Author: Migrant Tales

The answer to our prejudices and racism in Finland lie in our emigrants

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By Enrique Tessieri

It’s clear that as Finland becomes more culturally diverse this century, it will one day make a startling discovery: we are culturally rich and diverse. Some of those historians and social scientists that have kept us in the dark for now should reread their history over and over again until they get it right. 

One of the most interesting questions about why we don’t acknowledge our cultural diversity enough in Finland is the question itself. Why hasn’t it been acknowledged? In which groups’ interest has it been to not stir things too much on this front?

As a person with a culturally diverse background who is a Finn, I have always been amazed by the simplistic and fictitious ethnic and national view we have of ourselves as Finns.

Today there are officially over 50,000 couples in this country that are bicultural, according to the Population Research Institute (Väestöliitto).

But like all far-reaching discoveries you will most likely find the answer under your nose.

All of those Finnish emigrants that left this country in large numbers from the 1880s not only faced a brave new world but a culturally diverse one as well.  What role did their whiteness play in integration and in shaping attitudes of other groups?

What did the Finns think of blacks in the United States and what were their attitudes towards Amerindians? What did they think about marrying outside the group? What did some members of their community say if their spouse was black?

All these questions that were relevant well over a century ago are topical today in Finland. The only problem, however, is that for some reason we have avoided looking into this question.

It’s clear that some immigrant parents not only want their children to retain their customs but marry within the group. This was an important goal for some parents but became less important for the children never mind grandchildren.

One of the discoveries I made while doing fieldwork on a Finnish colony in Argentina from 1977 was their view of other ethnicities like blacks from Brazil and mestizos, a term used to describe people who have mixed European and Amerindian ancestry.  The darker the person, usually implied greater rejection from the community.

The way they rejected such bicultural marriages was with the help of prejudice and racism. Some actually believed that marrying a mestizo would condemn you to a life of poverty.  All the bad qualities of the white Finnish colonizer were the fault of the mestizo spouse.

Some of these racist attitudes and prejudices that some colonizers had of other groups were not only learned in Argentina but came from Europe.

I have a lot of data gathered through long interviews of how some Finns viewed other groups that were ethnically different. If I have such information I am certain that this type of information can be found among Finns that emigrated to North America, Africa and other parts of the world.

If researchers are serious about studying racism in Finland, they should look under their noses. The information is there waiting to be uncovered.

Family reunification in the UK: ‘Keeping families apart’ – MRN briefing on family migration policy

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Ruth Grove-White

The MRN (Migrants’ Rights Network) campaign on family migration releases a new briefing paper showing that a higher income threshold for family migration could shut out 50% of the UK working population from bringing a spouse or partner here – with ethnic minorities, women and children particularly hit.

Since last summer’s public consultation we have been waiting for the government to announce its final decision on changes to toughen up family migration policy – during which MRN has been producing regular analysis of the proposals which you can access here, here and here.

But a waiting game provides opportunities – until the announcement is made there is still time to have an impact on the final policy announcement. It is likely that, in the coming weeks, the home secretary will make an announcement about her decision on the reforms to family migration. Over the coming weeks, in the run-up to her announcement, MRN will be stepping up our campaigning through a series of meetings and campaign work on the issue of family migration.

We are taking this work forward by releasing today’s briefing paper on the proposed income threshold. This change would prevent up to 50% of the UK working population from bringing foreign family members here as a result of a new, higher income threshold requirement.  If you are interested in organising a public meeting on this issue in your local area, taking part in joint advocacy work or would like to speak out about how you might be affected by this change in policy to the UK, please get in touch.

There are plenty of other issues raised by the family migration proposals, which will also be the focus of MRN activity in coming weeks. Key measures proposed by the government last year included increasing family insecurity by preventing foreign spouses and partners who are in the UK from applying for settlement for an additional 3 years, increasing the bar for language testing at the point of applying for settlement, and introducing tough enforcement measures aimed at tackling ‘sham’ and forced marriages, including a new pre-entry ‘attachment requirement’ and wider in-country enforcement activity.

Many of the proposals put forward by the government, if introduced, could interfere with the right to a family life of many people in the UK. In analysis of the proposals last summer the Brussels-based Migration Policy Group (MPG) reviewed the impacts of new family reunion requirements in the small number of EU states (in particular Denmark and the Netherlands) where similar restrictions to those planned in the UK. An MPG policy briefing on new family reunion tests and requirements in relation to migrant integration concluded:

“These policies have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable groups: the elderly, young adults, the less educated, … and to some extent, women. … Making family life harder or even impossible can negatively impact on the well-being and future integration of the entire family”.

