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BBC: Danish immigration minister Hornbech fired over scandal

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting story from Denmark reporting that Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech had been fired from her job for not only illegally refusing citizenship to a group of Palestinians born there, but not informing parliament immediately of such a mistake, reports the BBC.

Writes Yahoo News: “Hornbech’s refugees, immigration and integration portfolio was handed over to Development Cooperation Minister Soeren Pind, who is considered a hardliner on the immigration issue.  In one of his first statements after his nomination, Pind described the UN convention that sent his predecessor packing as ‘stupid.'”

Some Finnish politicians from the True Finns are hoping that they will hold the same power as the populist and xenophobic Danish People’s Party (DPP) led by Pia Kjaersgaard. Denmark’s Liberal-Conservative coalition government has relied on the support of the DPP to stay in power in exchange for tightened immigration and citizenship laws.

Even though the majority of Danes do not back the DPP, Denmark is a sad case how Islamophobia can grip a small nation. Denmark is the biggest loser of such a mistaken policy because it creates an inclusive and unequal society.

Do you agree?

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Denmark’s Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech has been sacked after 36 stateless Palestinians were wrongly refused citizenship.

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YLE: Ruotsalaisministeri huolissaan Suomen kielikeskustelusta

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Comment: Here is an interesting story where Sweden’s Integration Minister Erik Ullenhage expresses concern over the tone of the ongoing debate concerning the rights of minorities such as the Swedish-speaking Finns in this country.

Without naming any parties, Ullenhage states that those countries that don’t respect minorities are losers because foreign trade is growing between nations.

Those who naively believe that one can bash one group of people and be for immigration at the same haven’t told us how this balancing act works and how you make sure that this hatred does not rub off  on other minorities. There sure is a lot of political opportunism and ignorance with a capital “I” out there that characterizes a number of Finnish politicians.

Do you agree?

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Ruotsin hallituksessa tunnetaan huolta suomenruotsalaisten asemaa koskevasta keskustelusta Suomessa. Muun muassa vähemmistökysymyksistä vastaava integraatioministeri Erik Ullenhage on huolissaan Suomen keskustelun sävystä, joka on tuttu muualtakin Euroopasta.

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Migrant Tales memorable quotes of the week to March 7

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Migrant Tales publishes on Monday some interesting quotes on the ongoing immigration debate in Finland and elsewhere. If you have some quotes you would like to share with us, please forward them to [email protected]. ET

Immigration policy was criticized last autumn by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She said that the attempt to build a multicultural society in Germany had failed. The statement is odd since this type of [integration] policy has never been practiced in Germany nor even in many other countries.  Pasi Saukkonen, Helsingin Sanomat

Maahanmuuttopolitiikkaa arvioi viime syksynä myös Saksan liittokansleri Angela Merkel. Hän totesi, että yritys rakentaa Saksaan monikulttuurinen yhteiskunta on epäonnistunut. Väite oli outo, sillä tällaista politiikkaa ei ole koskaan harjoitettu Saksassa eikä useimmissa muissakaan maissa.

Gathering from the ongoing debate (on immigration), it seems that immigrants are trying to rush into Finland through doors and windows. In reality we have the seventh lowest number of immigrants in Europe. Iltalehti

Julkisen keskustelun perusteella voisi luulla, että maahanmuuttajia tunkee Suomeen ovista ja ikkunoista. Todellisuudessa täällä on Euroopan seitsemäksi vähiten maahanmuuttajia.

(Thilo) Sarrazin’s* claims (on European racial superiority) do not hold water in today’s globalized world. Everyone can see that they are false. The scary matter is that different arguments on race used by those on the fringes of the immigration critical camp can get support. Responsible politicians and citizens should stay clear from these type of racial theories. Tatu Vanhanen, Iltalehti that quotes him from an article he published in Kanava.

(Thilo) Sarrazinin väitteet eivät menesty nykypäivän globalisoituvassa maailmassa. Jokainen voi itse havainnoida ne vääriksi. Pelättävissä kuitenkin on, että maahanmuuttokriittisen keskustelun marginaaleissa myös erilaiset rotuväittämät voivat saada kannatusta. Vastuullisten poliitikkojen ja kansalaisten on syytä sanoutua irti tällaisista rotuopeista. Tatu Vanhanen, Iltalehti

*Thilo Sarrazin, a former member of the executive board and head of the German Bundesbank’s risk control operations, claimed in a book that Turks, Middle Easterners and Africans had lower IQs than Europeans.

The term integration should mean mutual acceptance, respect and equal opportunities. Enrique Tessieri @MigrantTales

Old quote: To govern is to populate. Juan Bautista Alberdi (1810-84), Argentinean statesman who felt that Argentina would never become a prosperous nation with a population of one million that could easily house 50 million people.


