The capacity to live with difference is…the coming question of the twenty first century.
Stuart Hall (1932-2014)
The Jamaican-born cultural theorist summed up the 2000s as one of the biggest challenges facing France and modern Western societies. The big question that Hall wanted to address was how countries like France, which are becoming ever more culturally diverse, will welcome diversity.
With the rise in Europe of the far-right anti-immigrant white supremacist sentiment, one of the issues on facing difference is the role of gut-feeling ignorance embedded in racism.
The most recent example of how Europe is undermining human rights is a case in point. Miaheal O’Flaherty, the European commissioner for human rights, hit the nail on the head in an Op-Ed piece.
“The deep politicisation of this shift was on full display when some MEPs chanted “Send them back” inside the European parliament during the vote, celebrating the removal of human beings with the fervour of a campaign rally. In the pursuit of ever stricter migration policies, the human rights protections that Europe was founded to uphold are increasingly treated as disposable.”
Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Sara Seppänen is no stranger to Migrant Tales. From hateful posts against non-white people to shameful cultural appropriation, Seppänen is an example of the spread of lies about migrants and minorities. Below is one of her latest racist posts.
Also, the country’s religious landscape has changed dramatically. Around 100 years ago in France there were only a few mosques. Today, in the country there are an estimated 2,500-2,600 Muslim prayer rooms and mosques compared with around 1,300 in 2010. We have to be able to debate Europe’s future openly with facts. Security, integration and immigration policy are issues that require an honest and open debate. We don’t want this to happen in Finland! Perussuomalaiset party #perussuomalaiset #maahanmuutto
Source: Facebook
I am certain that many people like me, who have lived with difference all their lives, are the last ones to reject it. Cultural diversity is a good thing, but when used as a political tool to promote racism, it turns into polarization and poison. When I moved to Finland in 1978, the country was basically white. Today, it has changed, and it makes me intensely happy, fuelling me with hope for the future.
Politicians who deny difference as a natural development of societies will fail or in the worst of cases, commit crimes against humanity.