A MIPEX analysis of the UK government’s plans exposes the fact that key policy proposals, if enacted, would put the UK among the toughest of European countries on family migration.

So there is plenty of evidence, from policy groups to community organisations, which shows that tough changes to family migration rules in the UK could have the effect of alienating both British citizens and recent arrivals in the UK who have family overseas. Now we need to marshall it into arguments which make the case for a better deal for families in the UK.

Please keep an eye on the website for more info and analysis in the coming weeks – we hope you will get involved.

Kyllä ääntä maailmaan muka mahtuu

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Thomas Elfgren*

Väkivallan ja suvaitsemattomuuden retoriikka kuuluu sananvapauteen. Kauan se sinänsä eläköön. Sananvapaudessa on myös varjopuolensa. Se passivoittaa kuullunymmärtämistä siinä missä Wahlroosin pankkiiriystävien saamat yhteiskuntatuet.

Virtuaalimaailman asiantuntijat valistavat vähemmän valistuneita piirtämällä mustia pilviä taivaalle. Iskulauseilla, populismilla, satiirilla ja helppoheikkimäisillä viesteillä on luotu kuva yhteisestä vihollisesta. Islami-invaasio on oven takana. Homot huohottaa. Lesbot lepattaa. Media mokaa. Mamut maksattaa. 

Nyt nekin muka tietävät, jotka eivät aiemmin ymmärtäneet tietää.  Sallittu suvaitsemattomuus on myös arkipäivää politiikassa. Pelottavat peikot, puolitotuudet ja disinformaatio ei haittaa tahtia eikä vauhtia niin kauan kun se tuo lisää vähemmän asioista perillä olevia kannattajia. Moraalisesta vastuusta ei sen monimutkaisuuden takia tarvitse murehtia. Kyllä kansa muka tietää.

Tänään saimme lukea blogi-kirjoituksen 10 v tytöstä, jonka elämänhalu koulukiusaamisen takia on mennyttä. Se on lapsen hätähuuto koulusta, joka opiskelurauhan ja ilon sijasta tarjoaa helvetin. Edelleen on lupa lyödä ilman seuraamuksia. Näinhän me aikuiset sananvapausvaatimuksillamme opetamme. Sananvapautta kai tuo koulukiusaaminenkin on. Se on kiusatun tyhmyyttä jos hän ei ymmärrä satiiria ja huonoja vitsejä.

* Thomas Elfgren on Keskusrikospoliisin rikosylikomisario. Hän on tullut tunnetuksi psykologisen profiloinnin asiantuntijana, järjestäytyneen rikollisuuden torjuntayksikön päällikkönä sekä sotarikos- ja joukkotuhontatapausten tutkinnanjohtajana.

Translation by Justice Demon offered in good faith:

Thomas Elfgren*
The rhetoric of violence and intolerance is part of freedom of expression. And long may this continue, such as it is. Freedom of expression also has a dark side, deadening comprehension just as much as the subsidies enjoyed by the top banking fraternity.

The gurus of the virtual world are enlightening us ordinary mortals by drawing great dark clouds in the sky, fashioning the image of a common enemy through slogans, populism, satire and all the gimmicks of the snake-oil salesman. The Moslem hordes are at the gates. Gays are breathing down our necks. Lesbians are fluttering all around. The media are screwing things up. Immigrants are costing us money…

Even those formerly lacking in comprehension are supposed to know this now. Licensed intolerance is now part and parcel of politics, and we are not to be distracted or diverted by bogeymen, half-truths or disinformation, as long as they rally more ill-informed supporters to the cause. Nor should we concern ourselves with the complexities of moral responsibility, as we can trust in the wisdom of the people.

Today we were pleased to read a blog entry about a ten year-old girl whose zest for life has been destroyed by bullying at school. It was a child’s cry for help from a school where joy and scholarly serenity have given way to a hellish existence. It is still acceptable to strike without consequence or sanction: this is what we adults are imparting to our children through our demands for freedom of expression. Because, after all, school bullying is merely free expression. Lacking the brains to appreciate satire and sick jokes is merely another of the victim’s many faults.

* Thomas Elfgren is a detective chief inspector at the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation. He is well known as a specialist in psychological profiling, as director of the organised crime prevention unit, and for leading investigations of war crimes and genocide.

