immigration Archives - Page 3 of 13

Being responsible in debates about immigration and extremism

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Mark

Extremism almost never sees itself as ‘extreme’

When I was young I studied ‘brainwashing’ as part of my studies in psychology. One feature that constantly emerged was how ‘extreme’ interpretations of events typically took a grain of truth and wrapped it up in a generalisation such that it would act as a shield to any criticism, especially convincing and obvious counterarguments that threatened to unravel the persons’ warped world-view.

This is always tricky ground, for several reasons. This bias is something we all share to different degrees, and so it’s easy to reverse the argument if you start trying to point it out. Being ‘brainwashed’ is to an extent common, we even have an everyday term for it – we call people ‘opinionated’. Brainwashing is, in essence, accepting information as true without fully assimilating it as an independently thinking, critical and empathic individual. In the context of racism debates today, we might talk of pathological bias. Continue reading “Being responsible in debates about immigration and extremism”

Where to catch up on news about immigration, immigrants and cultural diversity

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Migrant Tales

Where does Migrant Tales get its information? Apart from getting tip-offs from readers, another important source is Uutiskynnys as well as other social media sites like Facebook (Rasmus and others) and Twitter. We only read racist diatribe on Facebook instead of following hate sites like Hommaforum and Scripta.

Following the latter sites as well as other ones like James Hirvisaari is an absolute waste of time because what they put out only confirms what you read about them over five years ago.

I used to visit Mediaseuranta but stopped going there after it became clear that the editor appears to be connected to the Hommaforum network. We recommend a thousand times Uutiskynnys over Mediaseuranta.

One of the best blogs on cultural diversity in Finland is Uuninpankkopoika Saku Tiimonen, Reija Härkönen, Marian Abdulkarim and Zuzeeko. There are many others that I read like Abdirahim Husu Hussein and Anna Gutiérrez Sorainen.

A “new” blogger on the block is Ozan Yanar, who knows his stuff and writes well.

It’s great to see today that the ongoing debate on our ever-growing cultural diversity is no longer controlled by anti-immigration bloggers. This has been the case for some time but matters are changing.

Other good sites include I Care, which gives you a good picture of what is happening in other countries.

Being informed and having a good network to access and double check information is crucial if you want to take part in the ongoing debate on immigration, immigrants and cultural diversity.

When it comes to the Finnish media, only a few publications get it right most of the time when it comes to migration and cultural diversity. Some of these include Karjalainen, Savon Sanomat, Kainuun Sanomat, Hämen Kaiku and Kansan Uutiset.

UPDATE (Jan. 24): Migrant Tales’ 2015 Hall of Fame of poor journalism

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Migrant Tales

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 reunification laws but surprisingly agrees with the anti-immigration populists, the Perussuomalaiset (PS),* that Finland should invest more in integration and offer more Finnish-language courses to newcomers. Is this only mentioned by the PS? Why does Helsingin Sanomat single out the PS in this respect? Do they want to make up with the anti-immigration party? Even if learning the local language is important, it isn’t a passport to equal membership in society. In Spain, where there are many Latin Americans, racism and social exclusion are common despite the fact that such migrants speak Spanish as their native tongue. Integration is a two-way process (not mentioned in the editorial) and certainly one reason why so few skilled migrants come to Finland is due to a number of factors like how do Finns relate to cultural diversity and Otherness? The cartoon depicts the prevailing attitude in all political parties: See no migrant, hear no migrant, speak no migrant.

Sweden calls off snap elections in March 2015 after reaching agreement with the opposition

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Migrant Tales

The minority government of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has abandoned plans to hold snap elections in March 2015 after reaching an agreement with the Alliance, comprising of opposition parties like the Moderates, Center Party, Liberal Party and Christian Democrats, according to The Local. The far right Sweden Democrats, which caused a political crisis this month, blasted the so-called December agreement.

Mattias Karlsson, the acting chairman of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, said that his party is now the main opposition party as a result of the agreement.

