Elizabeth Holmes built a 9-billion-dollar company called Theranos from scratch that promised to test blood with a single drop. One of the many deceptions she used to trick investors was her deep voice. As a woman, it gave her more authority.
Those who have watched Perussuomalaiset (PS)* chairperson Jussi Halla-aho for a few years will note that his voice has changed. He usually switches to a deep voice when he is answering questions from reporters and on talk shows.
Considering that Holmes is a woman and Halla-aho’s deficiency is that he lacks charisma, does he fake his voice to make up for his dull image?
Below is Halla-aho speaking in 2013 and the video below that is from last month.
Note the difference.
Just like Holmes, Halla-aho is marketing urban legends about migrants and minorities. He does so hellbent on polarizing and stigmatizing even more migrants and minorities in this country.
Even if about half a million people voted for the PS in the parliamentary elections of 2019, Holmes succeed as well at fooling investors of hundreds of millions of dollars on fake promises and deception.
A story published Wednesday in Politico exposed the misogyny against Finland’s woman prime minister, Sanna Marin, and the women members of her cabinet. Considering that Finland’s biggest opposition party, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* which is also leading in opinion polls, hate speech has raised its head for many years.
Hate speech and the PS are like a perfect couple walking in the park with a rabid dog on a short leash. The dog, which is used to impress voters, eventually bites its owners, and hard.
A report from the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence concluded that Marin’s government is “overwhelmingly” targeted by sexist online harassment.
Politico writes: “The five most targeted ministers, all female, were overwhelmingly victimized by misogynistic abuse attacking their values, demeaning their decision-making skills, and questioning their leadership abilities.”
Uusi Suomi, an online publication that played a key role before the 2011 parliamentary elections in giving the racist rhetoric of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party a platform, published today an interview with a cultural researcher, Tuija Saresma, who concluded that Jussi Halla-aho and the PS are racist.
While these types of statements are a foregone conclusion about Halla-aho and the PS, the big question is why Finnish society appears so impotent in the face of these social ills.
How do you explain the rise of a party in 2011, which won 39 seats in parliament from 5 previously, became the most successful party in parliamentary elections during the last decade?
Some factors explaining Finnish society’s racist and exclusive disposition is its near-geopolitical isolation during the Cold War. The lack of cultural and ethnic diversity, and the whitewashing of this history, have also help feed racism and white nationalism.
Any sensible person will conclude that white Finnish nationalism and racism get their power from the PS. Attacking brown and black Finns and other minorities with the intent of polarizing society creates a dilemma for the party and the country.
How can we state with a straight face that we are for social equality and human dignity when we exclude in a hostile manner, other people?
An insightful Op-Ed article in The Guardian by David Bromell on the impact of the Christchurch killings, sheds light on some of the problems that countries like Finland face in tackling hate speech.
He writes: “There will always be idiots who shoot their mouths off – but in a democratic society we need to learn to live together.”
According to Bromell, public policy should focus on the “effect of harm” and not on the emotions of hatred or offence since you cannot regulate this in an open and democratic society.
But here comes the punchline: “Stirring up and inciting discrimination, hostility or violence against members of a social group, however, is and should be a crime. This may involve speech, but incitement can also be written, mimed, memed, graffitied, cartooned or tweeted.”
The rise of a racist party like the PS in Finland entrenched in white nationalism is not only shameful but reveals how vulnerable and unprepared society and institutions are in challenging such social ills.
Events after the storming of the Capitol building in Washington on January 6 exposed white nationalist terrorism as the biggest threat facing the United States. Since the events that took place at the Capitol did not happen spontaneously, are we going to see something similar in Finland’s ever-hostile far-right groups like the PS?
As with the United States, is there a blind spot to this threat if the people spreading violence are white Finns? Does Finnish law enforcement take this threat seriously?
There is a strong indication that law enforcement is not up to the job. One of the problems is that such institutions are white and run by men. With so little participation of minorities such as brown and black Finns in the police, newsrooms, and the halls of power, it is not surprising that the anti-racism debate in this country is one-sided and dominated by whites.
The best example of Finland’s racism blind spot is the rise of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party and other far-right groups, which have become more vocal in recent years. It is amusing in a negative light that a party like the PS, where the vast majority of its municipal election candidates are white Finnish males, are dead set on denying minorities equal rights.
Even if we give recognition this week to the UN Anti-Racism Day, behind the chatter we find extraordinarily little action to challenge those institutions that give racism and white nationalism its legitimacy. We don’t do enough as a society because we don’t want to.
Migrant Tales insight: Ogneslav Shevchenko, 36, is a Russian national with Ukrainian parents seeking asylum in Europe. Once you get to know him a little, you notice that he has traveled for many years, searching for a country where he is free from persecution. His story is like others seeking asylum and traveling in the sometimes unfriendly and cold corridors of Europe.
