Jyväskylä-based Keskisuomalainen, which appears hellbent on enlightening us on how Finland should relate to other cultures, now dedicates an entire editorial based on two cases of circumcision practiced on children by their parents.While such operations should be only carried out by trained medical staff, it is surprising how forcibly Keskisuomalainen condemns such an act.
Taking into account a previous editorial that incredulously suggests that refugees should be helped in their home countries, it isn’t surprising how such writings help fuel hysteria and xenophobia among the population.
I would kindly suggest to Keskisuomalainen’s editors to take a course in multiculturalism at some Finnish university to bring themselves up to date on how modern, western and democratic societies live with diversity.Instead of looking at other cultures in a narrow-minded fashion, they would do their readers a service by bringing their knowledge on multiculturalism (they are against this path for Finland) up to date and what role it plays in our society.
If they don’t have time to attend any seminars, they should read Arto Leitzinger’s dissertation, Ulkomaalaiset Suomessa 1812-1972. At least they would understand that Finland was, is and will be a multicultural society demographically.
Moreover, their editorials should address more pressing social issues like racism in Finland, high unemployment/equal opportunity and pathways to integration of immigrants into Finnish society.
So aggravated assault against defensless children is ok because of “diversity” and “cultures”?
–So aggravated assault against defensless children is ok because of “diversity” and “cultures”?
Who says that any type of aggression towards any children is acceptable. Nobody. The issue at hand is context and what we call in journalism “overkill.” The editors of Keskisuomalainen have a weapon which is the word but use it to overkill. It is like using an atom bomb to kill an ants nest. If you ask me, it is pretty racist and shows how poor journalism and how little understanding they have our history and multiculturalism. These editorials should be read 50 years from now. They are a joke and written in bad taste.
Racist? How in hell condemning cutting defenseless baby is racism?
How they should then condemn it? “Sorry if this offends someone but you shouldnt cut babies, it isnt nice.”?
They probably understand that few thousand years ago, while people who started it lived in desert area, cutting foreskin was good idea but this is today and they dont live in desert withouth cleaning possibilities..
–Racist? How in hell condemning cutting defenseless baby is racism?
Did I say that cutting a defenceless baby is racism? I said that newspaper’s editorial was racist and a good example of overkill. There are too many in Finland of how to villify immigrants and how who anti-immigrant groups use these examples to “teach us” how bad some immigrants are. Certainly it is wrong what the mother did and I have full confidence in the law. The editorial, however, is overkill. It gives me the feeling that the editors don’t care about the child and are shedding crocodile tears; behind those tears hides racism.
Did you read the latest editorial by Keskisuomalainen. It is a total about-turn from the last two, which was yellow-populist journlaism at its worst.
“Did I say that cutting a defenceless baby is racism?”
You said condemning it is.
And your racism ramble… Well picture tells more than thousand words. http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=svpawx&s=5
Hannu, don’t you believe that it is a bit preposterous that an editorial is being written to highlight two cases that are in the court of law. Moreover, circumcision is practiced by other religions such as the Jews. It shows that things are not that serious in Finland if a whole editorial can be dedicated to two cases. That is my point.
So things have to get in serious before you can write about it and all is ok because judes do it?
Are you serious?
Those 2 cases are probably only tip of the iceberg and closing your eyes doesnt save babies from mutilation.
If circumcision is practiced by Jews and other groups, it is, for your information, common in the United States as well. So are you going to prohibit it in Finland? Are you going to tell Jews that they should not circumsize their kids? If you do you will have a lot more cases of parents carrying these types of things at home. Tell me a little about genital plastic surgery. Do you agree with it?
“o are you going to prohibit it in Finland? Are you going to tell Jews that they should not circumsize their kids?”
Yes.
“If you do you will have a lot more cases of parents carrying these types of things at home.”
And there comes law what should punish parents who do this harder.
“Tell me a little about genital plastic surgery. Do you agree with it?”
I didnt know they do that to toddlers, tell me what kind of genital plastic surgery parents do their kids?