“He (Löfven) doesn’t deserve to govern Sweden,” Karlsson was quoted as saying on The Local, which cited TT news agency.

Read full story here.

Löfven said at a press conference that the agreement with the Alliance will permit the minority government to govern during 2015-2022.“With the agreement the government will not be making any decision about an extra election, it is simply not the immediate interest,” the prime minister said.

The biggest loser of the December agreement isn’t only the Sweden Democrats but the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* of Finland, which were hoping to capitalize on the snap elections in Sweden. Finland holds parliamentary elections in April 2015.

Statements over a week ago by the party’s secretary Björn Söder, that the Saami, Jews and Kurds couldn’t be considered “true” Swedes unless they assimilate into white Swedish culture, and the arson attack on Christmas Day in Eskilstuna against a mosque, must have boosted the resolve of the minority government and the Alliance to reach an agreement in order to keep the Sweden Democrats in the cold.

The Sweden Democrats saw their support rise in the September elections to 12.9% (up 29MPs to 49MPs) from 5.7% (20MPs) in 2010.

All Swedish parties have boycotted the Sweden Democrats since it is a far right party that is demanding a drastic cut in immigration.

* The Finnish name of the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The names adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We therefore prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings.

Finland: A nation of emigrants

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Migrant Tales

While some heads of state like Barack Obama speak of the United States as a nation of immigrants, Finland has historically been a nation of emigrants. How does being a nation of emigrants differ from being a nation of immigrants? There is a big difference and reveals in part why some Finns are so hostile to immigration.

Finland is a good example of a country made up of emigrants. During 1860-1999, over 1.2 million emigrated, with the majority moving to Sweden (580,000) and North America (411,000).

If all of these emigrants would have stayed put in Finland, our population would be today about 7 million instead of 5.470 million.

Emigration has had a big demographic never mind social impact on Finland.

Source: Jouni Korkiasaari and Ismo Söderling: Finnish emigration and immigration after World War II. Migration Institute 2003. Source: http://www.migrationinstitute.fi/articles/011_Korkiasaari_Soderling.pdf

Since we are a nation of emigrants, it explains in part why some of our politicians and society don’t see immigration as a positive matter.

Being a land of emigration has distorted our view of things. Instead of seeing the world as an opportunity, it’s seen by too many as a threat. This is understandable considering our difficult history with the former Soviet Union. Even so, wars and conflicts end and we must learn to move on, even if the Ukraine crisis has reinforced our worst prejudices.

Finland is slowly learning to become a nation of immigrants. When we’ll be able to call ourselves a nation of immigrants, that’s when our perceptions of foreigners and newcomers will change, hopefully for the better.

This will take time. But we’re already on that road no matter how some resist this fact tooth and nail and throw everything they have against our ever-growing culturally and ethnically diverse nation.

Racism tells you over and over again: don’t bite the hand that feeds you

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Migrant Tales

Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.

E.B. White (1899-1985), USAmerican writer

Being an immigrant and Other all my life, researching and especially writing about racism regularly, or daily for the past three-and-a-half years, have taught me a thing or two about this social ill. Some may ask why I write about racism on Migrant Tales. The answer is simple: Finland would be a near-perfect country if our society were more inclusive.

If I made a video clip on the devastating impact of racism, it would first show a happy community that would end up being consumed by hate as it became more culturally and ethnically diverse. Like adding more fuel to a fire that you want to extinguish, instead of finding effective solutions, anti-immigration political parties would emerge and start to play on people’s fears. Those who could, the more skilled people, would move to other cities and companies would follow suit. It would be a vicious cycle: loss of jobs and impoverishment.

But there are many good people in this country that won’t allow Finland to be fed to the dogs by anti-immigration parties like the Perussuomalaiset (PS).* It’s their bravery and example that inspires and gives us hope.