Vihrea Lanka: Amnesty: Persujen turvapaikkapolitiikka ei poikkea kolmen suuren linjasta

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Comment: Thanks to JusticeDemon’s critical eye he was able spot one of the snow jobs of the True Finns: Their campaign manifesto on immigration policy does not differ from the present law and, as the article below states, not even their refugee policy from the three major parties: Kokoomus, Center Party and Social Democrats.

So what gives?

I believe that their lust for power and the public spotlight are so insatiable that they are ready to turn their backs on voters immediately after April 17. Their campaign manifesto is a very incriminating piece of evidence. It is a prelude to what we will see.

Do you agree?

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Perussuomalaisten turvapaikkapolitiikka ei juuri poikkea kokoomuksen, keskustan ja sdp:n ulkomaalaispolitiikasta.

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Helsingin Sanomat: Multikulturalismin arvostelijat ovat hakoteillä

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Comment: Here is a well-balanced letter to the editor published in Helsingin Sanomat about what the “anti-multicultural” critics forget to tell you when they speak out against the “failures” of cultural diversity.

If you look at recent statements by Angela Merkel and David Cameron on how multiculturalism has failed,  they attempt to pin all the blame on immigrants not on the state, which is the real culprit. As the letter to the editor below points out, many countries lack comprehensive and effective programs for immigrants to adapt to their new homes.

Why haven’t Merkel and Cameron mentioned any options on how to turn this failure into a success story? The answer is simple: They don’t have a clue.

The above is supported by a  Migration Integration Policy Index (Mipex) study, which found that “integration policies are only improving slowly, with countries still creating as many obstacles as opportunities for immigrants to live, work, and participate in society.”

Some European societies don’t envision the bigger picture and what role immigrants will play in their respective countries. Are they accepted? Respected? Do they have equal opportunities? What does living in a culturally diverse society mean? How do we become Europeans?

What do you think?

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Useiden valtioiden johtajat ovat viime aikoina todenneet maahanmuuttopolitiikan epäonnistuneen maassaan. Vastikään multikulturalismin ottivat silmätikukseen myös Britannian pääministeri David Cameron ja Ranskan presidentti Nicolas Sarkozy.

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Migrant Tales memorable quotes of the week to February 28

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Migrant Tales will begin publishing on Monday some interesting quotes on the ongoing immigration debate in Finland. If you have some quotes you would like to share with us, please forward them to [email protected]. ET

The True Finns party bases its work on honesty, justice, humanity, equality, respect for work and entrepreneurship as well as spiritual growth. True Finns campaign manifesto published on February 25.

Perussuomalaisten toiminnan perustana ovat rehellisyys, oikeudenmukaisuus, inhimillisyys, tasa-arvo, työn ja yrittämisen kunnioittaminen sekä henkinen kasvu.

Aalto University senior lecturer Kyösti Tarvainen is concerned about Finnish democracy. Tarvianen has sent an email from his work to all the Green MPs’ email with the following subject headline: No Muslims in Parliament. Tarvainen notes that “the Greens have done wrong in permitting Muslims to stand as candidates.”  Lawyer and Green Party candidate for parliament, Hussein Muhammed, published in Uusi Suomi.

Aalto-yliopiston dosentti Kyösti Tarvainen on huolestunut suomalaisen demokratian puolesta. Tarvainen on lähettänyt työsähköpostistaan kaikille Vihreiden nykyisille kansanedustajille sähköpostiviestin otsikolla: Ei muslimeja Eduskuntaan. Tarvainen toteaa, että “Vihreät on tehnyt väärin asettaessaan eduskuntaehdokkaaksi muslimeja.”

The Koran is in conflict with Finland’s constitution when for example we look at gender equality as well as the equality between Muslims and “infidels.” Aalto University senior lecturer, Kyösti Tarvianen

Koraani on ristiriidassa Suomen perustuslain kanssa, esimerkiksi naisten ja miesten tasa-arvon sekä muslimien ja ”vääräuskoisten” tasa-arvon suhteen.

Finland is one of Europe’s most sparsely populated countries inhabited by 17 persons per square kilometer.  The population of Finland ages at this moment faster than in any other country in Europe.  Fact:  In Finland there live at this moment 150,000 foreign nationals. (The former nationality of) those immigrants that have become naturalized Finns cannot be found in population statistics;  between 2006 and 2009 they were a total of about 18,000 and, taking into account the trend in immigration, we know that the figure has been smaller rather than larger in the past.  Kristiina Kouros, published in Savon Sanomat

Suomi on yksi Euroopan harvimmin asutuista maista, asukastiheys on noin 17 ihmistä neliökilometrillä. Suomessa väestö ikääntyy tällä hetkellä nopeimmin koko Euroopassa. Faktaa: Suomessa asuu tällä hetkellä ulkomaan kansalaisia reilut 150 000. Suomen kansalaisuuden saaneita maahanmuuttajia ei vanhemmista väestötilastoista erota, mutta vuosien 2006-2009 välillä heitä oli yhteensä noin 18 000 ja ottaen huomioon maahanmuuttotrendit, tiedetään että tämä luku on aiemmin ollut ennemminkin pienempi kuin suurempi.

