Goodbye, Stockholm

I'd like to think of my first proper entry as a gateway to my new life. But what's the fun of ending things if they're not welcomed with a Dear John? Many of you have already read this letter, but I thought I'd post it anyway for sentimental reasons.

Dear Stockholm,

My relationship with your city has been a lot like my first serious romantic relationship. The only difference is that I've been on the opposite side this time. I've longed after an ideal and pre-arranged a marriage for myself with an image of something that doesn't exist. A symbol for something I lacked in my childhood that doesn't bear as much weight as it used to. Now that I've grown closer to this symbol, I've realized that what's behind its face is much less desireable than I had once imagined.

I do love Sweden. Sweden's national ideals, political climate and welcoming people (or at least the idea of what they once stood for) have driven me for as long as I can remember. The Swedish Model has paved the path for the rest of the free world to follow, and for that Sweden should be proud. Unfortunately, Swedish youth takes 99.9% of what their country has to offer for granted. Pissing on socialist ideals for capitalist lies and a false sense of economic security, building their egos on what their parents and grandparents fought for only to rip it apart, and shunning anyone who thinks, walks, talks or dresses differently, all while boasting to be the most progressive country in the world.

Pardon my Americanism (or don't), but freedom is completely held within the individual. I'm a strong believer in social goals and togetherness, but a society is built on individual human beings. The faults of one are the faults of all, and the neglegence of one to act against a brainwashed national mentality is the downfall of a system and of a free people. Consumerism has eaten Stockholm alive, and each year it pumps out more and more 15 year old aspiring fashion stylists. When I was 15 I didn't know what a stylist was. This isn't progress, it's consumerist status-seeking at its absolute worst.

Stop pointing fingers, Sweden, and realize that the capitalist beast destroying Social Welfare isn't solely embodied in the United States. You voted the monster into power yourselves. Moderaterna. For what? To be more like the United States? Out of boredom? To join the rest of 'EU'rope? In hopes that you'll get rid of Stockholm's small town mentality? Change within oneself is usually the most solid change one can undergo, you know. Political events can change how far your borders open, but the only one in control of how open your mind is is you, you arrogant, egotistical, closed-minded, consumerist monster.

Before I fall out of love with Scandinavia because of the ignorance and spoiled nouveaux-riches attitudes of Sweden's tomorrow, I've made the decision to leave my job at Rodebjer to pursue new interests at home. As difficult as it is to leave the best company I've ever worked for, I'll be moving back to New York at the end of May this year.

I love you, Sweden. It's not you, it's not me; it's them.

Yours,

James Gillespie