More Finns oppose anti-immigration groups and racism than before

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By Enrique Tessieri

Matters have changed for the better with respect to the ongoing debate on immigrants, immigration to Finland and our ever-growing cultural diversity, reports Turun Sanomat, quoting researcher Suvi Keskinen of Turku University. She warns, however, that making strong distinctions between “us Finns” and “them immigrants” can have dire consequences for the person and society. 

Keskinen says that more people than before are speaking out against anti-immigration groups and racism in Finland.

She said that even if the language used to debate immigration in Denmark has been bolder than in Finland, matters are improving there after the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party did poorly in the election.

What Keskinen says is highly revealing. If the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party wouldn’t have won their historic election victory last April, probably debate in Finland wouldn’t be so aggressive and negative towards immigrants and visible minorities.

Migrant Tales is a good example of a blog that has grown rapidly and brought out the fighting spirit of some immigrants and Finns against anti-immigration groups like the PS.

This was not the case before, when certain members of the PS could practically say whatever they pleased and point the accusing finger at any group they wanted amid the near-complacency and silence of the media, politicians and general public.

Another matter that has encouraged people to be more outspoken against anti-immigration groups are the constant gaffes and scandals that have rocked the PS.

Where there is a strong reaction there is certainly a strong counter-reaction.

PS MP Hakkarainen instigates social-media lynch mob from Singapore

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By Enrique Tessieri

Scandal-ridden Perussuomalaliset (PS) party MP, Teuvo Hakkarainen, has stuck his foot in his mouth again. This time  he has taken the law in his hands and instigated a social-media lynch mob against two minors found guilty of rape, according to Keskisuomalainen. The Jyväskylä-based daily reports that Hakkarainen published on his Facebook page a link to court documents that give the accused names, identification numbers, addresses and even their parents’ names.

“The court case can be found by anyone,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s not a problem. The link is there and that’s that. I don’t protect rapists. If someone wants to protect them it’s their business but I don’t protect them.”

A person apparently belonging to a far-right association tried to post the full text of the court case on Migrant Tales, which acted promptly to take them down thanks to our associate editors JusticeDemon and Mark.

Hakkarainen writes on his Facebook page, where all the posts on his wall have been now removed, the following from Singapore:  …I pleasantly  found out [in Singapore] that first and foremost immigrants that come to live here work and respect the local culture and people. It’s unfortunate that not everyone that goes there [to Finland] doesn’t share the same positive attitude, especially those in this case [below he shows a link to the court documents] of gross lack of respect…”

In his shortlived Facebook statement, Hakkarainen defends what he did by publishing the court documents because the media doesn’t do its job. Part of the court documents have been made secret until 2072. In Finland, the names of those that have been accused of crimes that carry over two-year prison sentences are not published by the media.

While a crime like rape must be strongly condemned by society, it is equally unacceptable that a public official like an MP takes justice in his hands.

Hakkarainen’s social-media call to lynch the sentenced minors reveals two disturbing matters: The PS MP from Viitasaari is unrepentant about his many former racist gaffes; by scapegoating people with non-white Finnish backgrounds he tries to absolve his past problematic behavior.

Migrant Tales wrote the previous month how anti-immigration groups like the PS plan a vicious campaign against immigrants and minorities in order to boost their sagging popularity. The Helena Eronen-James Hirvisaari scandal is one recent example as is the present ploy by Hakkarainen to publish hitherto-secret court documents.

Another case is far-right hardline anti-immigration PS MP Olli Immonen, who suggested that East European Roma beggars should be deported from Finland in the same way that the fascist Lapuan liike movement (1929-32) did to its enemies to the former Soviet Union.

Taking into account the recent and present scandals that are rocking the PS, one could ask if its chairman Timo Soini has lost control over the party and what we are seeing in fact is a power struggle between two rival groups: the Rural Party and far-right anti-immigration wing.

A column published by Yrjö Rautio on Apu magazine makes the same conclusion as Migrant Tales. That is exactly what is taking place at this moment.

The Eronen-Hirvisaari scandal reveals their contempt for press freedom, immigrants and minorities

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By Enrique Tessieri

Helena Eronen  , the Perussuomalaiset (PS) parliamentary aide who  suggested in a satirically intended blog entry that foreigners and minorities should start wearing armbands,  appeared on two talk shows Friday.  One of the most disturbing matters that is reinforced in both interviews is Eronen’s Hirvisaari-spirited view of immigrants and contempt for press freedom.