Monoculturalism is a term used by some to exclude immigrants and minotiries from society. Enrique Tessieri

Do illegal immigrants pay taxes? YES!!! They generally pay taxes the same way you and I pay them, but without access to most of the benefits that normally come with being a taxpayer. Roy Germano, published on The Other Side of Immigration

Old quote: Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrations and revolutionists. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)

YLE: True Finns Publish Election Manifesto

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Comment: The first thing that struck me about the True Finns’ sixty-nine-page election manifesto was the first sentence. It states that the True Finns are a party  based on “honesty, justice, humanity, equality, respect for work and entrepreneurship as well as spiritual growth.” The terms that especially caught my eye  were “humanity” and “equality.”

When the True Finns speak of  “humanity” and “equality” they mean Finns. It doesn’t include refugees and immigrants never mind other minorities like the Swedish-speaking population. In their manifesto they state that they are ready to lower international aid by 200 million euros, tighten asylum laws, lower Swedish-language subsidies, social benefits to immigrants as well as tax the rich. If the True Finns had their way, Finland should have the right to decide under which circumstances a foreigner can move to this country.

Even though they do not directly demand Finland leave the EU, they are against “Finland’s EU membership” being mentioned in the Constitution.

The manifesto states that immigrants must respect Finnish laws and pay taxes (duh!). Don’t the majority of immigrants do?

They also argue, without giving any details, that immigrants must respect Finnish cultural norms. Does this mean that new immigrants must buy Koskenkorva on weekends and get drunk?

The manifesto, which only uses the term “multiculturalism” five times, says that it isn’t feasible to populate cities with unemployed immigrants because the same apartments could be rented to Finns with work. These jobless people would be moved to remote areas of the country.  Unemployed Finns could remain in the cities. See what Helsingin Sanomat writes (in Finnish) about the matter.

Here is the link to the election manifesto.One of our bloggers, Tuomas, has translated the section on immigration policy.

What do you think?

ET

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The populist True Finns Party has unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming parliamentary election. It advocates tax increases for the higher paid, opposes the mention of Finland’s EU membership in the country’s constitution and demands cuts in social benefits for immigrants.

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Opettaja: Lukijakysely: Maahanmuuttajat ovat kouluille rikkaus ja rasite

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Comment: This survey that was published in Opettaja shows that 41% of teachers that were polled would like to place caps on children with immigrant backgrounds at their schools.  Contrarily one third of those polled would not place any such limits.  According to every fourth teacher, larger numbers of immigrant children increase commotion and noise in class as well as violence in schools.

For some the results of the survey is no surprise since other ones have shown that teachers’ attitudes of immigrants have been as negative as the police.

The poll brings forth interesting questions. One of these is if public servants like teachers can limit who they will serve.  Can the police do the same? Is segregating schools by placing caps constitutional?

Everyone knows that if such an extraordinary measure were to be taken, it would be by the government – not by teachers.

At best these surveys show how difficult it is for some in Finland to still accept cultural diversity as a normal matter of our society. A lot of work must be still done.

Do you agree?

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Lukijakysely: Maahanmuuttajat ovat kouluille rikkaus ja rasite. Kolmannes riittäisi osuudeksi Väkivalta lisääntyy, kantaväestön ja ja maahanmuuttajien välit kiristyvät ja opettajat siirtyvät muihin kouluihin, kun maahanmuuttajien osuus koulun oppilaista kasvaa suureksi. Lähes joka toisen opettajan mielestä maahanmuuttajien määrä pitäisi koulussa rajata 20–30 prosenttiin.

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Aamulehti: Rajoja sulkemalla ei rauhaa rakenneta

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Comment: Below is one of the best editorials I have read in a long time from Tampere-based Aamulehti. It makes reference to Milla Hannula’s book, Maassa maan tavalla, and how she attempts to give legitimacy to anti-immigration groups in Finland.  It is a good matter that dailies like Aamulehti can reveal this group for what it is: a minority attempting to rob our sacred historical icons to justify their xenophobia.

I have written before that Finns are wise and understand that the future of this country does not lie in spreading hatred and populism.

Do you agree?

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Matti Mörttinen

Maahanmuuttokriitikot ovat kaikesta päätellen vyöryneet viimeisen vuoden aikana ainakin jonkin hyväksyttävyyskynnyksen yli. Heidän taistelunsa ”poliittista korrektiutta” vastaan on ehkä seuraavaksi johtamassa siihen, että maahanmuuttokriitikoiden arvostelemisesta tulee poliittisesti epäkorrektia.

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