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Show IN MY OPINION Danish People Are Strongly Influenced by Americans Former LDS Missionary Says Pro-American Feeling Is High in Denmark (EDITOR'S NOTE: Jay B. Jensen, former Bulletin employe em-ploye and author of this week's "In My Opinion," returned last June after living three years in Denmark as an LDS missionary. Mr. Jensen confines his article to the subject of the influence of America upon the people of Denmark. In these days when American citizens are seriously concerned about the results of our costly ECA and Marshall Plan pro-programs, pro-programs, the subject seems most appropriate. During his three years in Denmark, Mr. Jensen was closely associated with the people of that country. He was first counselor in the mission presidency, under Pres. Edward M. Sorensen. He was in charge of publicity during the Danish Mission centennial.) "America" is on the lips of the world today. In the role of world leadership that has been both forced upon and assumed by us, it is important that we understand with what feelings and ideas in mind other peoples pronounce ' "America." They are speak English well. English is most certainly their second native na-tive tongue and they delight in surprising the marry American tourists by conversing in English. Eng-lish. In fact, anything labled "American" is good commercial-: ly and a key advertising charmer. charm-er. Do not misunfctrstand. The Danes are still 100 per cent Danes and not converted to everything American, far from Continued on Page Four varied. I offer brief general reflections reflec-tions after three post-war years In one of the most sympathetically sympatheti-cally American-admiring countries coun-tries in Europe Denmark. . A few facts to keep in mind: Denmark and its capital, Copenhagen Copen-hagen population 1.000.000) have for many centuries teen focal points of culture and industry in-dustry in northern Europe. Yet it is a small country, one-fifth the size of Utah, but boasting 4,000.000 clean, peace-loving, industrious, in-dustrious, nationally proud citizens. citi-zens. The irecent German occupation occu-pation is an indelible memory. Closely Linked to Ei. S. Denmark is very closely linked to this country for other reasons than, and long before, the Marshall and ECA millions. It has furnished thousands of her most progressive and energetic ener-getic native sons and daughters to the U. S. Not only the William Wil-liam Knudsens and Lauritz Melchoirs, but the thousands of Andersens, Hansens and Peder-sens Peder-sens in every city's phone book bespeak this contribution. Of the thousands of contacts I made with Danish families I was surprised to find that most of them could tell of some definite, defi-nite, personal association in America through family, business, busi-ness, correspondence, etc. The Danes are proud and even boastful of these contacts and contributions to America. Bing Crosby, Dagwood, Walter Wal-ter Reuther, the White House, "Rinso," "Gone With the Wind," the Reader's Digest, "Oh, Susanna." Su-sanna." "Oh, What a lleautiful Morning!" etc are as well known to the average Dane as they me to us. Why? Because . . . Like I". S. Movies Fifty iH-r cent of the movies hey see in Denmark are of American origin . . . and they are real moviegoers. Most current cur-rent popular U. S. books are translated and oftener than not turn into best sellers in Denmark. Den-mark. Popular Danish is more prolific with American slang and expressions than our own Uteri in the use of French. Every school child that reaches the high school level can write and DENMARK . . . Continued from Page 1 it. They sense and know surprisingly sur-prisingly well the spirit of our way of l'iife, policies, pleasures and history, and are amazed at our general ignorance of Denmark. Den-mark. They tolerantly J'espect us as capitalists. U. S. Private Industry Important Through American private industry in-dustry more, I feel, than through any governmental channel, we are very profoundly shaping and .rocking the very thinking and way of life of a people steeped in ancient culture yet standing as a confused minority in a chaotic world. Typifying this influence is the reputable information given me that such exclusive irights have been given to powerful power-ful American oil firms that virtually vir-tually no drilling for oil can be done on Danish soil without American interests' approval. In more than one way the, foundation foun-dation of Denmark rests in the hands off the private citizens of the United States. It is time that we realize that the way we think, transact business, seek pleasures, conduct con-duct government and generally live our lives is affecting not only ourselves, neighbors, community com-munity and nation, but also the peoples of Denmark and the world! Truly a great responsi-bilit3'. responsi-bilit3'. We dare not evade it. |