In the same way there are good examples there are also bad ones that cannot be accepted. One of these was reported by YLE Monday about a Nepalese woman who was ordered by security guards at the Rockcock festival of Kuopio forced her to leave the premises because she was collecting empty bottles. Apart from asking the woman in an allegedly demeaning manner why she came to Finland to collect empty bottles, the security guard said that they had a police order to prohibit foreigners from collecting bottles at the festival.

The Kuopio police have denied ever giving such an order.

The Finnish husband of the woman is considering bringing charges against the Rockcock organizers for ethnic profiling. The case has interested human right watchdog Amnesty International.

Racism is a big issue in Finland. We know it’s a big issue. Dead giveaways are our collective denial and our near-silence concerning this social ill.

While our reaction to racism should be first and foremost a reaction, we need a fundamental change in thinking and education beginning at schools and at home.

Racism is a pernicious force that destroys instead of strengthens a society. Just like in some parts of the United States after the Civil Rights Movement (1955-68), it should be clear that there is not only a new era of respect but that racist behavior should be pointed out fearlessly as something shameful.

I had the opportunity in June to hear Swedish Feminist Initiative MEP Soraya Post speak at an European Network Against Racism assembly in Brussels. She said that the problem that minorities face in Europe is due to weak institutions that don’t defend their rights.

Sweden’s Feminist Initiative MEP Soraya Post speaking at Enar’s general assembly in June. Photo by Enrique Tessieri.

Why are those institutions that Post speaks of so weak?

One of the most incredible matters about racism is its selective memory and that it denies, among many other matters, what we are by cooking new narratives and myths.

Every human being was once or has some relative that was a migrant. Since it is a fact that humankind has always been on the move and migrated to new lands, why is this important fact about ourselves conveniently forgotten?

One possible answer to the above question is that when we forget that we were migrants, or have relatives who were migrants, we are entitled, like white privilege, economic, social and political power to rule over others who are more recent migrants.

Time Wise defines white privilege in the following terms:

White privilege refers to any advantage, opportunity, benefit, head start, or general protection from negative societal mistreatment, which persons deemed white will typically enjoy, but which others will generally not enjoy.

In the 1920s and 1930s Finland forged a social construct like Finnish national identity, which was meant to be exclusive, not inclusive.

And it’s exactly that, the exclusive nature of national identity, that makes it so perverse and problematic today to create a socially just society where equal opportunity is the norm, not the exception.

How are we supposed to promote inclusive Nordic values to newcomers if our national identity is so exclusive? This exclusivity has been forged in a backdrop of over 1.2 million Finnish emigrants who left this country between 1860 and 1999.

One way of starting to challenge this exclusive national club, where being white and speaking perfect Finnish is one of the many requirements, is by biting the hand that feeds our racism.

* The Finnish name for the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The names adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We therefore prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings.

Announcement: 1001Nights | UK tour 2014

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Migrant Tales

TOMORROW NIGHT I SHALL TELL YOU SOMETHING STRANGER AND EVEN MORE AMAZING…

A FAMILY SHOW FOR AGES 6+

1001 Nights collects together some of the greatest folk tales ever told. Here they are re-imagined by Shahrazad – a lively young girl who, torn between her old home in the East and her new life in Britain, re-tells the extraordinary stories of her childhood to her new-found friend, who understands not a single word she says…

Using the things she finds around her, Shahrazad fashions saucepans into crowns, old pipes into enchanted telescopes and a mop into a magic carpet to transport us to a fantastical and imagined world of kings, viziers, and jinns.

This compelling, funny and totally absorbing play wowed audiences at the Unicorn in 2013 and now returns for a UK tour.

NOMINATED FOR OFF WEST END AWARD: BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

“An utter delight” **** The Telegraph

“Warmly recommended” The Stage

“If this does not warm your heart then I don’t know what will”
A Younger Theatre

A Transport/Unicorn production

See trailer here.