Ogneslav Shevchenko
“In February 2017 I flew to Finland by plane. The main reason for fleeing Russia was a criminal case against me. Against undesirable authorities of the opposition, the state fabricates criminal cases on fictitious charges and deal with such people with physical violence so they will leave the country. Torture and covert killings are routine in Russian prisons.
I had difficulties with Migri [Finnish Immigration Service] right away. When I was giving the first interview, I was provided with one translator; during the second interview the translator was changed, and he translated and distorted a little what I said. As a result, I had to correct my statement in the third interview. In general, I was dissatisfied with the quality of the translation and interpreters.
Migri responded to my asylum case after 2.6 years of waiting. This is a violation of the terms of consideration! I have repeatedly complained to Migri and other refugee rights organizations about this, but it was useless. By law, an asylum application must be considered within six months. That’s the time on the document of my interview. But I got an answer after 30 months. There was a well-known case that was reported in the media about an Afghan asylum seeker who committed suicide after four years of waiting for the first decision from Migri. The answer was also negative. Four years of waiting!…
As a result, and during those 2.6 years I waited, the criminal code in Russia, the one I was persecuted with, was softened and based on that change, I was refused asylum in Finland. There is no criminal case – there is no threat to my life. I have the impression that Migri purposefully waits and takes its time so that matters in the country of asylum seekers will improve so they can then deport them safely to their home country.
“We have too many refugees, and we can’t handle the job.” Such was the given to me by Migri to the question: “Why it took so long to have an answer about my case?”
Center Party chairperson and minister for culture, Annika Saarikko, is the type of leadership Finland needs today unless it wants to climb out of its deep xenophobic pit spearheaded by the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party.
Considering that her party is being targeted by the PS, which bases its support on spreading suspicion and anti-immigration sentiment, Saarikko’s was quoted as saying in Helsingin Sanomat that Finland needs 10,000 migrants a year to avert a labor shortage is bold considering the attacks by the PS and recent opinion polls.
In the face of Saarikko’s prediction, Finland will find it especially hard to get out of its xenophobic pit if politicians are silent, policymakers are silent, and the public is silent about how to make Finland a more inclusive country and to rid it of politicians who polarize society.
Too many Finns still think that turning our country into a more inclusive one means doing little or nothing.
In early March, an opinion poll published by Yle showed that the Center Party was hovering at around historic lows of 11% and trailing the PS by 5.9 percentage points.
One of the aims of PS leader Jussi Halla-aho is that the Center Party will suffer a stinging blow in the municipal elections of June 13. This would force the party to leave the government, leading to its downfall and new elections, where the PS would win and have Halla-aho as prime minister.
One matter is clear: If Finland is to shake off and challenge anti-immigration sentiment, politicians like Saarikko must say it clearly and loudly.
“Anti-immigration sentiment has spread so far that even today labor immigration is started to see in a negative light,” she was quoted as saying in Helsingin Sanomat. “Such an attitude isn’t possible because of what Finland’s dependency ratio [labor shortage and tax base] is. Many may ask what about Finns getting employed. Yes, but when that is not enough either.”
The party that is against bringing labor immigrants to Finland is none other than the PS.
Islamophobia in all of its forms is cancer that is spreading at this moment throughout Europe. People who attempt to stand up to this social ill are intimidated and attacked. Farid Hafez, whom I know personally and edits the European Islamophobia Report, the most comprehensive report published annually on the topic, is charged for alleged terrorism.
Apart from his activism and bringing attention to Islamophobia, he is a non-resident researcher at Georgetown University, was a Fulbright Professor at UC Berkeley and a leading scholar of Islamophobia Studies.
It wasn’t too long ago when I received an email from Hafez:
“[I] write you today in a personal capacity. I am sure, most of you are following the troubling news on the increasing attacks on academia in France and elsewhere. As you are also aware of, an attack happened killing four innocent people in the streets of Vienna on 2 November 2020. Officially unrelated to this event, but in an atmosphere of having to counter-terrorism, the Austrian government raided the homes of 30 alleged terrorists one week later. It was the largest raid since 1945. Unbelievable but true, I was amongst the targeted ones.”
The video below gives a glimpse of Hafez’ case.
Without bringing any formal charges except based on suspicion and hearsay, Hafez is suspected of terrorism by the Austrian authorities. A question: Is this what happens when you can organize your words and challenge state Islamophobia?
In Argentina, where over 30,000 vanished during the so-called dirty war (1976-83), the de facto government’s methods were seen as state-sponsored terrorism.
