Swedish teens visit Orem, get a taste of politics

OREM — Seventeen-year-old Swedish student Lena Lidmark had only been in the United States for a few hours before she started asking strangers on the street a brazen question — "Who are you going to vote for?"

Heaven help those who answer "George Bush" because Lidmark is on a crusade to rally Americans to vote for John Kerry, though she admits the Democrat senator doesn't curry her favor.

"Kerry isn't good, but if you compare the two, he's better," Lidmark says in crisp English. "Bush is going to destroy the world. How could you even consider voting for him?"

The svelte Swede brought her Bush-bashing to Orem High School just one day after "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore presented his version at nearby Utah Valley State College.

Of the 23 Swedish students visiting Utah as part of an ongoing e-mail exchange program with Orem High students, the large majority had seen the film. Only a few of their American hosts, however, had done the same.

"Teenagers aren't into politics in the U.S.," Martin Wickstrom said.

Swedish students, however, are not only immersed in the English language from a young age, but are generally informed about American politics, said Mike Cross, a former Utah teacher who now teaches at the International College in Stockholm, a college-preparatory school.

But the electoral process can be confusing for Swedes since their 349-member parliament, Riksdag, uses a seven-party system where any party only needs four percent of the vote to take a seat.

For that reason, Cross brought his students to Utah to witness firsthand the political process leading up to the Nov. 2 general election.

"It will enhance their own political experience," fellow instructor Magnus Jonsson said. "It will help them think about what is very good in American politics and maybe realize some things good about Swedish politics they didn't think were good before."

But the international visitors aren't the only ones learning about politics.

Orem student Alex Blomquist said hosting the Swedes has helped her take a deeper look at the upcoming election.

"I think it will help me read about the issues," she said.

In a mock vote, the Swedish students overwhelmingly vote for Kerry while their American counterparts choose Bush.