By Elin Brimheim Heinesen
What mindset most promotes or hinders development and wellbeing in the Faroe Islands? Is it the dream of the modern, technologically advanced city life, or the belief that “everything was better in the old days”? Who is right – those who want to make the Faroe Islands a hyper-modern global IT society, or those who want to preserve the traditional fishing community? The debate is often intense.
It appears to be a clash of values between rural and urban areas – between the common villager and the academics in the city. However, the divide between these groups is likely not as stark as it sometimes seems in the debate. In reality, there is a large grey area. And even though viewpoints can appear incompatible, the gap between them is not as wide as many believe. Can a balance not be struck? Is there not room for both sides? And can something constructive be gained from their differences?
As we see in many other parts of the world, there appears to be an increasing divide in recent years between urban and rural areas; between the modern and the traditional; between those with academic educations and those with vocational training or unskilled jobs; and between the public sector in the Faroe Islands and traditional industries – as if it were possible to starkly separate into opposing groups. Of course, it isn’t, because reality is far more nuanced. However, the tendency to want to categorise strongly persists, and prejudices about each other flourish, especially in disputes over who contributes most to society. This is certainly a topic of discussion, but setting everything up as opposites helps no one – and definitely not the well-being and unity of the country.
We can easily be hybrid Faroese. We must learn to live with our differences, whether we like it or not, but being different doesn’t necessarily mean being irreconcilable opposites. In reality, most Faroese carry elements of both – to varying degrees. Most people are both modern and traditional. I mentioned this in another article I wrote previously:
“Fortunately, life doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. We have the advantage of not having to choose between being EITHER traditional OR modern. These lifestyles can easily coexist to some extent, as they already partially do. This is also true for individuals, if they wish to partake in both. We can quite comfortably be “hybrid Faroese.”
It’s not uncommon for people to spend part of their time developing IT systems during the day with colleagues in India and being DJs at a nightclub in the evening, while also dedicating other parts of their time to tending to pastures, slaughtering sheep, or going on fishing trips. This is the nature of postmodern life in the Faroe Islands. These contrasts have become part of us, and many of us have adapted and grown accustomed to the new era with its diversity and time shifts within the global village.
This is precisely the great thing about Faroese society: that it is so full of contrasts, and isn’t that exactly what makes the country an exciting place to live? Isn’t it exactly this that many of us Faroese actually enjoy about the Faroe Islands? And isn’t it precisely this that also fascinates many foreigners who visit here?”
Opportunities in Diversity
It is possible to accommodate both lifestyles so they can coexist without threatening each other. With a bit of imagination, they might even support one another. However, if we cling too tightly to tradition and do not allow room for anything new, we risk alienating the most globalised, modern individuals. Conversely, if we push through changes that completely discard traditions many in the Faroe Islands identify with, a significant portion of the population will become dissatisfied and unhappy. It’s about recognising the opportunities in diversity.
I believe reality will somehow force us to find a middle ground between the modern and the traditional. It’s simply a matter of acknowledging and becoming more aware that Faroese identity isn’t just an idealistic dream; it is shaped by its diversity and inherent contrasts.
This applies to both sides – to the “half-educated rogues” dreaming of moving Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands, and to Palleba (the traditionalist) who stubbornly insists that nothing should change here! Neither extreme is feasible. Neither owns the patent on Faroese identity. We are all Faroese, living here, regardless of our preferred lifestyles. We must embrace both sides. By doing so, we can better utilise all the resources within our community. We are all interdependent and interconnected. We can move forward from there.
It is up to our attitude whether we view it as an advantage or a disadvantage that society is both modern and traditional. If we choose to see it as a disadvantage, we will get nowhere, and one group will inevitably be marginalised, leading to sure emigration. If, however, we see it as an advantage, countless opportunities will open up, as I see it.
Does ‘Palleba’ Have the Upper Hand?
To avoid polarising ourselves too much, we might ask who or what we look up to, and why. Who do we admire? Who do we look down on, and why? There is often a pattern seen elsewhere where the “outskirt” people, both geographically and socially, are disparaged. People in the outskirts, who haven’t pursued (higher) education and may not possess the same vocabulary as the educated, are often viewed as “losers” in society. But do they see themselves that way? Unlikely. So who is actually the loser?
The so-called “elite” (the ruling class), who dominate the media landscape with their opinions, may weigh the heaviest because they are most visible. However, our identity as a people is not only shaped in books or in writing. It must also be lived by real individuals. Is the village “Palleba,” who isn’t impressed by the city “elite,” and who simply works and lives quietly outside the media spotlight, actually the loser? No, perhaps it’s he who truly holds the upper hand.
