will there be human, let alone equal, rights.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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I didn\u2019t want to get political, but it is hard to avoid. The Trump era and now the Corona pandemic have brought about a great deal of hardship to America. Many of us have never been so confused or upset as in these last few years, but behind the turmoil, the noise and the conflict, is the purpose to have a better and more just future for all Americans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have thought a lot about how this change could come about because it\u2019s hard to imagine it happening to a country the size of the US, where there are such divergent viewpoints.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the size of Denmark is the key. It is far easier for us to manage ourselves because we live in a country of about 5.8 million people. Is there a way to create change that does not just depend on who is in the Senate or House or in the Oval office? While we are working on change at a wider level, I believe we need to build communities at a grassroots level. Then people can choose the type of society they wish to live in. In the spirit of free competition, could a state, county, city, or even a town work to make itself \u201cthe place to be?\u201d In other words, \u201cCome to Maine, where you can have access to affordable health care, education, and financial assistance should you run into hard times.\u201d If such communities were formed, they might attract like-minded people and grow.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is worth fighting for and I believe it is within reach.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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On March 11, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced that Denmark would soon be going into lockdown. In just a few days, I would be celebrating my eleventh year as an American ex-patriot living in Denmark. It felt odd that schools, restaurants, movie theatres and shops would be closing down. It was surreal to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":52233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

\u00a0<\/p>

\"\"On March 11,<\/span> the Danish Prime Minister,<\/span> Mette Frederiksen,<\/span> announced that Denmark would soon be going into lockdown. <\/span>In just a <\/span>few days<\/span>,<\/span> I would be celebrating<\/span> my <\/span>eleventh <\/span>year <\/span>as an American ex-pat<\/span>rio<\/span>t living<\/span> in Denmark<\/span>.<\/span> It felt odd that schools, restaurants, movie theatr<\/span>e<\/span>s and shops would be closing down. <\/span>It was surreal <\/span>to see <\/span>keep<\/span>-<\/span>your<\/span>-<\/span>distance<\/span> marking<\/span>s<\/span> painted on the floors <\/span>by<\/span> the <\/span>grocery <\/span>check-out lines<\/span> and<\/span> to chat with the cashier through <\/span>a <\/span>P<\/span>lex<\/span>i<\/span>glas barrier<\/span>.<\/span> We <\/span>watched<\/span> the <\/span>horrific <\/span>footage of<\/span> Corona<\/span> virus<\/span> as it gripped <\/span>Italy<\/span> and Spain<\/span>.<\/span> Things<\/span> felt strange in an Orwellian sense<\/span> and I <\/span>experienced<\/span> uncertainty, <\/span>but <\/span>not<\/span> fear.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The Prime Minister had a plan<\/span>\u2014<\/span>2.6 billion Danish kroner <\/span>had <\/span>be<\/span>en<\/span> set aside to cover 75% of the salaries of employees from private Danish companies <\/span>who<\/span> would otherwise have been fired. The companies would need to pay the remaining 25%. Hourly <\/span>wage earners <\/span>who were out of work <\/span>would receive 90% of their salaries<\/span>, up to about 4100 <\/span>in <\/span>USD, <\/span>from the<\/span> Danish government.<\/span> Small companies could also apply for assistance <\/span>in the months to come <\/span>if they showed at least a 30% decrease in income as a result of the pandemic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

My husband and I run two <\/span>small businesses<\/span>. <\/span>The main o<\/span>ne is a tutoring practice, <\/span>where<\/span> kids<\/span> come after school for extra help<\/span> with Danish, Math or English<\/span>. We also have an editing and translations company. With <\/span>the <\/span>kids being out of school and families being told not to visit friends or relatives, we suddenly lost our students and no new students w<\/span>ould be signing up<\/span> for a while<\/span>.<\/span> We want<\/span>ed <\/span>to <\/span>avoid <\/span>as<\/span>king<\/span> the government for help, so we tried <\/span>to <\/span>focus more on translations and editing<\/span> while<\/span> kn<\/span>owing<\/span> that if we had substantial income loss, we would be <\/span>helped<\/span>. This <\/span>put us at ease.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

