I have been an exchange student living in Finland from Belgium since February. One of the matters that caught my eye in Mikkeli is racism. I have met many immigrants and foreign students who have told me about their experiences.
Author: Migrant Tales
Finnish Social Democrats explain controversial immigration stance
Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairperson Jutta Urpilainen explained (in Finnish) in an MTV3 blog what she meant by stating immigrants must abide by Finnish laws (“maassa maan tavalla” polcy).
Should immigrants in Finland commission a poll?
It seems bit tragic-comic that we have had two important polls published in Helsingin Sanomat on Finnish attitudes of immigrants. The latest one published by Finland’s leading daily was commissioned by anti-immigrant website Hommaforum. Both of these surveys show during a deep recession Finns don’t want more immigrants, refugees and tighter controls.
Obama’s mother had the right idea about cultures
President Barack Obama remembered his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro, as “the most generous spirit I have ever known.” In a touching article in The New York Times, we get a view of this remarkable woman who understood the beauty and strength of diversity. Having been raised in Kansas, her first husband was from Kenya and the second one from Indonesia.
PÄÄKIRJOITUS: Onko rasismi vallannut Suomen?
Ottaen huomioon maamme pienen maahanmuuttajien ja pakolaisten luvun, mitä olemme tehneet väärin ansaitaksemme tulla opportunisten politikoiden ja heidän puolueidensa päivittäisistä maallikko-solvauksista, rasismista ja herjauksista? Jopa sosiaalidemokraatit, puolue, joka on taistellut työläisten ja vähävaraisten etuuksista, näyttää lähestyneen perussuomalaisten maahanmuuttopolitiikkaa.
The sad case of Somalis in Finland
Below is a good example of how a public official’s comments helps strengthen racism and stereotypes of certain ethnic groups living in Finland. One of the biggest flaws in the arguments of anti-immigrant groups is that they incorrectly believe that cultures don’t change and therefore different groups are incompatible. I hope that the same stance as these far-right groups hasn’t overtaken the Finnish Immigration Service when we speak of the Somalians.
EDITORIAL: Has racism inflicted Finland?
Taking into account the underwhelming size of the immigrant and refugee community, what have we done wrong and why are we the focus of daily insults, racism and abuse? Even the Social Democrats, the party that has championed for the rights of the working man, has aligned itself close to the True Finns in immigration policy.
(Another) Finnish Border Guard scare-tactic story
Here is another scare-tactic story by the Finnish Border Guard to reinforce our fears of the “uncontrolled hordes” of refugees that are attempting to enter Finland illegally. It is a bit like a recent story by YLE that aims to fuel refugee and immigrant hysteria among the population.
PÄÄKIRJOITUS: Suomen maahanmuuttokeskustelu
EDITORIAL: Finnish immigration debate
Is the present one-sided and passionate debate on immigration in Finland going to turn ugly? Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb poured some needed cold water on the debate by stating that it “reeks of racism, nationalism, populism, and xenophobia.”