On the other hand, Palleba often looks down on those he perceives as snobbish, latte-sipping, sushi-eating academics in the city who “always think they know best” just because they’ve studied abroad and filled their heads with theoretical nonsense about this and that, but who know nothing about real life because they’ve never “pissed in saltwater.” Consequently, he believes they can hardly contribute anything valuable to this society, which is almost entirely built on primary industries like fishing and sheep farming. But is it really that black and white?
Is There reason to Fear Globalisation?
Not everyone can, has the time for, or wants to rely solely on primary industries. We must acknowledge that we live in a globalised world. Our lives greatly depend on trade with other countries to which our economy is tied. We cannot isolate ourselves. The new era and global trends will continue to challenge us. Therefore, we must be prepared to face these challenges – and we won’t be if we shut ourselves off in a rigid, domestic self-sufficiency.
Some fear we may lose our identity and values if we open our society to global trends and adjust “too much” to new times and globalisation. But is there really cause for fear?
Personally, I am quite confident that the Faroese can maintain the unique values we hold, which are truly beneficial because it is precisely these values and characteristics that make life in the Faroe Islands so appealing to many of us who thrive here – and also attract many people from outside the Faroes. This means that those who live here and those who wish to move here likely have an interest in preserving these values – EVEN THOUGH the society is also open to innovation and globalisation in other ways.
We should rather fear becoming losers if we isolate ourselves in a romantic bubble as a North Atlantic curiosity – an anthropological museum only interesting to a few for as long as they find it amusing. We cannot build a sustainable future on that.
In this light: What do we want to develop into in the future? What self-perception are we nurturing? What status do we wish the Faroe Islands to have globally? What is realistic with the resources we have?
Not the Best in the World – But Right for Some
We often see a certain ambivalence in our quest to assert ourselves globally. It seems to be all or nothing. Either we must be the best in the world, or it is not worth it at all. Are we not good enough even if we are not always the best in the world? Can we not build self-confidence without having to claim superiority over everyone in everything? Isn’t this merely an expression of sheer grandiosity, born of provincialism and, in reality, very fragile self-esteem?
On the other hand, there is no reason to hide our light under a bushel or to make no effort at all to stand out – and simply to belittle ourselves, as some seem to do, if we do not always succeed in being the best in the world. We can certainly make a difference – at least in some niches – where the Faroe Islands may not be the best at everything but are exactly right for some.
It is somewhat paradoxical that many Faroese long for the vibrant city life, while many foreigners would give anything to live the safe, peaceful and somewhat simpler life in the Faroes, as “outskirts-Palleba” does. Countless comments from foreigners about the Faroes on social media confirm this. It’s likely the Faroes may not live up to all the positive expectations of these people if put to the test. And yet… perhaps they can, more so than many other places in the world.
If we manage to realistically assess the diversity of the resources we have – both human and natural – while being realistic about what we can achieve in this small country, and if we manage to blend modern and traditional elements to strengthen each other, we can truly create a society where no one feels left out, but where everyone matters, regardless of who they are or what they do; and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
Everything Is Important For the whole
The renowned international NLP expert, teacher, and speaker Judith DeLozier once said in one of her lectures:
“In the pioneering days of space research, John Kennedy was visiting NASA at the Cape. He had met many great scientists, and researchers. He had met the men whose great ambition was to conquer space and walk on the surface of the moon. He had met administrators and accountants, and many others whose contribution to the project was immense. Men and women who had a sense of destiny, purpose, and pride.
Walking through the corridors on his way back to his limousine, he came across a stooped, grey-haired black man with a bucket in one hand and a mop in the other. It seemed to be quite a redundant question, but the President asked him politely,”And what do you do here at the Cape?”
Straightening his back, the cleaner looked square at the President, and with a strong sense of pride and dignity in his voice replied: “Sir, I’m doing the same here as everybody else. I’m working here to put a man on the moon. That’s exactly what I’m doing here.”
This short story emphasises that everyone – EVERYONE, irrespective of status – plays a crucial role in ensuring the whole functions optimally.
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Read, for example, this article in Information to gain a better insight into what I am thinking in this case:
Do you think: I am a loser?
We are creating a narrative in society where those who do not express themselves publicly are labelled as losers. A society where the elite use mocking rhetoric stemming from ignorance and a lack of knowledge about the Denmark that lies beyond their reach: vocational schools, craftsmen, rural Denmark. https://www.information.dk/debat/2013/10/taenker-taber