[perfectpullquote align=\"left\" borderleft=\"true\" cite=\"\" link=\"\" color=\"#3369B1\" class=\"\" size=\"\"]\"Folks seemed mostly concerned about not spreading the virus to others...\"[\/perfectpullquote]<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We <\/span>took walks around <\/span>the <\/span>neighborhood<\/span>, making sure to <\/span>observe<\/span> social distancing<\/span> protocol<\/span>.<\/span> We saw w<\/span>hole families walking together<\/span>,<\/span> and we were lucky that the endless rain of the last two months had passed. <\/span>P<\/span>eople <\/span>seemed to be<\/span> enjoying the nice weather and using the time to get more <\/span>fresh air and <\/span>exercise.<\/span>\"\"<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Folks seemed most<\/span>ly <\/span>concerned<\/span> about not spreading the virus to others<\/span>, especiall<\/span>y<\/span> older people. <\/span>Adults<\/span> felt<\/span> badly<\/span> for the young people<\/span>,<\/span> who quickly grew <\/span>restless<\/span>. Teens<\/span>,<\/span> in particular<\/span>,<\/span> were extremely<\/span> stressed out <\/span>and disappointed <\/span>about not being able to see their friends<\/span>.<\/span> Parties were cancelled, <\/span>confirmations were cancelled, <\/span>weddings were cancelled<\/span> and so were<\/span> concerts<\/span>, festivals and sporting events<\/span>,<\/span> but despite these setbacks I sensed a strong feeling of solidarity among the population.<\/span> It seemed that most people<\/span> viewed it as their civic duty to keep others safe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I<\/span>n 200<\/span>7<\/span> I<\/span> got engaged to <\/span>Hans-Henrik, a <\/span>Dane who had been<\/span> working and living in the US for 26 years. <\/span>We were living in New Rochelle, <\/span>New York, <\/span>which we loved, but after many years of working for others, we wanted to <\/span>become self-employed<\/span>,<\/span> preferably from home. Hans-Henrik wanted to<\/span> become a freelance translator<\/span> and I wanted to break into language editing and proofreading<\/span> after years of teaching ESL<\/span>. I wanted something flexible<\/span>,<\/span> s<\/span>omething<\/span> that would allow me to pursue other passions<\/span> that had always been put on the back burner\u2014<\/span>writing<\/span> and singing<\/span>. <\/span>I was 45 <\/span>at the time<\/span> and Hans<\/span>-<\/span>Henrik<\/span>,<\/span> 56. <\/span>To become entrepreneurs so late in life was <\/span>damned <\/span>risky.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I <\/span>would<\/span> know.<\/span> I<\/span> had<\/span> previously <\/span>spent <\/span>11<\/span> months<\/span> in LA <\/span>helping a friend launch<\/span> a company<\/span> that<\/span> got<\/span> people <\/span>out of <\/span>foreclosure<\/span>. <\/span>My job was to <\/span>interview applicants <\/span>to <\/span>determine their eligibility<\/span>.<\/span> Being eligible meant <\/span>that the <\/span>homeowner<\/span> had <\/span>1) <\/span>a <\/span>legitimate hardship that prevented <\/span>them<\/span> from<\/span> being able to<\/span> pay<\/span> their mortgage<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> 2) <\/span>a solution to the <\/span>hardship and<\/span>\/<\/span>or<\/span> had a way to get caught up with their payments<\/span>. Our job was to n<\/span>egotiate<\/span> a<\/span> realistic<\/span> payment plan with the bank on behalf of our client.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

