The Jante Law: Mediocrity is King
Posted by: adonis49 on: March 24, 2009
The Jante Law: Mediocrity is King, (March 24, 2009)
In Scandinavia, the Jante Law said: “You are worthless. Nobody is interested in what you think. Mediocrity and anonymity are your best choices. If you act according to the Jante Law, then all your problems will vanish”
This Janti Law is the most common and most adhered to principle by most countries and people, though it was never formulated as clearly or known as the Law of the Lands of Mediocrity.
The Janti Law was stated in the novel “A refugee surpasses his limits” by Aksei Sandemose in 1933. This law was disseminated recently when the Norwegian Princess Martha-Louise married the writer Ari Behn.
Ari Behn was a recognized and acclaimed writer before he wedded the princess. After the marriage, Ari was vehemently critiqued and lambasted by writers for no other reason but for daring to surpass his class status. That is how the world got familiar with this Scandinavian Law.
By the way, Princess Martha-Louise embroidered her gown with the names of who counted in her life for her 30h birthday, and many started to emulate her generous spirit.
People always claim that many wars would not have started if an anti-Janti Law was preponderant:
1. That people knew that they are worth far more than what they think.
2. That what you do on earth is far more important than what you believe in;
3. That acting against injustice and expressing your opinions against tyrants will ultimately prevail.
That might be so, but it was still an abstract notion until 2003, when the King of Mediocrity, George W. Bush, prevailed against all the world community and launched his preemptive war against Iraq.
The Spanish PM Aznar defied the wishes of 90% of the Spanish citizens and so did the British PM Blair. The UN did not cover the operation.
Turkey declined 26 billions dollar in aid and denied the US troops a right to cross the Turkish land or launch military operations against its neighboring State.
Colin Powell was forced to forge falsified proofs, documents, and aerial photographs that Hans Blix, the inspector of Iraq disarmament on nuclear and chemical engines of war, contested for many months.
Britain Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, went as far as justifying this war on moral grounds.
The European Nations and their people were against this war. The Arab States unified to decry this war. The entire world demonstrated for two months but the King of Mediocrity prevailed.
No, it was not all in vain. Things have changed even if a few leaders still feel shy to denouncing the genocide that the Zionist State perpetrated against the Palestinians in Gaza.
The results of democratic elections are recognized, even if they don’t suit the philosophy of a few powerful nations. A new urgency for diplomatic resolutions is taking over in world politics. Sure, financial and economic downturns are helping that climate of overture, but Mediocrity is subsiding among nations.
The common people of nations are reawakening to known fundamentals that terrorism and religious extremism are the symptoms of fear, inequality in rights, injustices, and lack of freedom of speech coupled with anemic economies and lack of opportunities and professional diversity in jobs.
In order to establish just, prosperous, and democratic political systems around the world we have got to believe that it is very possible because it is right and urgent.
Note 1: The theme of this post was inspired by “Like a Flowing River” by Paulo Coelho with re-arrangement.
Note 2: This post was published over three years before the Arab mass uprising and the Occupy Wall Street protests in the US and in Europe
Adonis Diaries 
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