26/12/2004 4:04:13 pm
Robin Hood at Christmas. In Sweden, public service TV shows two programs every Chritsmas eve that refer to Robin Hood. One is the American animated Disney film, the other a Swedish animated film by Tage Danielsson. The first shows Robin Hood breaking into Prince John?s castle and stealing back all the tax-money to the people that earned them. A hero for the freedom of the people and a limited government. The true Robin Hood. The other one refers to Robin hood as somebody who steals from anyone who has money and gives it to the poor. That is something different. If you work hard and succeed, that Robin Hood might take your money and give it to your lazy neighbour. It is the socialist Robin Hood. Perhaps the two versions say something about our different cultures on each side of the Atlantic?