During that time<\/span>,<\/span> I<\/span> heard<\/span> hundreds of stories <\/span>from<\/span> people<\/span> who<\/span> were <\/span>losing their homes an<\/span>d the circumstances <\/span>that had led to it<\/span>. <\/span>And while<\/span> I <\/span>occasionally<\/span> spoke<\/span> to <\/span>a person<\/span> wh<\/span>o had been<\/span> irresponsible with their f<\/span>inances,<\/span> m<\/span>ost<\/span> of the <\/span>folks<\/span> I interviewed<\/span> had<\/span> simply <\/span>run into<\/span> difficult <\/span>situation<\/span>s<\/span> that could<\/span> have<\/span> happen<\/span>ed<\/span> to anyon<\/span>e. T<\/span>hey<\/span>\u2019d<\/span> lost <\/span>a job<\/span> or<\/span> a<\/span> household<\/span> wage-earn<\/span>er<\/span>, <\/span>or maybe they or a<\/span> family<\/span> member<\/span> had become <\/span>il<\/span>l and<\/span> racked up <\/span>huge<\/span> hospital bills<\/span> and <\/span>therefore<\/span> insurmountable <\/span>debt.<\/span> I<\/span> saw how easy it<\/span> was to become <\/span>destitute<\/span> and yes,<\/span> even<\/span> homeless<\/span> almost overnight<\/span>.<\/span> (This would later become the subject of a screenplay I wrote, but that is another story.)<\/span> I<\/span>t was against this backdrop that <\/span>we <\/span>ventured <\/span>to start our own business.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

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Meanwhile, having never been to Scandinavia or Europe, I suggested holding our wedding in Demark, <\/span>whi<\/span>c<\/span>h we did<\/span> in May of 2008. On our wedding night while gazing at the stars<\/span> in a perfectly clear sky,<\/span> it was my turn to pop a question. I asked Hans-Henrik how he would feel about moving back to Denmark. I think <\/span>it <\/span>caught him by surprise, but he seemed happy. His mother had recently turned 90 and though she was in good health, <\/span>returning <\/span>to Denmark mean<\/span>t<\/span> he<\/span>\u2019d be able to<\/span> spend time with her.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

[perfectpullquote align=\"left\" bordertop=\"false\" cite=\"\" link=\"\" color=\"#3369B1\" class=\"\" size=\"\"]\"Fairytale eyes or not, I fell in love with Denmark.\"[\/perfectpullquote]<\/span><\/p>

When we told members of Hans-Henrik\u2019s family about our idea, they were skeptical<\/span>. They<\/span> warned us that this wonderful weather we\u2019d been having was record-breaking. (In Denmark <\/span>the official <\/span>w<\/span>eather <\/span>s<\/span>ervice <\/span>count<\/span>s<\/span> sun<\/span>shine<\/span> hours <\/span>throughout the year <\/span>because there are so few of them.) They reminded us that <\/span>we <\/span>were on our honeymoon and <\/span>that <\/span>perhaps <\/span>we were <\/span>viewing Denmark through fairytale eyes. Fairytale<\/span> eyes<\/span> or not, I fell in love with Denmark. <\/span><\/p>

After<\/span> return<\/span>ing<\/span> to New York<\/span>,<\/span> w<\/span>e contacted the Danish Embassy and started an application fo<\/span>r me to become a resident<\/span>. We had to come up with about 10,00<\/span>0<\/span> dollars<\/span> that would stay<\/span> frozen in a <\/span>bank account<\/span> as<\/span> security<\/span> that I wouldn\u2019t become a burden on the state<\/span> should something happen<\/span>.<\/span> A year later we relocated to a suburb of Copenhagen, living with Hans<\/span>-<\/span>Henrik\u2019s brother while we got established.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\"\"As soon as we <\/span>arrived<\/span>, I registered with the local municipal office. <\/span>A couple of weeks later I<\/span> received an insurance card and could enro<\/span>l<\/span>l<\/span> in free Danish language lessons. I obtained temporary residence for three years. <\/span>Permanent residence<\/span> depended on several things, including passing a Danish <\/span>language <\/span>exam and being economically self-sufficient. It was not enough that I was <\/span>married to a<\/span> Dane<\/span>\u2014<\/span>I needed to <\/span>demonstrate<\/span> that I <\/span>was<\/span> a contributing member of society<\/span> and <\/span>would not become a <\/span>financial burden to the state<\/span>. I had to<\/span> prov<\/span>e<\/span> that I had full<\/span>-<\/span>time work. <\/span><\/p>