Calls to limit press freedom have been the strongest from the PS. Every time a scandal breaks out, and there have been many in the past year from the PS, too many times the standard response is that of the victim blaming the “elitist” media of bullying.

The PS, Eronen and especially Hirvisaari,  who was fined for hate speech in December, conveniently forget that it is the job of our media to hold accountable what politicians say and be society’s watchdog. What would we think of our media if they didn’t report all those unpleasant things about elected officials such as PS MP Teuvo Hakkarainen or former PS councilman Tommi Rautio, who suggested to decorate a Finn for killing in cold blood a Muslim?

Hirvisaari’s contempt for press freedom is a cause for grave concern. He has described journalists as “bloodthirsty hyenas” as well as “arrogant and lying scum.”

This concern appears to be held by the PS parliamentary group as well, which suspended the PS MP for five months for not sacking Eronen.

Apart from the EU, immigrants and especially Islam, some PS members have a serious issue with the media. We have nothing to worry about, however,  as long as the powers of the media are not curtailed.  Spotting double-talk and holding politicians and their aides accountable are the best insurance against tyranny and far-right ideology.

It is easy to spot the rigmarole of the far right in Finland. Eronen, who used to advertise on her Uusi Suomi blog that she belonged to the anti-immigration Muutos2011, said she thought ethnic profiling by the police was wrong but acceptable in some cases.

The way Eronen tried to defend ethnic profiling “in some cases” reveals the concern expressed by the office of the Ombudsman for Minorities.  Rainer Hiltunen, the Minority Ombudsman’s head of office, said this month that he receives calls from foreigners who say they have been repeatedly questioned in the street by police. Some of those stopped are naturalized Finns and visible minorities.

Eronen apologized on A-studio but with her fingers crossed behind her back. She says that she is sorry if what she wrote offended some people but thanked her boss Hirvisaari for standing up for her and his convictions.

Apparently one of those questionable convictions is that it is acceptable to write about armbands that bring back stark memories of the Holocaust and that ethnic profiling is fine by the police.

Ilta-Sanomat tabloid ad (lööppi) from July 22, 1993

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Migrant Tales publishes on and off Finnish tabloid ads* (lööppi in Finnish) from the 1990s. Taking into account that Finland’s immigrant population started to grow during that decade, it is easy at least through some of the main stories of tabloids like Ilta-Sanomat and Iltalehti to see how some of them reflected our xenophobic, prejudiced, racist or anti-Russian views.

The billboard below reports that the police raided a “gypsy” funeral. Unfortunately I don’t have the article but the interesting point about the ad is that the tabloid uses the term “gypsy.” The term, as we know, reinforces old stereotypes that people in this group are somehow always involved in some shady business.

Fortunately today we use the term Romany minority. Even so, the plight of poor Eastern Europeans belonging to this group in Finland shows not only our prejudice but how inept we are in dealing with these people.

*Migration Institute archive.

Are Hirvisaari and Eronen a mean Finnish version of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza?

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By Enrique Tessieri

If I had to draw a cartoon about suspended Perussuomalaiset (PS) MP James Hirvisaari and his aide Helena Eronen, I’d draw them as the legendary Spanish literary icons Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. If Hirvisaari were Don Quixote, would his windmills be “multiculturalism,” “Islamization” and the media? 

Contrary to Hirvisaari, Don Quixote was a kind-hearted impractical idealist that wanted to make right the incorrigible wrongs of the world.

Here is a painting by Pablo Picasso of  Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.  If Eronen were Sancho Panza she’d be much thinner. 

Alongside Hirvisaari Don Quixote is the always faithful Eronen Sancho Panza, listening to those far-right tales that would reinforce and encourage her to write demeaning blog entries of ghastly matters like female genital mutilation never mind about armbands. Here is a link to a young woman’s view [in Finnish] of Eronen’s blog post on female genital mutilation.

One of the matters that should worry sensible Finns about the Eronen scandal isn’t what she wrote but her boss Hirvisaari. It’s sometimes difficult to figure out what shines through this far-right PS MP: His ignorance of our democratic institutions like the media and/or his extremist views?

If it were up to Hirvisaari, he’d change the Constitution and our laws to censor and place limitations on press freedom directly from the annals of the 1930s but in a twenty-first century context.

By stating that the media intentionally lies and distorts reality, Hirvisaari exposes his far-right credentials and his contempt for our most cherished civil rights. What you are hearing in fact is a mean Hirvisaari Don Quixote charging at windmills.

