As one senses an expansion of the space for free expression, the opposite is simultaneously taking place: a narrowing, and it is coming from the top. A warning sign of this is a post by Einar Andreas Lund on his Facebook wall, in which he describes an attempt to stigmatise and sideline him. Lund makes his living as a stand-up comedian, and we ourselves have had the pleasure of hosting him at Document.

That was apparently too much for those who want to silence Lund. Now they want to crush him.

In today’s climate of debate, labels increasingly seem to come more readily than arguments.

We have developed a culture in which many people here in Norway, including children and young people, say they are reluctant to express what they think and believe, or to speak about their own experiences, for fear of being labelled, publicly shamed or socially excluded whenever they say something that does not fall beneath the umbrella of political correctness.

For my own part, this has now had very concrete consequences: In connection with an event, I have been labelled in a way that not only affects me personally, but also the work that I and others are currently trying to do.

Certain individuals have actively engaged in a campaign to smear me and to influence and boycott an event by attributing to me a political position that I do not hold. This also affects those who have hired me.

Using labels such as “far right” or “right-wing extremist” about people, when there is no basis for doing so in reality, is serious, not least when such claims come from people with a certain degree of influence in the cultural sector.

Concepts such as right-wing extremism have a concrete meaning. They should be used with precision, and not as rhetorical weapons against people with whom one disagrees politically.

At a later date, I will therefore speak publicly and explain more about this specific case.

Some people are pulling the strings to make young people reluctant to speak about what they experience and what they think. Or, as in Lund’s case, they target artists. He is speaking about a specific case of intimidation. Deliberate and purposeful.

Certain individuals have actively engaged in a campaign to smear me and to influence and boycott an event by attributing to me a political position that I do not hold. This also affects those who have hired me.

During the Cold War, whispering campaigns were waged against people. What is taking place now is something far more extensive. We are fairly certain that it is being directed from above. Someone wants Norway to be transformed into a fear-based society.

It is easy to say that one should not care about it, but for some people it has financial consequences; they are deprived of their livelihood.

Lund has a book forthcoming:

During the summer I will also publish the book Det som kan sies (What May Be Said), a collection of satire, opinion pieces and texts, many of which have been taken from Facebook – the very same ones that have now caused the uproar and boycott.

There everyone will be able to see what I have written, and judge it on that basis.