Comment: Here is another story published by Spiegel Online International on the harrowing experiences of a family in Germany perpetrated by a far-right group.
Migrant Tales has published and commented on a number of stories about the worrying rise and crimes of the far right in Germany. In Finland, we have seen the rise of similar parties as well. If we want to know what kind of a threat they represent to our society, Germany would be a good place to begin.
Writes Spiegel Online International: “Four weeks was the amount of time that passed between the two death threats the Krause family (eds. note: not their real name) found in their mailbox. The first letter came in August 2011. The sender had cut letters out of a newspaper to form a message warning that Mr. Krause and his family would be killed if they didn’t leave Germany.
Why? Because Mrs. Krause and the couple’s two children have dark skin. Because Mrs. Krause comes from East Africa.
The second letter came in September, and the sender spent far less time on it. He simply drew four crosses on a sheet of white paper — one for each member of the family. For the son, for the daughter, for Mr. Krause and for Mrs. Krause.”
What is the lesson we can learn from Germany on racism and far-right groups?
Silence is a poor response to such an ominous threat to our society.
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Germany was shocked to learn the extent of the crimes committed by a recently uncovered right-wing extremist group. But racism is hardly an anomaly in Germany. One family’s experience shows just how widespread prejudice and hate really is.
Society in Finland is very tolerant towards ethnic minorities and immigrants in comparision to Germany or Russia.
My relatives from Russia were visiting Finland this year, and they expressed their astonishment about how Muslim women wear veils and even chadras in Helsinki. Those women would have been assaulted in many major Russian cities and towns.
I think that one of problems in Finnish society what causes intolerance is that now is starting to put so much pressure on Finnish identity. That Finnish identity must be inclusive, flexible etc. It creates counter-reaction IMO. Look, that’s why better leave Finnish identity in peace, and don’t ask from people things, that can be considered as attacks to “holy cow”, i.e. ethnic identity, heritage and patriotism.
I am not Finnish, but I can see what is going on in Finland. And I don’t ask ridiculous questions, where answers are obvious, like, why people in town Lieksa created anti-immigrant facebook webpage, although in Lieksa live so little amount of immigrants.
“Those women would have been assaulted in many major Russian cities and towns.”
That’s the problem right there. In some cities abroad they also assault and even kill people who dress like Goths or Emos or for dressing too “Gay”. That is not the kind of society I grew up in and not the kind of society I would like my children or grandchildren to be raised in here.
Finnish identity, like every other identity, is not static, it is very fluid. It changes with time to include new things. The problem is with those who fear change.
Hi BlandaUpp, totally agree and it is scary that people, because they dress or are different, get attacked in public. This, in my opinion, shows the cowardice and lack of leadership in our society but the shameful silence of the politicians and other institution like the police. I wonder the same thing as you about my children: What kind of a region did I bring my children?