Below is an excerpt of the PS MP’s latest blog post headlined Lies and power on Uusi Suomi. It sends shivers up one’s spine but you be the judge:

It is clear that the media has distorted the blog entry the truth by my parliamentary aide and blatantly lied to the public’s face. I have written in previous blog entries about the outrageous manner in which the Turun Sanomat staff  treated the ”armband” blog post.

Another monstrous lie: The media has falsely claimed for a long time that some members of the Perussuomalaiset parliamentary group are ”far right,” ”racists” and even ”Nazis.” The Perussuomaalist party does not have a ”racist wing.” This intentional demonizing [by the media] as well as all forms of distortion must stop in the name of truth.

…In the above-mentioned examples the issue is the power of the media. The people are deliberately fed lies. It is time that the media should look at itself in the mirror.

Look at itself in the mirror? Hmm.

Even if we pointed the mirror to Hirvisaari he’d have a difficult time figuring out which is the mirror and which are his demonic distortions of those institutions that shelter us from his extremist views.

Kyllä pistää vihaks!

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Jouni Karnasaari

Kun tässä kaikessa mediamylläkässä ja ihan ympäristön seuraamisen myötä on tullut melko ilmeiseksi muutama keskeinen seikka jotka antavat luvan vihaan, päätin minäkin kunnostautua ja ryhtyä vihaamaan.

Ainakin suomalaisittain yksi suurimmista vihan aiheista on ihonväri. Mitä tummempi, sen pahempi. Näin ainakin olen päätellyt, sillä miten muuten on selitettävissä se, että vaikkapa saksasta suomeen tullut valkoihoinen maahanmuuttaja on “ihan kiva jätkä”, mutta jos ruotsista muuttaa siellä kasvanut, yhdysvalloissa syntynyt afrikkalaista sukujuurta edustava henkilö, on se saatanan somali täällä viemässä meiltä kaiken! Joulukuusia ja mummun perintögrammaria myöten!

Koska minun on annettu ymmärtää ihan virallisen poliittisen puolueen avustuksella että ihonvärin avulla todella voi jakaa ihmiset hyviin ja huonoihin, olen voittaja! Nimittäin minulla on vitiligo, valkopälveksikin kutsuttu oireyhtymä jonka seurauksena pigmenttini vähenee. Joissain tapauksissa väheneminen saattaa lakata tai pigmenttiä jopa alkaa kehittyä uudelleen mutta sitä en toivo! Vitiligon myötä minusta on pikkuhiljaa tulossa valkoisista valkoisin! Eräänlainen über-valkoinen! On vähintäänkin suotavaa että ainakin pahimmat rasistit korottavat minut jumalakseen, olenhan heitäkin ylempi vähäisine, ellei olemattomine pigmentteineni! Ja koska minulla oikeus vihata kaikkia minua tummahipiäisempiä, vihattavaa riittää!

Toinen vihanaihe on se, että aina joku perkeleen kikkalo tulee ja vie meidän naiset! Myöntäkää pois, niin käy kaikille joskus. Ja koska todennäköisintä on se, että sen naisen vie toinen heteroseksuaalinen mies, olen päättänyt ruveta vihaamaan kaikkia heteroseksuaaleja. Vitun heterot! Tulevat tänne ja vievät meidän naiset!

Kolmas vihan aihe on se, että kaikki jotka tulevat suomeen, tulevat viemään työpaikkani. Ehkä juuri siksi pikkukaupungin lyhyttukkainen, pilottitakkiinsa hellyttävästi intialaista alkuperää olevan hindujen pyhän symbolin kirjaillut rehti nuorukainen päättää rikkoa paikallisen kebab-ravintolan ikkunan. “Siitäs saitte perkeleet, kun veitte mun liikeidean!” Tässäkin haluan laittaa paremmaksi. Ensinnäkin Sauli Niinistö valittiin presidentiksi, ja minua ei edes kysytty! Ihan jo pikkupoikana unelmani oli olla presidentti, ja nyt joku kikkaratukka ruiskukkapuliveivari vei duunin! Laskeutukoon siis vihani paitsi Kokoomuksen, myös kaikkien muidenkin puolueiden päälle jotka ohittivat minut!

