Comment: Former Helsingin Sanomat editor-in-chief, Janne Virkkunen, expresses concern over the anti-immigration atmosphere in Finland. He partly blames its rise on the Perussuomalaiset (PS), whose head, Timo Soini, is well aware of the racism issue of the party.
Globalization is another factor which has motived some Finns to look for a scapegoat for the country’s problems, according to him.
The former editor-in-chief said that curbing debate on the Internet will not undermine hate speech. He believed that one matter that could be done now is for the presidential candidates to take a strong stand against such a social ill.
Migrant Tales agrees totally with Virkkunen’s analysis and medicine for Finland. The only way that racism can be beat is to react and confront it with facts. Too many politicians in Finland have, however, chosen to remain silent on this front.
Silence is racism’s best ally because it feeds its delusional view of the world.
If we permit racism to enter our society through the backdoor and allow it to grow unchecked, it will impact Finland politically, socially and economically.
By racist parties we mean those that encourage and spread urban tales about immigrants for their own opportunistic means. The most notable of these are the PS in general and the anti-immigration wing in particular led by MP Jussi Halla-aho.
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Helsingin Sanomien entinen päätoimittaja Janne Virkkunen on huolissaan Suomessa leviävästä ulkomaalaisvastaisuudesta ja vihakirjoittelusta. “Minua ahdistaa. Yhteiskuntamme ilmapiiri on tällä hetkellä sellainen, että suvaitsemattomuus vain nousee nousemistaan,” Janne Virkkunen sanoo.