For me it was a challenge as <\/span>our business was in its infancy and <\/span>at this juncture in my life<\/span>, I also wanted <\/span>time to<\/span> do art.<\/span> Sometimes<\/span> these stipulations<\/span> annoyed <\/span>me<\/span>,<\/span> but it also forced us to make our business <\/span>succeed<\/span>.<\/span> After <\/span>seven years<\/span>, I was finally<\/span> granted permanent residence<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

[perfectpullquote align=\"right\" bordertop=\"false\" cite=\"\" link=\"\" color=\"#3369B1\" class=\"\" size=\"\"]\"Danes are called the happiest people in the world or a bunch of socialists, depending on who is talking.\"[\/perfectpullquote]<\/span><\/p>

Danes are <\/span>called<\/span> the happiest<\/span> people<\/span> in the world<\/span> or<\/span> a<\/span> bunch of socialists, depending on who <\/span>is talking<\/span>. <\/span>The healthcare, higher education and assistance to those in need are not free. <\/span>Danes<\/span> pay<\/span> a lot of taxes, yet a<\/span> Gallup poll of 2014 showed that 9 out of 10 Danes were happy to pay taxes<\/span>, and here I cite why:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The reason behind the high level of support for the welfare state in Denmark is the awareness of the fact that the welfare model turns our collective wealth into well-being. We are not paying taxes. We are investing in our society. We are purchasing\u202fquality of life<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

(Source<\/span>: <\/span>https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/best-countries\/articles\/2016-01-20\/why-danes-happily-pay-high-rates-of-taxes<\/span><\/a> )<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\"\"W<\/span>hen a government invests in <\/span>its <\/span>people, regardless of their race, sex<\/span>,<\/span> religion,<\/span> or anything else, <\/span>everyone has a chance t<\/span>o attain a decent quality of life. In terms of finances, a<\/span>nyone who wants a<\/span>n<\/span> education can get it here<\/span>, whether it be university, trade school or business school.<\/span> I<\/span>f you come from a poorer family neither you nor they<\/span> have to <\/span>worr<\/span>y<\/span> about wheth<\/span>er they\u2019ll be able to afford your<\/span> education<\/span>. The investment we make in the form of taxes is used to create an infrastructure that supports human resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Many argue<\/span> that<\/span> if you give people a handout, you make them lazy.<\/span> This is not the case. The government doesn\u2019t just give people handouts.<\/span> If you lose your job<\/span> and don<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t have <\/span>unemployment <\/span>insurance, you<\/span> can get financial aid under the proviso that you<\/span> actively <\/span>seek<\/span> work<\/span>. This means applying for jobs, going on interviews, <\/span>and <\/span>regularly reporting your progress. If too much time goes by, you may<\/span> be urged to<\/span> do some \u201cvolunteer work\u201d (which you are already getting paid to do) or settle for work that was not your first choice. This works as<\/span> an incentive for <\/span>the<\/span> person to look harder<\/span>. I have also seen many people get offered <\/span>further<\/span> education to make themselves more employable. I have not even gone into minimum wage<\/span> here<\/span>, but suffice it to say, people do not have to work two jobs to have a roof over their heads, food and health care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I love my life in Denmark and feel it is a privilege to <\/span>be<\/span> here.<\/span> What has made me the happiest is that <\/span>here I have been able to create a space for <\/span>my <\/span>art. Most of my<\/span> adult<\/span> life, I <\/span>have allowed my anxiety about financial survival to overpower my desire to create art. I saw this keenly during the end of my Danish language school<\/span> when<\/span> I read a fictionalized diary of Hans Christian Andersen. I had never realized that at the age of 14, he left his home town for Copenhagen to be a performing artist and writer with absolutely no guarantee of any kind. He was a tight rope walker without a ne<\/span>t\u2014something I have<\/span> not<\/span> been willing to do but deeply admire in others.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

