Finland, a bright yesterday, so vivid one feels he can still touch it: a society striving for better living standards, equitable opportunities, and ideals of fundamental human rights, a happy nation where almost all its inhabitants did not feel a sharp gap between the rich and the poor, a country that did not leave the poor (low-income or vulnerable people) to fend for themselves… or behind.
While promising a better tomorrow, the future echoes a growing economic divide, which will come with social tension, mental anguish, and an era of unrest, to be the next generation’s inheritance. An inheritance of an incohesive society, deteriorating public welfare systems, decline of social safety nets particularly for low-income people, seniors, and retirees, racism and fears instead of inheriting a world of endless possibilities. The promised magic wand turned out to be a grim scissors.
The drivers, while ignoring perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of this regressive trajectory, insist on (shifting from a society that celebrates openness and liberal values to one that is increasingly closed-off and xenophobic, eroding the fundamental human rights and disregarding the basic principles of human dignity), and is on its way to ‘no-‘ where they succeeded to tarnish to some extent the Finnish reputation on the global stage, the legacy of tolerance and progress that was built over years and years. It is being overshadowed by the very few, our happy four members in government have managed to do.
For there was nothing more fruitful for the political “leaders” but to blame it all on the “strangers” to their ideals, ideals that fit in few words, “whites, but not any, and with blue eyes but not from elsewhere.” No landmark was more celebrated on their way than how swift and effective it is, to approve and pass a law that pushes back those who are not welcome or desired. As the ‘car’ is effectively unreliable there were more than just frequent stops to fuel more hate and share some racism to “touch base” and distract the curious followers questioning the destination.
If immigrants and their contribution to society, the economy, and professional labor are the issues, one should think if the ones that are accepted or needed would not accept a better offer, with lighter workloads and better pay elsewhere, from very close nations that for them people are valued, nations that have become favored for among others like Finnish professionals to move and work in.
From ‘Kaksipäinen auto’ from Uuno Espanjassa that brought laughter and joy to ‘kaksipäinen hallitusohjelma‘ of our ‘Leaders’ which does not in any way bring more than gloom. The peculiar car in many ways portray the contradictions, open but very closed, liberal but very conservative, “Zero tolerance” but very racist and government program to combat racism but the program they came up with!
The government’s celebration of their way out of many racist scandals ‘Me Puhumme Teoin’ (Action, not only words) campaign reminded me of a saying I heard:
“Not every bump in a belly is a ‘blessed’ baby, more often than not, it’s just gas.“