While some parties like the anti-immigration True Finns boast that they are responsible for bringing the debate on immigration and refugees to the national spotlight, nothing could be further from the truth.
Month: October 2010
The tale of two racist spray paintings in an eastern Finnish city
A new association called Kansavinvälinen Mikkeli (International Mikkeli) was registered on September 23. One of its most important aims is to serve as a forum where Finns and immigrants can openly debate topics that affect each other and create a greater sense of community.
Muslims are not the real enemy to European democracy
It is quite significant when EU heavyweights such as France and Germany start using anti-immigration sound bites. Recent statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are a good example of the disturbing trend, when she stated that multiculturalism has “utterly failed” in Germany.
As Nations Age, a Chance for Younger Nations (New York Times)
Here is a very interesting article published today in the New York Times of how rapidly industrialized nations are aging.
Two questionable eras in Europe with the same message
Two posters (apologies for the offensive content) from different eras: One that is anti-semitic from Germany in 1940* and the other from a referendum in Switzerland in 2009 on a ban of building minarets on mosques. Even though these posters were printed in different periods, the message is the same: barbarization of a group. *The…
Full assimilation in Bread and Chocolate
This is one of my favorite movies called Bread and Chocolate/Pane e cioccolata (1973) starring Nino Manfredi, who is an Italian immigrant that is trying to integrate at all costs into Swiss society. He even dies his hair in order to fit in as a Swiss. Then there is a football match in a bar between England and Italy. The Swiss clients are watching the game as is Manfredi. Everything seems to be going well until Italy scores a goal…
Can Finland deal with the challenge of immigration?
Some claim that Finland is at an important juncture concerning immigration and its role in our society. There are already clear signs that the Finns want to deal with this challenge in a civil manner without the usual dose of fearmongering and nationalistic bravado.