What does “white anti-racist” mean? How can guilt get in the way? And what’s all this talk about being “colorblind”? Teaching Tolerance asked community activists to share their thoughts on these questions, and others. Their answers shine light on the concepts of comfort, power, privilege and identity.
Tag: Cultural diversity
Exemplary Finns and exemplary immigrants
You don’t need the acceptance of over 5 million people to feel welcome in Finland. Only a few exemplary people will do, even one or two persons. Even though I am a Finn with a multicultural background, these exemplary people have given me strength and belief in this society.
The day will come when cultural diversity will be accepted in Finland
Native American Louie Gone asks an interesting question: Why isn’t a person’s “mixed” heritage acknowledged of all places in a country like the United States? How does Finland support identity development and what kind of exclusion or inclusion does it promote?
Helsingin Sanomat’s mea culpa on immigration issues
Is lack of knowledge about living in a society with a small foreign population an excuse for poor and deficient coverage of Finland’s ever-growing immigrant population? The editor of Finland’s leading daily, Helsingin Sanomat, told Lahti-based Etelä-Suomen Sanomat that it has aimed to raise immigrant issues, racism and tolerance issues since society is changing and because of the political atmosphere has changed.
Community Village blog: What makes us what we are
Ethnicity is amorphous, and only a small fraction of what makes us who we are. “There are no races, there are only clines,” according to anthopologist Frank Livingstone.
MTV3: Jari Tervo: Suomeen pitää saada lisää ulkomaalaisia
Kirjailija Jari Tervo syyttää yhä suomalaisia rasisteiksi. Hänen mukaansa esimerkiksi useissa nettikeskusteluissa kirjoitetaan rasistisia kommentteja. Tervon mielestä suomalaiset joutuvat pohtimaan uudella lailla suhtautumistaan ulkomaalaisiin ja erilaisiin ihmisiin.
The magic word is acceptance, acceptance and mutual acceptance!
A crucial term like acceptance is still very little used in Finland when debating about our culturally diverse society. Another key term is equal opportunity.Politicians, public officials, the general public, including immigrants, should use these terms in everyday speech when speaking about our society.
Finland’s long-overdue issue with the cold war
Every country has its silent minority or majority and Finland is no different in this respect. The victory of the right-wing populist Perussuomalaiset (PS) party in April raises a lot of questions: Has the ghosts of Finlandization and the Continuation War (1941-44) been resurrected?
Speaking up for Multicultural Finns
Those who play down the impact and poison of racism and indifference know nothing of the plight of multicultural Finns or the damage they cause on this group. Who are Multicultural Finns?
Denying racism is rejecting Finland’s cultural diversity
When one looks at some topical issues being debated in Finland, like the role of cultural diversity, and tries to understand them, it is essential to dig deeper behind words in order to see the big picture. What do the most anti-immigration voices of the Perussuomalaiset (PS) say when they are against multiculturalism?