The Sami and The Jews

Everyone knows all about the Jews, so let's start with the Sami.  These are a people close to the Arctic.  In a sense they're somewhat like the Inuit of Canada and Alaska.  The Sami are found in the northern most areas of Sweden, Finland and Russia.

The current attitude of the Swedes toward their Sami population is quite benign.  Indeed, while rules regarding he slaughter of various animals have been tightened and now requires that the animal be stunned (knocked out) before it is killed, the Sami people have been  granted an exception.  Their slaughter of reindeer requires no initial stunning.

Indeed, the Sami have been granted the right by Sweden to herd reindeer as they did in days of old.  There are, however, some modern twists regarding the herding.  They often use helicopters to drive the deer into close quarters.  The sound of the low flying copter will generally cause the herd to panic and bang into one another, leading to broken legs.

But the Swedes are an understanding people.  The Sami have herded reindeer for hundreds and hundreds of years.  They allow the Sami to continuing the herding the reindeer and slaughter in ways they have always followed, because the Sami are a "protected minority" under Swedish law.

But, what about the Jews?   Aren't they a minority in Sweden?  And, don't they and their Jewish ways also deserve protection?  It is important for Jews that their meat be kosher.  It means slaughtering the animal in the correct way.  If the animal to be kosher, it must have a knife drawn across its carotid arteries.  No stunning allowed.  The animal is unconscious within a second or two and death follows.  There is no herding involved, no animal abuse; simply a fast death that is virtually pain free.

But, Sweden has passed the same laws disallowing kosher slaughter and requiring that the animal be first stunned as have other European countries.  There is no Sami exemption for Jews despite their small numbers in Sweden and their desire to remain faithful to their Jewish beliefs and practices.  The practice Sweden towards the Jews is clearly discriminatory.  Indeed, it is anti-Semitic behavior.  Shame on you Sweden.