Devised and Directed by Douglas Rintoul
Designed by James Perkins
Lighting Design by Matt Haskins
Sound Design Helen Atkinson

CAST: SAMANTHA BÉART, KRYSTIAN GODLEWSKI and KESHINI MISHA

Ipswich, New Wolsey 5 – 7 May
Didcot, Cornerstone 10 May
Canolfan y Celfyddydau
Aberystwyth Arts Centre 11 May
Farnham Maltings 15 May
Canterbury, Gulbenkian 16 – 18 May
Folkestone, Quarterhouse 22 – 24 May
Lyme Regis, Marine Theatre 25 May
Oxford, The North Wall 27 May
Manchester, The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre, 29 May
Lancashire, The Boo 30 May
Burnley Arts Centre 31 May
London, Unicorn Theatre 5 – 22 June
Bath, The Egg 27 – 28 June
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts 1 July
Derby Theatre Studio 5 July

To help UNHCR provide lifesaving aid to Syrian refugees, please donate at unhcr.org.uk/syria

Dr. Theodoros Fouskas: Representing the unrepresented? Operation and representativeness of the Migrant Integration Councils in Greece

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Migrant Tales

Dr. Theodoros Fouskas*

The article examines the participation and representation of immigrants in local public life in Greece. Through 27 semi-structured questionnaires, this research (Fouskas, 2013) is the first attempt to evaluate the operation and representativeness of the Migrant Integration Councils (MICs) of the municipalities of Greece. Research evidence proves that there are serious difficulties and enormous weaknesses regarding immigrant communities and immigrant representation in the MIC. In the majority of the researched municipalities (74%) not all immigrant populations in their jurisdiction are represented in the MIC. Moreover, it is crucial to note that of the immigrants who participated in the process of the formation and further operation of the MIC, the majority (56%) were not elected representatives of immigrant communities. There are severe problems of representation and participation of immigrants in their community associations which raise doubts as to the actual and official representation by those acting as immigrant representatives.

Through the research, concerning the operation of the MICs, the following are established: The lethargic intervention of the institution in the life of local communities is usually justified due to lack of resources; an independent and autonomous budget in municipal financial plans would overcome difficulties and practical weaknesses. However, a significant number of successful activities have been implemented under the current institutional framework with extremely limited financial means, a consequence of the ongoing economic crisis. The difficulties regarding the administrative and scientific support of the interventions planned by MICs are sometimes deal with whilst municipalities do not have the capacity to exclusively appoint specialised personnel for the MIC’s needs. The existence of permanent specialized staff and the necessary administrative structures would ensure institutional memory and viability, strengthening the institution and releasing its function from clientele relations or personal aspirations of MICs participants.

Regarding the immigrant community representativeness in MICs there are enormous weaknesses. The need to establish common criteria for representation of individual groups is imperative, which should not, however, lead to the conclusion that there should be common procedures. Apart from practical unfeasibility, the aim is to implement efficient processes tailored to local cases and the individual characteristics of immigrant communities. An important finding is that there is significant delay in activating the institution, in conjunction with an increased degradation of its operation. In many cases, municipal authorities do not embrace the institution with the necessary trust and do not pursue its operation, which negatively affects the perceptions that immigrants themselves shape about this. The need to establish constant communication bridges with local immigrant communities and associations, to transfer paradigms, practices and solutions at local level between MICs, is of great importance and gravity.

The present economic crisis has urgently put forward the need to establish local policies for social integration of vulnerable groups, especially immigrants. In this context, the MIC’s advisory and consulting role will be vital in the local policies if it is operated with adequate staffing, expertise and the will to contribute, and provided there is true immigrant representation. If MIC is formed as above it could contribute decisively in crucial sectors for the social integration of immigrants, e.g., formal labour market integration, combating undeclared work, actions against racism and xenophobia, fostering of trust in their communities, organization and coordination of immigrants in their associations, revival of immigrants’ interest to care and participate in local matters, removal of barriers that prevent harmonious co-existence, etc. MIC contribution should take place in the frame of deep knowledge of the local area and the particularities of its native and legal immigrant population. The MIC may face limitations in two main areas: its representativeness and its advisory role. Some immigrant communities are not represented despite all efforts. It is important to mention that the main goal of MICs is to increase the participation of foreigners in local public life. The creation and the operation of an MIC must be supported by genuine political will on behalf of the City Council. In some cases, despite the presence of an MIC, local elected representatives do not consult it or do so only after already deciding on matters. Hence, in order to optimise the usefulness of MIC, their role as a consultative body must be placed on an institutional basis, with certain rights and obligations of its members and its associates.

