Being a migrant for a number of generations is special. Why do some of us are always hoping to go somewhere but we are always returning? New immigrant arrivals in Argentina during the beginning of the last century. Source: Google My late father, Nemo, put this surreal situation in the following words: Being at a…
Tag: Immigrants
Finding help if you are a victim of a hate crime is difficult in Finland
There was a horrible attack against a Pakistani father of two over on February 23. Just to get an idea of the wounds he sustained on that terrible night, it took last week four hours to remove his stitches.
Authorities should look at factors like social exclusion, third culture and school bullying for what happened in Munich
As the dust settles over what happened in Munich on Friday, when Ali Sonboly took the lives of nine people and injured tens of others, there are a lot of questions that are taking our eyes off the ball. Instead of talking about “Islamic terrorism,” why are we not talking about some other motives that could have played important roles in the tragedy?
UPDATE (October 6): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism
Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Poor and Sloppy Journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link. October 6 A2 Pakolais-ilta (YLE) What was wrong with this television debate? Even if one of the hosts on the program was Wali Hashi, it was…
Finland’s attitude and experience of cultural diversity lag thirty years behind other European countries
Watching YLE’s A-studio, which was aired Wednesday, is a prime example why we are still far away in Finland of having an inclusive society that is fair to everyone irrespective of their background. Spotting the red herrings in the debate on such a talk show isn’t easy but not impossible. If National Coalition Party MP…
Using the term “immigrant background” in a bigoted country
In a country like Finland, where even politicians can make political careers with their bigotry, what impact does the label “immigrant background” have in reinforcing intolerance and prejudices? This question is an important one because, like racism, the label rarely if ever affects white Finns. The tragic rape of a woman this week by a group…
UPDATE (Jan. 24): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Fame of poor journalism
Migrant Tales’2015 Hall of Fame of poor journalism will be updated separately. To see other examples of opinionated journalism in Finland about cultural diversity, please go to this link. Jan. 24 Suomi ei vedä maahanmuuttajia (Helsingin Sanomat) What was left out? Today’s editorial on Helsingin Sanomat headlined, “Finland doesn’t attract migrants,” defends the country’s tightening of family…
Sweden Democrats openly attack cultural diversity – will the PS of Finland follow their example?
In a clear attempt to cash in on the anti-immigration sentiment, Sweden Democrat party secretary Björn Söder said that minorities like the Saami could never be Swedes and was willing to pay immigrants to leave the country, reports The Local. The mere suggestion that Sweden is only a country of white Swedes reveals the racist…
Systemic disenfranchisement of migrants and minorities in Europe
One important question that doesn’t appear to bother too many politicians is why migrant voter turnout in Europe is so low. In the 2012 municipal elections of Finland, 20% of eligible migrants voted compared with 18.6% in 2008. This is a far cry from 59.5% and 62.2% of Finnish citizens that voted in such elections,…
Time warp Fazer of Finland: Stereotyping Mediterranean “gigolos” to sell salt licorice
I was surprised to see Fazer, a Finnish foodservice company, advertising salt licorice on television with the help of a 1980s stereotype of a Southern European gigolo who speaks Finnish with a me-Tarzan-you-Jane accent. Migrant Tales sent an email to Fazer Monday morning about the ad but never got a reply. I did, however, get in touch…