By Enrique Tessieri
The atmosphere for some immigrants in Finland has been an ever-worsening slippery slope. First the historic victory of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party last year and then the near-constant racist gaffes and foot-in-the-mouth shows.
If you want to know what the PS stands on certain issues you have to watch for the but… in their sound bites. We are against racism but… We are against ethnic profiling but… We are for immigration but… We are for gender equality but…
It’s pretty clear that as long as an anti-immigration party like the PS remains the third-largest in parliament, matters will continue to worsen before they improve.
The PS are not only a threat to immigrants and visible minorities in this country, they are a tragedy for Finland. No matter from which angle at the situation, building a country on the populist ideology of the PS, which hinges on hatred, suspicion, racism and prejudice of other groups can never bring any type of prosperity to our country.
A story published by YLE Wednesday reinforced some disturbing news we already knew about immigrant youths. It states that immigrant youths have a five-time higher chance of being marginalized than Finnish- and Swedish-speakers.
It’s fair to say that the ongoing anti-immigration climate in Finland, thanks in part to the PS and to the economic situation, nothing far-reaching will be done to correct this situation.
The matter that causes youths and adults to be marginalized from society is a complex issue. Even so, the main culprit lies in between our ears.
Too many politicians, policy-makers, the public and even immigrants are content with the present untenable status quo. We agree on one matter and that is not to rock the boat.
It’s wishful thinking as well to believe that the integration and acceptance of immigrants and visible minorities in Finland will be easily solved by offering more Finnish-language course. It is a long process that will take generations and a lot of work from both sides. There are no easy fixes.
The role of mutual acceptance and respect are crucial if we aim to build a healthy and dynamic society in this century. At this moment there is too little of those important qualities.
The only way for Finland to shake off the present political nightmare and blow away those adverse anti-immigration winds blowing over our society is at the ballot box.
Fortunately time flies.
“we see the terrifying potential for Breivik to emerge as the John Brown of counter jihad: fanatical, excessive and violent, yet lauded as a hero willing to put principles into action.
After Hitler’s defeat, the invocation of the Holocaust helped marginalise would-be fuhrers for decades, as anti-racists said loudly, ‘We’ve seen your ideas before – and they left six million dead.’
The tragedy in Norway provides a similar opportunity to isolate the new crop of bigots and hatemongers. Those who mutter about civil war against multiculturalists and Muslims should be confronted, again and again, with Utoya, for it’s where their rhetoric leads.
It’s well past time to stop kidding ourselves that Breivik can be explained away via mental illness. The far Right is real and it’s growing. We urgently need a political response.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/04/24/dealing-with-the-real-anders-breivik/
The only way for Finland to shake off the present political nightmare and blow away those adverse anti-immigration winds blowing over our society is at the ballot box.
Vaalit merkittsevät tunnelma tasolla mutta käytännössö vaaleilla on pieni merkitys. Vain silloin kun vaali voitto tai tappia on valtava, se muuttaa politiikkaa nopeasto. Jos perussuomalaiset voittavat seuraavat kunnallisvaalit ja eduskuntavaalit sellaisella yli puolet niin olen huoliskaan. Muuten olen varma että muut puolueet pitävät perussuomalaiset aisoissa.
Hi BlandaUpp
The Breivik case show once more how important it is that the “Sounds of Silence” of particularly the Churches but also the political parties of the current Government are supportive for the FarRightWing groups in Finland.
The message of the Minister of Internal Affiars echoes the content of this Silence.
Breivik himself demonstrates the “split in society”. The use of the argument of “self-defence” will be a forceful trigger for Finns to do the same assault on Finnish society. PS’s right wing already voiced such behavior.
It will not take very long time until somebody feels the “right moment”. Remember Oulu, Espoo, Kauhajoki.
Simple facts of “self-denfence”. Just create the right moment. FarRight is on the “war-path”.
eyeopener
I fear that this is the only logical next step some people would take.
“matters will continue to worsen before they improve.”
Matters have worsen before PS
No Toni. Wrong again !! PS drove the immigrant issue. Because to blame foreigners for Finland’s problems seemed to be an easy pice of cake.
PS and its farright wing never anticipate to fury of the foreign response. That’s why we are the “bad boys”. The pain in the arse so to say.
Just slamming around. Good PS should do that more. The elections will show what the Finn people really thinkl about PS and especially its farright wing. Think about you, Toni!!
Monkey time is coming!! 🙂
Um, no, the anti-immigration sentiment’s existence is the cause for PS’s existence, not the other way around. Quit using PS as a scapegoat for everything.
Um, no…immigration in Finland is miniscule compared to other European countries and yet exactly the same political arguments are being used as are being used across Europe today. Suspicious? Damn right it is.
eye: “No Toni. Wrong again !! PS drove the immigrant issue. Because to blame foreigners for Finland’s problems seemed to be an easy pice of cake.”
They don’t blame foreigners. Who does? Tell me?
So, no eye, you are wrong again. And again. And again.
They blame Kokoomus for helping foreigners instead of helping Finns.
Mark: “m, no…immigration in Finland is miniscule compared to other European countries and yet exactly the same political arguments are being used as are being used across Europe today. Suspicious? Damn right it is.”
You mean we should repeat their mistakes and wait until we have as much problems? Weird thinking…