Of course, Danby Choi will be allowed to speak on 17 May – Dagsavisen

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Then a culture war-type debate rages again in the kingdom. Now many are reacting violently to the fact that Danby Choi, editor of Subjekt, has been invited to give a three-minute speech on 17 May.

It is not often that the expression storm in a glass fits better than in such contexts.

It is not suitable for prior censorship in Norway.

The 17 May Committee in Oslo consists of representatives from nine political parties. Each party is responsible for one event each, with wreath-laying and speeches.

This year, the Conservative Party is responsible for the ceremony at Vår Frelser’s graveyard, at Henrik Ibsen’s grave. Here, the party’s representative in the committee has invited Danby Choi to give a short speech. And thus the war of words was underway, both in social media and on a political level.

A campaign on the social media platform TikTok against Choi being allowed to speak received 15,000 signatures before it ended. Geir Lippestad, who sits on the May 17 committee for the Center party, is “very confused” about the election, he says to NRKand reasons that Choi is not the unifying personality the national day deserves.

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It’s a strange argument. In a country where we praise ourselves for freedom of expression and diversity of opinion, there must be room for several different voices – not least on 17 May, our big day of celebration.

Choi is controversial, partly because he is a clear voice in the so-called “culture war” on issues of value. He very often flags positions that cut across parts of the left’s world view. We do not always agree with Choi, but think it a matter of course that he will be allowed to speak on 17 May when the Conservative Party has now invited him.

To prevent him from speaking because he might say something offensive is, moreover, to start at the very wrong end.

There is nothing to suggest that Choi will say anything controversial or over the line at Henrik Ibsen’s grave. But if that were to happen, the dissenting voices may possibly sharpen their arguments and answer him afterwards. It is not suitable for prior censorship in Norway.

Choi himself responds to the criticism in this way: “It’s perfectly fine if you think the opposite of me, but trying to silence, silence and censor people is the complete opposite of what we celebrate on 17 May”.

We think Choi is often wrong about things, but we completely agree with that statement. And says: Let Danby Choi speak.

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