Lögberg-Heimskringla - 04.10.1991, Blaðsíða 1

Lögberg
eimskringla
The lcelandic Weekly
Lögberg Stofnad 14. janúar 1888
Heimslrringla Stofnað 9. september 1886
Inside this week:
To be a Guardsman .....................page 2
Search for self discovery..................4
Shadow of the Raven .......................5
Vancouver artist Gordon Thorlaksson .......6
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105. Árgangur
105th Year
Publications Mail Registration No. 1667
Föstudagur 4. október 1991
Friday, 4 October 1991
Númer 34
Number 34
lcelandic
News
Caution! Children
piaying:
Cautionf By this street 33 children
play. Driveslower, says asignpútupby
the residents at Borgarland Street in
Djúpívogur. Borgarland is mostly popu-
lated by young familíes who have be~
come increasingly concerned about
theirchildren'ssafety. Duringthe bright
summer months, lcelandic children go
late to bed and stay out playing longer.
The short winter days , however, are
more dangerous, as vísibility ís often
poor. For added protection most chil-
dren wear reflectors.
Radioactive chemicals:
A smaller amount of radioactíve
chemicals has been found in the ícelan-
dic environment and food products
than in neighbouríng countries.
SigurðurA. Magnusson, the directorof
the State Radioactive Preventions,
says the maín reason for this is little
measurable effect from the Chernobyl
nuclear dísaster.
They're all downtown:
Ön weekends, young people crowd
into the downtown area of Reykjavík.
On the first 5aturday night in Septem-
ber, and despite the occasional rain
shower, between 6- and 7,000 people
gathered downtown. The políce re-
ported only a few incídents of wíndow
breaking which adults were responsi-
bíe for.
New recreation
centre:
A new recreation centre for the d ísa-
bled was formally opened at Hátún ín
Reykjavik in early September. Its con-
struction began in '82, but wasdiscon-
tinued in '84 due to lack of funds. In
April of '89, the Rás 2 radio station's
fund raising drive allowed constructíon
to continue. The total building cost
cametolOOmíllionkrónur, which leaves
the Sport Federatíon of the Disabled
with a 20 million krónur debt.
Translated from lcelandlc
^ newspapers. H.K.O.J
In a recent issue of the
Morgunblað, an eight-page
spread was devoted to the re-
cently-publicizedfindings of the
European Value Systems Study
Group’s Study. This study was
carried out in 30 countries last
year. The Icelandic study, which
was conductedinMayandJune,
was headed by the Department
of Sociology at the University
of Iceland. A sample of one
thousand subjects in the age
group between 18 and 80 years
were randomly selected from
the nation’s central register, with
702 people being interviewed,
each during an hour-long ses-
sion.
Although the study indicates
that Icelanders have a lot in
common with the other
Scandinavian nations and the
Americans, there are areas
where their values differ to some
extent.
What follows here are short
excerpts from some of the publicized
findings.
Competition is good:
The study indicates that Icelanders
have more faith in competition than
most nations. They believe that com-
petition results in increased creativity
and industriousness. They also have
great faith in private enterprise and
private ownership, yet, at the same
time, they emphasize and believe, more
than other nations, in the importance
of equality and income equity.
Nationalism:
Icelanders also appear prouder of
their country and heritage, and even
though there is no Icelandic military,
77% of those surveyed said they would
willingly fight for their country in case
of war.
Religion:
Only 1 % of the nation attends
church regularly, yet 75% claim they
are religious. Icelanders believe in God
and the afterlife. In this aspect they
resemble the Americans and the Irish
more than the Scandinavians.
Morality:
Icelanders are acceptive of sexual
freedom and seem more tolerant of
homosexuality than many other na-
tions. Infidelity in marriage , however,
is considered unacceptable. Suicide is
not accepted, but killing in self de-
fence, divorce, homosexuality, eutha-
nasia, and abortions in most cases are.
a much higher percentage than
among many other nations.
When the Icelandic subjects
were asked why they thought
there were destitute people
within their society, 27% men-
tioned lack of luck, which was
not a common answer among
other nations, 23 % said it had to
do with lack of drive and will-
power, and laziness, and 27%
said it was due to injustice. The
Swedes, the Norwegians and the
Americans mention injustice
more often in this context.
Public institutions:
When the Icelandic subjects
were asked in which public in-
stitutions they had most faith,
the police was ranked number
one, the educational system was
a close second, but the N.A.T.O.
Armed Forces, stationed in Ice-
land, and the newspapers re-
ceived last places.
Attitudes towards work:
Icelanders generally have a very posi-
tive attitude towards work. The subjects
were asked whether a) males should be
hired over women; b) people should
take early retirement; c) Icelanders
should be hired over foreigners during
periods of widespread unemployment.
Only 6% of the Icelanders agreed with
a) whereas 34% of subjects in South
West Europe agreed, 37% of the Ice-
landers agreed with b), but 59% disa-
greed, and 87% agreed with c) which is
Marriage:
96% of Icelanders believe that mu-
tual respect is essential in a marriage;
86% emphasize mutual tolerance; 90%
list fídelity as very important, and 73%
feel that good sex life is important. The
two lastfígures were much higher among
the Icelanders than other nations. Only
3% thought it was important that a
married couple have the same political
opinions, whereas 21 % of Swedes were
of that opinion.
Icelanders also feel that having
Continued on page 7

Njörður P Njarðvík, Professor of
lcelandic and Swedish Literature at
the University of Iceland, wili give
three public lectures at the University
of Victoria in British Columbia in
October. The lectures, which are part
of the Beck Lectures Series, are enti-
tled: Laxdæla $aga—a Differen t Kirtd
of Saga; Questions to an lcelandic
Wríter: How does it feel to be so far
away and to write for so few?; and A
Singing Stone—and then SUence. A
lecture on the Post-War Poetry of
lceland.
Njörður P Njarðvík is an award-
winning Icelandic author. His writ-
ing encompasses nearly every form.
He has written biography, novels,
poetry, history, dramas and child-
ren’sbooks. His workhasbeen trans-
lated into Danish, Finnish, Russian,
Norwegian, English, Turkish and
Hindi. He has received numerous
Hterary prizes and in 1987 he was
made Knight lst class of the Lion
Order of Finiand. As well, he has
transiated at ieast fifteen books,
including Nevii Shute’s On the
Beach. He has also written numer-
ous short stories and around 200
articles on literature, culture and
polifícs. At present, he is teaching
literature and literary theory at
the University of Iceland. Professor
Njarðvík is the first person to
teach creative writing at the Uni-
versity.
(See upcoming events on page 3
for further information on Njörður P
Njarðvxk’s lectures.)