Read full essay here.

*Dr. Theodoros Fouskas is a Lecturer at New York College, Greece.
Website: http://theodorosfouskas.com/
Email: [email protected]

Fouskas, Theodoros (2013) “Representing the unrepresented? Operation and representativeness of Migrant Integration Councils in Greece”, Social Cohesion and Development, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 127-150, ISSN: 1790-9368, words: 7.000.

Workshop highlights perceptions, problems and challenges of immigration in Greece

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Migrant Tales

Workshops that debate and challenge immigration issues in economically hard-hit countries like Greece are never too many. One of these took place on Friday at the University of Peloponnese and was organized by the Scientific Association of Young Political Scientists.

According to a statement:

The issue of immigration has become a major national issue and is treated as such by Greek immigration policy. Due to its geographical position, Greece has become the most accessible initial stopover – otherwise known as the “gateway to the European Union” – for international immigration and refugees flows, whose final destination is West or North European countries; and due to the magnitude of the problem, it is regarded as not a Greek, but a European one which demands a European solution.

One of the biggest challenges of immigration management is that it is now one of the top priorities for both Greece and the EU, according to Dr. Theodoros Fouskas, who was responsible for the workshop’s scientific organization. He is a sociologist and lecturer of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, New York College (NYC).

Greece. “Since Greece deals with 90% of illegal immigration flows to the EU, European aid, assistance and solidarity are imperative,” he said. “But after twenty-five years of huge illegal migration flows, what should be taken into account are the international ramifications that the migratory phenomenon has caused in the 21st century.”

Dr. Fouskas focused his talk on the impact of international labor migration, especially low-status work by Nigerian migrants,* who are the object of his latest research. Low-wage Nigerian migrants in Greece are mainly employed in the service industry, which include manual labor jobs, farming, construction, crafts, housework, cleaning services, prostitution and others.

“What is currently observed is a mobile, temporary workforce, which is occupied in casual, non-permanent, low-prestige jobs,” he said. “[Nigerian] immigrants of both genders are exposed to all forms of exploitation, to flexible working ours and unsettled, low-level and unstable lifestyle.”

Dr Theodoros Fouskas speaking at the workshop on perceptions, problems and challenges of immigration in Greece.

According to Dr Fouskas, the life of low-wage immigrants in Greece is more than challenging under the present circumstances.

“They are disconnected, detached from the past, with no memory of collectivization or personal efforts and claims,” he said. “Nigerian immigrants’ work is characterized by exhausting working hours, exceptionally low wages, appalling working conditions, non-permanent employment with frequent employer changes, no National Health benefits, unstable residence status, fear of arrest and deportation…”

Other speakers that took part in the workshop were Pantelis Sklias, Symeon Sidiropoulos, George Hilal, Panagiota Theodosi, Konstantinos Kazanas and Jamil M. Sayed.

* Fouskas, Theodoros (201-) Nigerian Immigrants in Greece: Low-Status Work, Community, and Decollectivization, Research Monograph under contract, and Fouskas, Theodoros (2014) “‘Community’ found or lost in the city? The consequences of low-status work on association participation of Nigerian immigrant workers in Athens”, in: Fouskas, Theodoros and Vassileios, Tsevrenis (2014) (Eds.), Contemporary Immigration in Greece: A Sourcebook. Athens: European Public Law Organization (EPLO) (forthcoming 2014). Foudkas, Theodoros (2013) “Los-Status Work Consequences on Immigrant Workers’ Organization”, International Review of Sociology, Volume 23, Issue 3, 2013 pp. 671-698.

