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The Old Country Newsletter – Frågor Utan Svar
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
February 14, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, February 14.
This past week has often felt like a continuation of the last, with new details and stories emerging from Örebro—where last Tuesday’s horrific mass shooting took place. Although such weapons were not used during the attack, all Swedish political parties except one have agreed to ban military-looking assault weapons such as AR-15s as a response to the attack. Notably, these rifles have only been permitted for hunting since 2023.
The police have yet to confirm a motive for the attack, even though additional details about the assailant have been revealed. Out of respect for the victims and their families, The Old Country will not share any images of the perpetrator, in line with studies suggesting that such coverage does more harm than good. We believe this tragedy should be remembered for the precious lives lost, not for the individual responsible.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Your Weekly Swede-ish
Attribution: Rötter.se
The More You Know: John Erik Jonsson’s Swedish Roots
Did you know that John Erik Jonsson, an early president of Texas Instruments, was born to Swedish immigrant parents? His Scandinavian heritage instilled in him a strong work ethic that helped steer TI through its formative years. A devoted family man known for his warmth, Jonsson left an indelible mark on American technology. It was Mr. Jonsson's unhappy task to take the podium November 22, 1963, at the former Dallas Trade Mart to inform the waiting crowd of the motorcade shooting of President Kennedy and Governor Connally. His life was a blend of innovation and heartfelt legacy—a legacy that continues to inspire today.
Statistics you didn’t ask for
Sweden is renowned for its extensive forest coverage, with approximately 68.7% of its land area, or about 28.2 million hectares, classified as forested. This significant forest area plays a crucial role in Sweden's economy, making it the world's second-largest exporter of pulp, paper, and sawn wood products. The country's forests are predominantly coniferous, with 83% consisting of species like Scots pine and Norway spruce, while mixed forests account for 12%, and pure broadleaf forests make up the remaining 5%.
Sustainable forestry practices have been a hallmark of Sweden's forest management, ensuring that annual growth exceeds the volume harvested. Each year, around 120 million cubic meters of wood grow in Swedish forests, with approximately 90 million cubic meters harvested, allowing the forest resources to continually expand.
Over the past century, Sweden's forest assets have doubled (but hey, Canada’s are bigger, so please don’t get any funny ideas of which country should be your plan B of a 51st state), underscoring the effectiveness of its sustainable forestry practices.
One Week On: New Details Emerge After the Devastating Mass Shooting
Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
One week after the tragic attack at Campus Risbergska in Örebro, new details continue to emerge while many questions remain unanswered. Our newsletter last week detailed the chaos and heartbreak that unfolded on Tuesday, February 4.
During a routine lunch break at Campus Risbergska—an adult education facility—staff and colleagues were shocked when 35-year-old Rickard Andersson began shooting. Mikael Blom, the vocational school principal, told SVT Nyheter that he will never forget that day. “I heard the first shots and didn’t understand what was happening. Soon, I realized it was a shooting. I saw people screaming and rushing injured victims into cars,” he recalled.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as individuals, gripped by panic, attempted to re-enter the building out of concern for their loved ones. Police now suspect that the selection of victims was random. Investigators have noted that Andersson had been enrolled at the school on two separate occasions—a detail that might explain his choice of location. In the days before the attack, he made several purchases both online and in person, including ammunition and smoke grenades. Authorities have seized four firearms—three recovered from the scene and one from his apartment—and technical investigations reveal that at least 50 shots were fired during the assault.
Described by those who knew him as a loner who had lived in isolation since 2016, Andersson’s actions remain shrouded in mystery. While police continue to analyze surveillance footage and trace his digital movements to reconstruct his final hours, the full motive behind this senseless act is still under investigation.
At 12:00 on Tuesday, Sweden united in a moment of silence for the victims. Throughout the day, trains, schools, and workplaces paused to honor those lost in the attack on February 4. Flags were raised at half-mast across the nation, and thousands gathered at Stortorget in Örebro for a memorial ceremony—an enduring tribute to the lives shattered by this tragedy.
In other news
👑 On Friday, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia welcomed their fourth child. She will be named Ines Marie Lilian Silvia and will hold the title of Duchess of Västerbotten. The name was officially presented during a live broadcast from the palace; however, what made headlines was that King Carl Gustaf initially announced the wrong name, saying she would be called 'Inse', which was later corrected.
🪖 The Left Party is demanding that the government immediately pause the DCA agreement with the USA, arguing that it risks granting American access to Swedish military bases and lacks safeguards against nuclear weapon deployment. In response, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard countered that no nuclear weapons or permanent bases will be allowed without Sweden's consent, accusing the Left of spreading terror propaganda that undermines Swedish interests.
❌ Swedish prosecutors have closed the murder investigation into UN worker, and former Swedish politician, Zaida Catalán, who was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2017, citing that no further investigative measures are available due to the complex political situation in Kinshasa. Despite extensive efforts both in Sweden and abroad—and even though 51 individuals in the DRC were sentenced to death for her murder in 2022—the case has now been deemed exhausted.
