Program on immigrants for Swedes aids my daily life

The Swedish public service television program "IFS – immigrants for Swethers" is not disrespectful to taxpayers, argues Leif Ljungstedt in a letter to Dagens Nyheter. Instead, he contends, the program fulfills Sveriges Television's (SVT) mandate to inform, educate, and contribute to cultural and societal debate.

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IFS – immigrants for Swedes is not disrespectful to taxpayers.

Ljungstedt, a former senior civil servant, finds the program subtly useful in his daily life, helping him decipher "ortensvenska," or slang from immigrant-heavy areas. He admits to struggling with understanding contemporary expressions, citing examples like "glazed" and "haram," and notes that the program provides context that aids his comprehension.

While acknowledging that relying solely on slang might limit broader communication, Ljungstedt defends the use of potentially coarse language in the program. He believes public service has a duty to challenge audiences and encourage reflection on societal responsibility, rather than just promoting culture and identity. He also questions the financial support for expensive sporting events that do not contribute to Swedish language, culture, or educational traditions.

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SVT fulfills its mission to inform, educate, and contribute to culture and societal debate.

He disagrees with the assertion that the program is disrespectful, stating that individuals are free to avoid programs that conflict with their personal principles. Ljungstedt concludes that while humor programs like "IFS" do not belong in online echo chambers spreading harmful views, SVT's role is to educate and inform, which this program effectively achieves.

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Coarse language is not always a reduction of intellectuality.