From Anonymous to Dana

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Migrant Tales

Migrant Tales Blog – Message of Condolences to Dana

as she mourns for her bereaved parents

We say….. Dana! you are not alone….but MTs and our own

Even if the body tremmors with shock from the thrust and pressure trigged by the double

tragedy for your beloved parents they are not yours alone but also…………Migrant Tales

and our own

Even if your heart is crying with pain and the wall that protects it, has cracked with tears

drain, but we are here not there, we are hear so near, to your ear, for you are us and ours

and, our own

Even if your mind is clogged and exhausting the brain we can share the burden and strain

for we are with you all the way and you are not alone or on your own but with us as one

of our own

Even if your soul is encapsulated with grief and creates a strain but we hold our hands

together and between the two letters M and T is a hug from Migrant Tales from your

beloved Baba and Mama as they represent us, for you are us, and one of us,……. ours

and, one of our own

Even when colourless tears turned bloody tears your chests wets, but our also ours

drains, for you are a part of MTs nuclear family and community member of our own

Dana !you lost your beloved parents it is shocking and devastating may at times bring

you to the rhetoric question of, why……………..why me? Oh my Lord ! its Gods will!

Its Almighty Gods wish……………..no mistake…………………………..no question about it!

Remember God loves you, for you are his own, but also you are our own.

Dana you are not an orphan nor alone but MTs child with a voice and as a free-spirited

bird who can fly and when emotionally overwhelmed can land on MTs shoulders and lean

on...for we are here for you….if you need us… or need a listening-ear….we shield you

with our words not with an arrow and spear against whoever wants us to tear but as a

community we become your sweet pear among a society….dear, as you are one of our own

Even if two five to five plus two seven seven dates……. doesn’t make the sum even, but

menories of dark and bitter/sad days bodys stiffens as it spurs traumatic events, we are

with you 24/7 and can not leave you alone, like a cone we are with you, and your`re

among us and not alone, even if you are now on your own, you are like a limp of our

body-own

Its Almighty Gods will – nothing and no-one can convince him to re-schedule nor adjorn

we are here to support you, hope our presence will serve as a pain-relief and further…….

devastation adjorn and let you know that you are not alone but with us now and always

as our own

For their time has come, for them to say goodbye, to the earth and world, for their lord has

their soul beckon to meet them not to your life..torn, but be rest assured even if they were

in a hurry and forgot……………..to say goodbye to Dana, they are safe, for they are his own

and you are not on your own, but with him thy-Lord and safe in MTs hands as our own

For Gods`action may sometimes imply or hiddenly encripted in a silent…secret message

we may not decipher, God knows better………………but may be………… , he is trying to

convey a message to you, that says Dana! be strong for your brothers`sake and take

care of yourself and for each other and think someday of initiating a life of your own

Escorted by angels to heaven and Dana`s bloody tears is dear turns clear, and even far

is near, for it showers the way and leaves a fragrance and scent of musk and UuD on their

souls and gowns adorn, for your their beautiful baby and no one other than their own but

also a daughter of our own

Don`t despair for you will leave in their hearts forever and ever Ameen! but leave us never!

for you are not alone but in our minds as MT member, as a friend and as a blogger and as

one of our own

Bide them a warm farewell kiss for their sweet souls to rest in eternal peace mingled with

prayers from Danas lips, its a crown, their shrine will shine, for your are not alone theirs,

but also as a daughter, our sister and as one of our own

For you are their special gift in heaven and on earth, don`t despair 24/7, for you will meet

them one day, but for now, you have to be very strong for yourself and for your brothers sake

here and, continue to make MT proud…………… for you are one of us, and, ours and our own

