By Enrique Tessieri
Migrant Tales had decided in April to ditch the English-language name “True Finns” for the Perussuomalaiset (PS) party because it was a horrible translation. By calling a party “True Finns” one is insinuating that those that don’t support this right-wing populist party are “phony Finns.” The new English-language name, The Finns, stoops even lower.
There is a way to put an end to the manipulation and nonsense of a party like the PS when it comes to a name like “The Finns.” Boycott it and refuse to use it.
Over 9,000 people have signed a petition on Facebook about “The Finns.”
I recommend that foreign journalists throughout the world follow what is done on Migrant Tales. We call Timo Soini’s party the Perussuomalaiset, or PS.
It’s that easy.
haha, Enrique hypocrit. Remember what you have said earlier?
“But at the end of the day it is the person, the group, that decides what they want to be called in Finland. Whatever it is must be respected by others”
I suppose that doesnt include PS.
Though I agree it would be best to Perussuomalaiset name or PS if its too hard to pronounce since it really doesnt translate too well into english.
Yossie, you have to be kidding. By identity I did not mean a pikkuinen party!
So when Finnish peacekeepers can no longer be safely deployed in the Middle East because “The Finns are anti-Muslim”, that will be some sort of victory for the epähiket?
So political party isnt a that kind of group that can choose what name to use to indetify themselves? Who actually are these who you allow to name themselves freely?
JusticeDemon, who/what are these “epähiket”?
A party is a public organization that is always open to scrutiny and criticism. Or are you suggesting after “The Finns” that the PS is now an ethnic group?
I still wonder how Latinos in USA call themselves LA RAZA and never define what race they are. That they all speak Spanish? Not even that – many speak mostly an Indian native language! How is a pure jungle Indian native the same race as a Lebanese-Jewish 3rd generation Argentinian? An 8th-generation Nicarauguan black woman is also in this “race”?
Well, they can call themselves what they want, because they’re free to make stuff up, just like “the true Finns”. So if the TRUE FINNS are really multicultural, going back in the generations, well, so are the rest of us, really.
Identity is a tricky thing, but then, so is “freedom” if you only allow its selective enforcement.
Enrique, are you part of LA RAZA? And which Raza, if you’re part Finn?
Mary, you amaze me. But let’s put it this way, identity is a personal thing that changes according to the environment. I don’t consider myself “part” anything because all the cultural influences I have got form a whole.By the way, I never mentioned to you are anyone that I am “part” Finnish because Finnishness or its culture is a whole that makes up who I am when it comes to identity. Some call it hybrid culture. It doesn’t really matter because it is my thing not yours to judge or call.
With respect to La Raza, I don’t think it is a uniform identity.