When Canadians meet me and realize that I am Swedish, they often want to talk about hockey and the Sedin twins. “Why don’t they fight”, they ask irritated. When I tell them that Swedish youth hockey is mainly regulated as a sport, with a lot of focus in the early years on sportsmanship and rules, I always get the answer that violence is part of the game.

The day after Vancouver was torn to pieces, I would like to ask the same individuals if they still feel the same way?

As a mother of two little Canadian boys, I tell them not to hit each other, not to disrespect each other and certainly to apologise if they by accident hurt someone. If they deliberately hurt someone there will be a consequence. What is the consequence of last night’s riots?

For me, it is a clearer understanding  that violence creates violence. Over the last few weeks, we have literally been washed over by the glorification of hockey related violence in North American by media and fans, on and off the rink. It all culminated last night, with angry fans destroying the inner-core of our beautiful Vancouver.

As a Swede in Vancouver, I am tired of having to defend that Swedes follow the rules, when only they do what their parents and trainers taught them long ago. I am proud of our Swedish players, especially Daniel and Henrik, who have conducted themselves with an incredible personal and professional style, despite the enormous media focus and pressure on them through the last weeks’ fanaticism. Sure, their salaries are high but after seeing them abused by media and by any Vancouverite with a tiny interest in hockey, I think they deserve every cent they are paid.

As always, I am proud to be a Swede. We seem to be among the few who understand that hockey is a sport – not a war against a created and imagined enemy.

Today, I do not represent any Swedish organization. These are my personal opinions and I invite other to share their thoughts. Preferably in English, to make our fellow Vancouverites understand how we feel. Debate is necessary after disaster.

Lena Normén-Younger

Primarily mum but also a Swede, Vancouverite, Canuck-fan & firm antiviolence believer