– We have many refugees here from different countries, also from Ukraine. And then we have had a discussion where we have agreed that we do not want to mark this war in the children’s train, says the leader of the May 17 committee in Halden, Terje Vidar Høvik.
Also in this city, they realized that this would be a theme as National Day approaches. They had to decide on a difficult choice between marking sympathy with the Ukrainians, or sticking to principles and traditions.
Gather around the Norwegian flag
– There has been no tradition of marking unrest and conflicts in the world for refugees who come to Halden with such instruments. We did not do such a thing during the war in the Balkans or the Syrian war. There is unrest in many parts of the world, and we have residents in Halden who come from many such conflicts. That is why we gather around the Norwegian flag and the Norwegian marking in the children’s train, says Høvik.
– NORWEGIAN FLAGS: Oslo is one of the cities that has welcomed other colors in the children’s train. (Photo: Grøtt, Vegard / NTB scanpix)
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He says that Halden likes to see the Ukrainians mark their nationality in other ways, for example by wearing national costumes from their home country on 17 May. In addition, the municipality would like to contribute to the Ukrainians in the city when they celebrate their national day in August.
Different municipalities have different solutions for this little national nut. In Kongsberg, they go the other way, and make it easy for the Ukrainian colors to be clearly visible in the children’s train.
Ukrainian part of the train
Here, the middle part of the train will be reserved for Ukrainian children and grow up. The committee here has got a local printing company to produce several hundred Ukrainian flags in yellow and blue, which children and adults can use on the train.
– Because the Ukrainians walk in the middle of the train, and Norwegian children walk in front and behind, this will serve as a symbol that we want to protect the Ukrainian refugees who have come here, says the committee leader in Kongsberg, Just Salvesen.
Freedom of speech
In Oslo, the mayor believes that waving the Ukrainian flag is part of freedom of expression, something we are just celebrating on our national day.
– We have said, and I think it is quite nice, that those who want to bring another country’s flag, they are welcome to do so. It is part of freedom of expression, says mayor Marianne Borgen.
In Halden, the committee leader believes that perhaps Norwegians are far more concerned with this issue than the Ukrainians themselves.
– We have talked to a number of Ukrainians here, and they say they thought it would be strange if we flagged with Norwegian flags on their national day, because this is their day. So then we have transferred it to us then, says committee leader Terje Vidar Høvik in Halden.
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