Dana! say Mama and Baba goodbye! and rest in peace for you`re my world! My body! My

heart and my soul! My sunshine and My beloved ones! and both you are in my heart and

soul for now and always! you will stay nor torn or thrown, for you will never be deceased

but remain alive- and never cease, as a crown for your are my own parents and only my own

Dana! say nothing will tear us apart! even if already gone for your memories will always be

cherished and remain in my soul adorn, and not thrown, for they are no ones else but only

specially mine and only mine alone, like my gown, I own, and they are my own

With a tender touch like a birds feather heeze is Migrant Tales breeze that soothes and calm

your heart and nerves with shared empathy and mutual understanding and care with a breeze

of its own kind encased in letters MT, Migrant Tales whispers softly in your ears, Mmmmmmm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……………………………Ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

sounds like Emp..tttttttttttttttttttty.!..EMPTY.!…Dana !…the dark closet holding the unbearable pain…

to avoid being traumatized, for you are not alone but, MTs and our own

Engraved with letters M and T, is a special message from Migrant Tales to you our Dana!

Which says ” We are with you! As you! We stand by you ! And we are always for you and

We will always be with you……………………….. dear Dana! to help create a new fibre and a

new layer to numb the pain that swelled and roots grown, for your one among many in our

community and not one of a kind but one of our own

For MT has helped your ordeal known, with a bright light it shines in one of the darkest

night and, continues to lighten the earth and shines the sky yet clears your chest off, the

burden, that suffocates and hearts hardens as like a string your sorrow are now also in their

soul sown, for you are not alone nor like anyone else but as Dana! you are one of their own

Dana! you are not alone as you embark in this difficult journey to recovery and healing

for you are not alone… look! who is sitting next to you..Enrique; beside you…is JD, Mark

among others, for we are all here, with you not away from you, but so……. near.. to you..

for you are.. dear, and not alone in a deserted zone like a drone, we are with you here and

its known, as you are one of our own

MT will wrap you in its colourful Migrant Tales shawl, showered with inordinate sympathy

and sincere message of condolences so far yet so near, and, will still continues to be shown,

to help you regain back your strength and be as fit as a fiddle – for your are one of Finlands`

family members, who is mourning for her beloved parents and one of our MTs communitys`

members and our own

Like a water spray we cool the burning tears and sorrow that engulfes your body, mind and

soul for we can see and hear and not at all far but so near, within a press of a button or a

click of a mouse, as together we all mourn, for you are not alone, but always remember

you are one of our own

Even if there is nothing to hang out for a moment but incredible stress but you can bear

for your stronger inside as outside even if torn – we standby you, to pick you up when you

fall or trip, for you not theirs alone, but also, our own

As we embark with you in this journey not to unknown, but to help you recover and from

grief known, for you are not alone, but our special Dana! who is always with us, and none

other, than one of our own

Migrant Tales flag has been flying half-mask from May to July and will continue as we

mourn for the demise of Dana`s beloved ones- her parents-dear Baba and Mama who are

not none other, than also our own.

Its a moment of silence, as we tie a ribbon of Migrant Tales, with initials MT, together

with our bare two hands and say good bye to Danas Baba and Mama! for they are not

your parents alone, but also our own

Migrant Tales as a special community among a society in Finland is engaged in a shared unified sense of purpose of giving a voice to the voiceless and reaching-out to touch lives and make a difference, like now Dana as we mourn all together………for you’re also one among many, and as a part and a parcel of MTs blog, we are touched by your pain and sorrow and as you are grieving, you can`t be left alone but kept under the shelter of the MT`s tree which offer a shed of a kind of its own, for you are Dana! one of our own.

To Dana…………………………………………………………….From Migrant Tales!

is our message of sincere condolences, as we say in unisom Dana!

You are not alone but ours….. and one of own and together we mourn

For your grief is our grief…………………. and your sorrow is our sorrow

for your parents are also our parents and as a community we mourn

for you are our own

Anonymous

Courtesy of Migrant Tales