In the same light, all types of intimidation, promotion, and spreading anti-Muslim racism by legal and official means could be classified as state Islamophobia.
The search warrant alleges that Hafez is a member of an organization intent on overthrowing the Egyptian government regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, destroying Israel and creating a global caliphate in Jerusalem, its capital.
“Would it not be serious,” said Hafez, “this would sound like a joke.”
The political scientist and one of the editors of the European Islamophobia Report, is confident that all the charges brought against him will be dropped.
“I am very convinced that no single allegation will stay,” he added.
The cost of the raid and the action of the Austrian government:
The case will take three years in the courts and cost an estimated 100,000 euros.
Hafez’ bank account and assets are frozen and cannot sell his house.
The Austrian government is drafting a law that makes “political Islam” a criminal offense, which would make it easier to criminalize every kind of Muslimness.
The latest hijab ban ruling by the Austrian Constitutional Court is seen as a signal against political Islam by its lawmakers.
Mitä olet saanut, kun olet äänestänyt perussuomalaisia? Kuinka paljon perussuomalaiset ovat tuottaneet onnellisuutta ja hyvinvointia tähän maahan? Kuinka moni vaalilupaus on täyttynyt? Tuskin monikaan ja jos joku onkin, sen lisäksi on tullut niin paljon vääryyttä ja pahaa, että sen tuoma hyvä on jo moneen kertaan kumoutunut. Onko perussuomalaisen antama vastine äänellesi vain se, että saat lukea ja kuunnella rumia? Sillä tapaako ajattelit Suomen muuttuvan lapsillesi paremmaksi paikaksi elää?
Oletko seurannut perussuomalaisten esiintymistä eduskunnassa? Perussuomalaiset räyhäävät, riekkuvat ja pärskäyttelevät käsiteltävään asiaan täysin kuulumattomia, usein rasistisia kommentteja. Kuinka paljon tämä vie aikaa tähdellisistä asioista ja kuinka paljon se kiristää ilmapiiriä ja estää asiallisia kansanedustajia keskittymästä työhönsä?
Vaikka perussuomalaiset kuinka tekisivät kunnanvaltuustoissa ihan normaalejakin avauksia kunnan asioista, kaikki tapahtuu vain oheis- ja peitetoimintana puolueen rasistisen ohjelman edistämiseksi. Jokainen kunniallinen ihminen, joka haluaa edistää kunnan ja kuntalaisten hyvinvointia voi valita puolueekseen jonkun muun kuin perussuomalaiset. Miksi jotkut ihan mukavan tuntuiset tyypit valitsevat rasistipuolueen?
Eivät ole kokoomuslaisetkaan ollenkaan kuivilla tässä asiassa. Katsotaanpa vaikkapa Helsingin kokoomusta. Kun he viimeksi valitsivat omaa pormestariehdokastaan, ehdolla oli vain yksi säällinen ehdokas ja toinen erittäin kyseenalainen, toistuvista rasistisista kommenteistaan tunnettu kansanedustaja. Jälkimmäinen sai peräti 34 % äänistä.
Aina on ollut äänestäjiä, jotka ovat äänestäneet naisen sukuelintä, Aku Ankkaa, Mikki Hiirtä tai Batmania. Monesti tuntuu, että parempi tapa sekin on purkaa pahaa oloa ja pettymystä omaan menestymiseen, kuin äänestää rasistia ja uusfasistia.
Äärioikeistolaiset ja Suomea ”valkoisena” säilyttelevät poliitikot puhuvat usein työperäisestä maahanmuutosta silloin kun haluavat peittää rasisminsa. He ajattelevat, että he ovat hyviä ihmisiä, kun he muistavat mainita, että he hyväksyvät kyllä sellaiset ihmiset, jotka tulevat tänne töitä hakemaan. Tosin tämäkään ei kaikille riitä. Moni ajattelee, että tänne saa tulla vain, jos työpaikka on jo sovittu ja työsopimus allekirjoitettu. Eikä liene suurikaan paljastus se, että suuri osa heistä ajattelee, että tähän pystyy vain valkoisen eurooppalaisen tai amerikkalaisen näköinen ihminen tai että yritysjohto osaa hoitaa asian siihen malliin.
”Työperäisyyden” vaatimisella he siis ajattelevat, että näin estetään etnisistä suomalaisista liikaa poikkeavien maahanpääsy. Ihonväri heitä ei tietysti sinänsä haittaa, hehän ovat lukeneet Wikipediasta, että rasismi on syrjintää rodun tai etnisyyden perusteella ja ihonväriin viittaaminen saattaisi siksi todistetusti olla rasismia. Niinpä he ovat päätelleet, että pitääkin puhua tietyistä kulttuureista tai maista tulevista ihmisistä. Kun siis maahan ei päästetä tietyistä maista tai kulttuureista tulevia ihmisiä, jotka nyt vaan eivät ole työperäisiä, voidaan säilyttää Suomi valkoisena.