Taidan ottaa vihalistalleni myös lihavat ihmiset, ne kun vievät arvokasta lebensraumiani enemmän kuin ei-niin painorajoitteiset. Toisaalta laihoja on syytä vihata myös! Heitä mahtuisi lentokoneessa parhaimmillaan kaksi yhteen istuimeen, mutta ehei! Siinä vaan istutaan reteästi isossa istuimessa yksin! Perkeleen riistäjät! Ja entäs sitten “normaalipainoiset”, nuo niin erinomaiset juuri oikean BMI:n omaavat ihmiset! Aina niin erinomaisina karppauksineen ja tasapainoitettuine ruokavalioineen että! Normaalipainoiset ovat kansaterveydellinen riski sillä he saavat muut masentumaan, mielialalääkkeiden käyttö kasvaa ja itsemurhaluvut synkistyvät aina vaan! Vihalistalle vaan!

Suomi kuuluu suomalaisille, sanovat mm. ne jotka osaavat ihan itse kirjoittaa “wihte pover” tiiliseinään. Siispä olen päättänyt vihata myös kaikkia niitä jotka eivät alkuperältään ole suomalaisia. Jäljelle tosin jäävät silloin vain saamelaiset jotka olivat täällä “meitäkin” ennen, mutta sittenpä saan vihata heitäkin! Saatanan saamelaiset, omat sukujuureni ovat vissiin jostain Puolasta ja nyt te perkeleen poronpurijat olette työntämässä meitä maahanmuuttajia pois!

Kyllä vain, niin paljon vihattavaa ja niin vähän aikaa. Onneksi tuli aloitettua näinkin aikaisin!

Pitää vielä tehdä muistilistaa että mitään ei unohdu:

  • Kaljut ja ne joilla on tukka (kaljut muistuttavat minua siitä että minulla ei ole tukkaa ja ne joilla on tukka, muistuttavat minua siitä että minulla ei ole tukkaa. Perkele!)
  • Rikkaat ja köyhät, rikkaat siksi että ne on varmaan jotenkin kepulikonstein saaneet rahansa ja köyhät siksi koska ovat todennäköisesti niin kepuleita etteivät edes rahaa saa tienattua. Ja sitten tietenkin ne keskituloiset jotka on niin ketkuja etteivät uskalla olla rikkaita tai köyhiä!
  • Naapurit
  • Naapurin Esko jolla on isompi pippeli kuin minulla. No vittu kaikillahan niillä on! Lisätään tähän nyt vaan sitten että muista vihata kaikkia joilla on penis.
  • Ruotsi
  • Hauskat ihmiset, ne kun saavat aina muut tuntumaan tylsiltä. Ja ei-hauskat jotka pilaavat fiiliksen.
  • Älykkäät, mitä vittua nekin on olevinaan?! Häh?!
  • Tyhmät. Häh?
  • Heteromiehet tulikin jo mainittua mutta sitten tietenkin lesbot! Helvetin lepakot, nekin vie meidän naiset!
  • Homomiehet. Niiden takia TV:stä ei tule kuin Innoa ja Strömsötä (Strömsökin on homo-ohjelma koska siinä puhutaan ruotsia)
  • Lätkäpelaajat. Ne vitun laatikossaluistelijat vie meidän naiset, ja just ne hoteimmat!
  • Euro. Ilman euroja minulla olisi 5,94 kertaa enemmän rahaa pankkitililläni! Markka takaisin. Paitsi että vihasin niitä helvetin rumia seteleitä!

Ai niin, varmuuden vuoksi… “vitsi vitsi”!

PS MP Hirvisaari gets suspended for five months for not sacking Eronen

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By Enrique Tessieri

The Helena Eronen scandal, the parliamentary aide that infamously suggested in Finland that foreigners should start wearing armbands to help police profile ethnic groups, took a new turn Tuesday when the Perussuomalaiset (PS) parliamentary group decided to suspend MP James Hirvisaari until September 15 for not sacking his aide.

It is clear that in the face of  Eronen’s and Hirvisaari’s open defiance, the PS will end up paying a costly political price taking into account the October 28 municipal election. This latest political fallout is taking place a year after the PS won its historic election victory and at the time when Anders Breivik is testifying in Oslo for killing 77 people.

While it was expected that the police will not investigate Eronen’s complaint to sue Turun Sanomat for defamation, it may well turn the other way around with criminal charges brought against her for what she wrote as a parliamentary aide, according to Turn Sanomat.

In many respects Eronen’s and Hirvisaari’s insistence that we must read what she wrote as satire reveals what is wrong with the thinking of these public servants and their anti-immigration ideology.

Just like their free-for-all to insult any ethnic group or nationality, they have no limits, no shame, no morals, no respect and no empathy. They are political liabilities to our democracy because of their shameful disregard for our civil rights.

They are the far-right ogre that has entered parliament in sheep’s clothing.