DANIEL REFUSES TO TRAVEL TO THE US
Right now, the Flower Kings are on tour through the US. Daniel Gildenlöw from Pain of Salvation in Eskilstuna shouldve been with them. But hes sitting at home, trying to get well. Sick-leave is, however, only the official version of his defection.
- The real reason is of course that, nowadays, you have to leave your fingerprints to get into the US, says Daniel Gildenlöw.
- And thats exactly where the limit goes for what a nation can demand of other nations citizens.
Daniel explains that he and the members of Flower Kings reasoned about this already during the last tour that the group did through North America.
- Back then it was loosely spoken about that there probably would be demanded within a near future, that everyone who was to visit the US would have to leave their fingerprints. And we were all pretty much in agreement that we would not come back if it really turned out that way.
GOES AGAINST ALL OF HIS PRINCIPLES
Most in agreement was Daniel, so it turned out.
- This really goes against every principle in my body and what guarantees are there for the sitting regime in the US not to distribute the fingerprints further? Maybe you could end up in the register of the Israeli security police.
Daniel doesnt trust the Bush-regime. Even so, he did what he could do get a chance to travel with the others in the Flower Kings.
He phoned the American embassy to see if there was a possibility of getting in with a regular tourist-visa, and got the answer that you then had to give your fingerprints on the flight in to the country. With a work-visa, youd might get to leave your prints to the American embassy.
PEOPLE DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT IDEALS
- This was easily the toughest days in my life, and the guys in Flower Kings didnt get all too happy, obviously.
- But what am I supposed to do? I perceive it as one of the really great problems in the world today. People have ideals but dont give a shit about them when it really matters.
Daniel speaks about an experiment with principles that was made at the upper secondary school in Eskilstuna. The students should stand on a square either marked yes or no, and the question was, back then, 10 years ago, about who could imagine themselves paying more than 10 kronor (about 1 or $1,36) for a litre of gasoline.
- There was me and one other guy who stood on the yes-square. All of the others said no way.
How many stands firm with that principle today?
- The single persons acting is important.
To Daniel, the standpoint means considerable monetary losses. To Pain of Salvation, as well.
- We had a US-tour planned for this autumn. We are forced to cancel it. Well have to think back on the previously completed sweep through Europe instead.
Even though most of the members of Pain of Salvation had a cold during some period on travelling foot through Europe. But the audience in France, Holland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary and Turkey made sure that the band had a good time.
- We got the opportunity to feel like rock-stars everywhere. Really. It was fantastic.
- And it turned out very well, too. Despite the colds.
Daniel himself came home to Eskilstuna with an ear inflammation and is taking penicillin right now. So even if he hadnt been bothered by principal standings, it would obviously had been against the doctors recommendations to go on tour with the Flower Kings.
A BOOK FOR PRESIDENT BUSH
The most important reason is nothing he wants to keep secret.
If there was one thing he could wish right now, anything at all, it would be for the American president to get his hands on a book about e.g. the rise and fall of the Roman empire.
- Or the fall of the Soviet Union. Its closer in time but is just as legitimate.
- All empires, through all times, have fallen because of the disintegration from the inside. And this constant inhibition of freedom, and where the government is forced to spend more money on defence than on the well-being of the population.
Daniel doesnt understand how the American population can fail to see the pattern. All this work to try and create safety, obviously, only increases the fear even more.
- I think that the three latest Star Wars-movies are so heavenly in their regime-critique. First, I just thought that it was a coincidence that there seemed to be so many similarities between the movies Empire-builders and the US as a nation. But now, in the latest, or last, part its overly apparent. It has to be a question of critique. And the diplomat who turns its back to the senate in despair: So this is how we give up freedom with resounding applause?
