Occupy the Present – activist performance nr. 1

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About three weeks ago I went for a midnight walk through Stockholm, doing an activist performance that I have wanted to do for a long time. This time without an audience, but the performance was, if I might say so, still delivered with elegance, wit and respect.

I did start with taking the metro to the University. My goal was to deliver letters under the slogan “Occupy the Present”. This slogan is my creation, free to use, but when doing so one has to refer to me in a suitable manner. See more about the concept on my blog: https://spiritualempowerment.blog/2023/07/13/occupy-the-present/

I delivered one letter to the University of Stockholm, with an echo of a question that I have seen researchers talk about for a while – “How does the development of wages for people with a masters degree look like since 2010?”.

I further went to the parliament building, delivering the letter that you can see below. It is a humorous question, with a serious note, hinting towards a new Swedish law, which prohibits public discussions and whistle blowers from revealing national security issues in a way that might damage Swedish interests, as well as the Swedish image abroad. Image. As if we are a logo for a company. There was widespread critique towards the law, but it went through anyway. My question was directed towards who or what institutions are supposed to decide what is damaging?

Furthermore I went to a special street in the same district, to a certain doorway which has no information on who sits in the building. There I ended with finger theater, with me or my generation talking to the Swedish tax authority. The issues varied between questions around the pension payment system to how certain taxes are calculated.

All of the questions will be delivered in a correct and suitable manner via post to the institutions in question by me, with a presentation of the performance attached. I will ask politely to get a response to my concerns, as is the right of any Swedish citizen.

Susan Florries 
Occupy the Present

Turned inside out

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With my back against
a wall
I turned to the
left
refused to fall, but
followed goals
that I had set

As they disappeared
behind the horizon
I knew that
into the moment
I had zoom
say
come what may
I will follow, go this way

Had to turn
inside
and discovered
a stride
a fight that was
the way
to get out
no point to
shout at it
just go
with it
and
allow
compassion to take
me through it

this time
mainly for me
letting my feelings
run free
however
with a strong
composure

It was not
an issue for
the outside world
I had no
need to be heard
on what was
really going on

I felt strong
and knew where
I belonged
– with me

So I allowed myself
to be
a picture within
a frame
with no shame
refusing to play
any game
knowing that this time
literally nothing would
stay the same
except for a
dedication
to the
incantation

let love be
my guide

from this I
will never hide

So, turned inside out
I refused to shout
but allowed myself
to grow a new
skin
from within

Because of this
I didn’t
fall apart
didn’t have
to mend
the pieces
of a broken heart
or nothing of
the sort

I fell short
of a crisis

And now I know what
time it is

To find the
right stage
the awkward but golden
moment to share

So I’m standing here
in front of you
completely changed
brand new

#respectthekoran – an appology from Sweden

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As a Swedish citizen, I want to express my most humblest apologies to the Muslim community for the burning of the Koran in my country. I would never do such a thing and neither would most Swedish people. I hope you can forgive us for not handling the group who are doing this in a better way.

I also strongly urge the Swedish government to apologize clearly and humbly, as well as to act firmly and swiftly to stop the small minority who are burning the Koran in our country.

It’s one thing to have a debate on religion and people are allowed to have their opinion. It’s a whole other thing to burn a book which is not only considered as holy, but is also a basis for the law of many countries. Imagine if a group in a country somewhere would burn the Swedish law book, Sveriges Rikes Lag. We would be equally upset and have the right to be so.

I want to express one thing, which might be difficult to hear for some people, with the hope of achieving a greater understanding for what is going on. It’s NOT an excuse for the act of burning the Koran! That is truly despicable.

But, I want to express that I do understand that some people feel threatened by the large group of new, Swedish citizens who are believers in Islam. It’s just human emotions. Sweden has experienced a large flow of refugees from the Muslim world in a very short time period. Integration and getting used to one another takes more time than we have had. Some people are feeling overrun etc, and I guess that this lies behind some of what it going on right now.

But the majority of Swedish people do not at all agree with the burning of the Koran. Many of us are also happy to welcome people from all over the world to our country, and doing our best to make our special situation work for everyone involved. I hope that our government takes responsibility and show this to the world, today! That we open a dialogue, as well with other countries as within our own. It’s obvious that we need it!