[perfectpullquote align=\"left\" bordertop=\"false\" cite=\"\" link=\"\" color=\"#3369B1\" class=\"\" size=\"\"]\"Rather than making me lazy, that net is what makes me braver and more productive.\"[\/perfectpullquote]<\/span><\/p>

What I discovered, though,<\/span> is that I like having that net beneath me. Rather than making me lazy, that net is what makes me braver<\/span> and more productive<\/span>. <\/span>As I have had the chance to live in different countries outside of the US\u2014Japan and Denmark\u2014and personally experienced how it is to live in different societal structures, I have seen that it is possible to have a civic set-up that cares for the well-being of all without endangering the\u00a0<\/span>wealth and stature of the country.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I am not saying that our system is perfect. No system really is, but from what I can see, it works. <\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And I admit that it is unfair to <\/span>compare a country the size of Denmark <\/span>to <\/span>the United States. However, when I sit on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and hear criticism of the \u201cradical left,\" <\/span>I realize how insulated <\/span>some<\/span> members<\/span> of the <\/span>US<\/span> population<\/span> ha<\/span>ve<\/span> become. <\/span>These \u201cradical\u201d changes that people are so afraid of are more the norm in the rest of the developed world, and the US is decades behind.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

\"\"<\/span><\/p>

While <\/span>political affiliation and racial <\/span>in<\/span>equality<\/span> stand out as prominent issues, I believe that the paradigm shift we need in the US<\/span> goes <\/span>even <\/span>deeper <\/span>and embraces these elements.<\/span> I<\/span>t has to<\/span> do more fundamentally with what people consider to be human rights. I believe <\/span>that making health care and education available to all people falls under human rights.<\/span> These are in fact stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. <\/span>Without these basic needs being met, the playing field will never be level, nor will there be<\/span> human, let alone<\/span> equal<\/span>,<\/span> rights.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I <\/span>didn\u2019t want to get political, but it is hard to avoid.<\/span> The Trump era <\/span>and now the Corona pandemic <\/span>have brought about a great deal of hardship to America. <\/span>Many<\/span> of us have never been so<\/span> confused or upset as<\/span> in<\/span> these last few years, <\/span>but <\/span>behind the turmoil, <\/span>the <\/span>noise and <\/span>the <\/span>conflict, is the purpose to <\/span>have<\/span> a better and more just future for all Americans.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I have thought a lot about how <\/span>this <\/span>change c<\/span>ould<\/span> com<\/span>e about because it\u2019s<\/span> hard to imagine it happening to a country<\/span> the size of the US,<\/span> where there are such diverg<\/span>ent <\/span>viewpoints. <\/span><\/p>

P<\/span>erhaps the size of Denmark is the key.<\/span> It is far easier for us to manage ourselves because we live in a country of <\/span>about <\/span>5.8 million people. Is there a way to create change that does not just depend on who is in the Senate or <\/span>House <\/span>or in the Oval office?<\/span> While we are working on change at a wider level, I believe we need to build communities at a grassroots level. Then people can choose the type of society they wish to live in.<\/span> In the spirit of free competition, could a state, county, city, or even a town work to make itself <\/span>\u201c<\/span>the place to be<\/span>?\u201d<\/span> In other words, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Come to Maine, where you can have access to affordable health care, education, and financial assistance should you run into hard times.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> If such communities were formed, they might attract like-minded people<\/span> and grow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This is worth fighting for and I believe it is within reach.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,10],"tags":[57,65,68,69,67,66],"class_list":["post-50318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-the-sake-of-argument","category-stranger-than-fiction","tag-covid-19","tag-denmark","tag-hans-christian-anderson","tag-happiness","tag-pandemic","tag-socialism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50318\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersatlarge.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}