On todella hoopo ajatus, että Suomi saisi työteliäitä ja onnellisia uusia kansalaisia vain sillä keinoin, että joku työperäinen nero jossain maassa sattuisi kiinnostumaan tunnetusta suomalaisesta yrityksestä ja hakisi sieltä töitä. Heitä on aika harvassa ja heillä saattaa olla vaimoja ja lapsia, jotka eivät ole alkuunkaan työperäisiä ja saattavat olla vielä väärän värisiäkin ja puhua väärää kieltä. Taas kohdattaisiin rasismia, rasistien koulimat lapset hylkisivät heitä koulun pihalla ja suureksi vartuttuaan he joutuisivat hakeutumaan työperäisiksi muihin maihin, koska väärällä sukunimellä on vaikea saada Suomessa töitä, jos ei asu muualla, ole vaalea nero ja saa työsopimusta ennen maahanmuuttoa.
Suomi saa työteliäitä ja onnellisia kansalaisia ainoastaan sillä keinolla, että Suomi kehittyy avoimeksi ja vastaanottavaksi maaksi, jossa täällä asuvat ja tänne tulevat pystyvät elämään ja tekemään töitä ilman syrjintää ja kiusaamista. Tänne pitää voida tulla katselemaan, harjoittelemaan ja opiskelemaan. Täällä jo olevien on saatava tehdä samoin – ilman tönimistä ja työperättömäksi haukkumista. Pitää saada ihastua ja rakastua maahan tai ihmisiin, löytää kumppani, perustaa perhe. Myös ihan tavallisen, tavallisesti koulutetun ihmisen ilman IT-alan erityistä osaamista. On ihan turha luulla, että ketään työperäistä missään maassa imartelee sellainen, että meillä kytätään kaula kenossa matemaattisia neroja, joille voisimme antaa hyvät pisteet ja jotka tulisivat juuri tähän kylmään maahan tekemään meidät onnellisiksi. Luovuttaisivat lahjakkuutensa meidän hyväksemme, pelastaisivat teollisuutemme ja väestöpyramidimme ja antaisivat meidän keskittyä saunomiseen ja grillaamiseen mökkilaiturilla ja rasvoittuneen, työperäisen takapuolen muotoiluun kuntosalilla.
Ihminen ei kulje pelkästään työn perässä, tänne lähes orjatöihin kuskatuilla köyhien maiden marjanpoimijoillakin on haaveita paremmasta elämästä. Työperäisiä ovat sairaudet. Ihmiset hakevat elämää ja sen osana perhettä, harrastuksia, elämyksiä. Työ on yksi osa elämää, joillekin ehkä se kaikkein tärkein, mutta hyvin suurelle osalle tärkeä siksi, että kaikki muu tulisi mahdolliseksi.
Äärioikeistolla on siis puolueperäinen sairaus: harhaluulo siitä, että maailma olisi mallillaan, jos Suomi saisi jotenkin haalittua meille töihin työperäiset, meitä viisaammat ihmiset, jotka eivät aiheuta kuluja, eivät jää työttömiksi, eivät täytä kauppakeskusten käytäviä, eivät oleskele rautatieasemalla, eivät mongerra vieraita kieliä, eivät mumise väärien uskontojen loitsuja, eivät pidä meteliä itsestään, harrastavat omaa kulttuuriaan vain omassa asunnossaan, eivätkä ole ruskeita. Tuo se on sairaus jos joku. Ja sitä paitsi – kokoomus ja perussuomalaiset, te jalompi väki – miksi ette itse pelasta Suomen teollisuutta?
Yle revealed in a story today that the far-right Kansallismielisten liittouma has distributed Green League Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo’s and Prosecutor General Raija Toiviainen’s home address for harassment purposes.
Moreover, Kansallismielisten liittouma chairperson, Tero Ala-Tuuhonen, has been in touch with “a Helsinki police sergeant” who has advised the far-right organization on how to hide weapons and how to beat up asylum seekers without getting caught by the police.
According to Yle, Ala-Tuuhonen had the following conversation with the Helsinki police sergeant:
Ala-Tuuhonen:Jyväskylässä on matujengi alkanut uhittelemaan katupartoijille. Käydään lauantai iltana etsimässä niitä isommalla porukalla [kieliasu alkuperäinen].
Ala-Tuuhonen: “In Jyväskylä, an asylum seeker gang [uses the derogatory term matu] has started to threaten street patrols [they should be called vigilante group]. Let’s go search for them with a bigger group [of vigilantes].”