Would you like to feel closer to Sweden? A perfect way to do that would be to have a look at Swedish broadcasts, either current or past. SVT Play is an online streaming service provided by Sveriges Television (SVT), the Swedish national public television broadcaster.
To watch it, one has to be in Sweden – or have access to a VPN provider that can connect to a remote server located in Sweden. Like NordVPN, which sponsors this segment of the newsletter.
By using NordVPN, you can access what SVT Play has to offer – including current news, documentaries about emigrants, live broadcasts from nature events, and much more – by simply connecting to a server in Sweden. Follow the link here to get 74 % off for your first two years and three months (!) of usage. By doing so, you also help support the distribution of this newsletter.
The "Mom Sausage" Jacket Debate: When Practicality Becomes a Fashion Statement
Attribution: SvD
A recent outcry on Swedish cultural pages has ignited a spirited debate over the so-called “mammakorv” – a long, cylindrical down jacket favored by many mothers for its practicality. Critics argue that its design is as unflattering as it is unoriginal, while supporters insist it’s all about function over frivolity.
The controversy erupted when fashion writer Alice Aveshagen penned a scathing critique in Svenska Dagbladet, dubbing the jacket an “anonymous standing sack.” Her biting commentary quickly resonated across social media, drawing responses from noted fashion journalists and cultural commentators alike. Samanda Ekman, a respected mode journalist, welcomed the discussion, suggesting that this utilitarian style might even spark an anti-fashion trend. Others, including literature expert Josefin de Gregorio and journalist Maria Sveland, countered that mothers should not be shamed for prioritizing comfort and utility over runway aesthetics.
For many moms, the “mammakorv” is far more than a fashion statement—it’s a trusted companion during long days filled with diaper changes, school runs, and the inevitable chaos of parenting. As one commentator pointed out, while trends come and go, practicality remains paramount when juggling the demands of raising children. Indeed, the debate has grown to symbolize a larger cultural clash: the tension between societal expectations of feminine beauty and the realities of modern motherhood.
The conversation has spurred a broader reflection on how fashion critiques can sometimes undermine the genuine needs of parents and mothers; does not everyone deserve the freedom to choose comfort without judgment? Or is that stretching the discussion too far?
In the midst of this debate, a resonant plea has emerged from one of the two sides: let mothers be in peace, letting their “mammakorvar” do the heavy lifting without being subjected to relentless style policing.
What is your stance on mammakorvar?
Word of the week
KORV [KOORV]
Legacy Lanterns – shedding light on the stories of the past
Swede Hollow. Attribution: Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Swede Hollow: Swedes in the slum
The signature "Grundy," a reporter for the St. Paul Daily Globe, ventured out to what he describes as a very peculiar place in his hometown, St. Paul, Minnesota in March 1886.
An enclave separated from what he calls "the real St. Paul." It is a place that few, aside from the nearly 600 people who live here, know much about.
The reporter descends the rickety stairs. The foreign language he hears spoken around him is Swedish.
In the article he describes that this must be a glimpse into what life is like in the primitive country of Sweden. He feels scrutinized by the women and children who are at home. He describes the small wooden shacks with paper curtains in the windows as weather-beaten and "of the simplest sort." He mocks an older man's strong accent when he asks if "Grundy" has come here to find housing. The local sheriff, Waggoner, who owns most of the land, charges a dollar and fifty cents in monthly rent.
The area that has come to be known as Swede Hollow consists of a valley that is about 1 mile long and a couple of hundred yards wide, situated 100 feet below the city streets. In this shantytown, there are no streets. No running water. Laundry, garbage, and waste disposal take place in the creek that also serves as a source of drinking water.
By the turn of the century, the population will have grown to around 1,000 people. Entire families, often with newly arrived emigrants who have just come to the USA, crowd into just a few dozen square meters.
The risk of diseases such as diphtheria, cholera, and whooping cough is high, especially for small children. The infant mortality rate is likely higher than in the rest of the city.
Attribution: Albert Charles Munson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Two sides of the same coin
When history enthusiasts from Sweden and Swedish Americans visit Minnesota, many make their way to Lindstrom, located about 60 miles north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. There, they can find statues of Karl-Oskar and Kristina, as well as Vilhelm Moberg, which serve as memorials to some of the Swedish emigrants. Visitors hear stories about the incredible new land, how families were formed, farms were established, crops were grown and harvested, and how people sought a much better life across the Atlantic.
However, this is only part of the story. The majority of Swedish immigrants actually settled in cities like Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Boston, and Seattle, becoming integral to the rapidly urbanizing America. It is important to remember that starting a new life was often a great challenge. Help was scarce, and without money or education, one often had to start at the very bottom of society. Swede Hollow serves as an important reminder of the challenging conditions many faced, living in poverty and working in an industrial environment.
In December 1956, the city Health Department discovered that Swede Hollow had no sewer or city water service and declared the Hollow a health hazard. The last 14 families were moved out, and the remaining homes were destroyed. Finally, the area was turned into a city park called “Swede Hollow Park”.