Tag: xenophobia

Sensible Finns voice objection to racism and exclusion

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

To commemorate the UN Week for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that started on Monday, we will try to answer a question: Why is racism harmful to a society? How can it threaten Finland?

That timely question can be answered by asking why some people in Finland still believe that racism is sexy and patriotic?

Apart from swimming in ignorance and low-self-esteem, there is nothing patriotic about racism.  Patriotism means having a sense of community that is inclusive. Nationalism, on the other hand, uses ethnocentric arguments to raise low self-esteem.

This ad below sums up pretty well why racism is a threat to society:

Racism is a four-letter word:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppi5XtOYz9I&NR=1]

Celebrating diversity clip:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GY_jpfQzZs&feature=player_embedded]

A very important message to future generations:

Even though racism is difficult to spot it does not mean that it is invisible. True, it uses ingenious methods while hiding in the gutter of society as an ogre. One of its favorite alibis is that “it isn’t a racist but…”

Probably one of the reasons why some of us cannot see racism in our society is because it sits right under our noses.

How can racism threaten Finland? Why not look behind your shoulder deep into recent history: European colonialism, Nazi Germany, Former Yugoslavia, the Roma question in Europe, Rwanda, Israeli-Palestinian conflict… Should I go on? In other words, the more we discriminate against others we attack our society’s values in Finland. How can we speak of equality if we are in favor of excluding other members of society?

HS: Perussuomalaisten ehdokkaina useita Suomen sisun jäseniä

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Fascism through the back door? That’s what it looks like, according to an article by Helsingin Sanomat, which shows that a number of prominent True Finns candidates belong to Suomen Sisu, an associaton that follows the ideology of the Mussolini-inspired IKL of the 1930s, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duken and the Nazi racial ideology of Alfred Rosenberg.

Rosenberg, who was tried and hung after being sentenced for crimes against humanity in Nuremburg, is the antithesis of multiculturalism. An architect, he became a pseudo philosopher on race. His argument in “The myth of the 20th century” was that for the Aryans to reach greatness they had to expel all the Jews from Germany.

Rosenberg was also involved in much of the “ethnic cleansing” programs in Nazi-occupied Russia.

You can find Duken’s writings in the neo-Nazi Kansallinen Vastarinta webiste.

One of the aims of Suomen Sisu is to “save” Finland from multiculturalism and stop different cultures from “mixing.”

As the April 17 election nears, more newspapers are starting to take a more critical view of the True Finns and especially its far-right wing led by Jussi Halla-aho and his followers.

The True Finns have been strangely quiet in the past weeks. Be ready for more revelations about some True Finns’ candidates.

What the cat will bring in won’t look pretty at all.

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Miska Rantanen

Perussuomalaisten eduskuntavaaliehdokkaina on useita kansallismielisen Suomen sisu -yhdistyksen jäseniä. Heitä ovat muun muassa Olli Immonen Oulusta, James Hirvisaari Asikkalasta, Teemu Lahtinen Espoosta, Johannes Nieminen Vantaalta ja Jussi Halla-aho Helsingistä.

To keep on reading click here.

The Helsingin Sanomat story is based on some good reporting by Tampere-based Aamulehti.

The True Finns and their “True Finland”

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

With about a month to go for the April 17 election, the biggest question still refues to reveal itself: by how many times will the True Finns multiply their MPs from eight now? Some reliable estimates place the number between 15 and 35.

For me as a Finn with a multicultural background, there is a lot riding in these elections if we consider that Finland’s demographic challenges will begin to accentuate especially in the next two decades. We are heading to become a society where the number of over-sixty-five-year-olds in the population will jump to 27% by 2040 from 17% in 2007, according to Statistics Finland.

If you want to see today what Finland will look like demographically in the next three decades, one has only to visit some rural towns where over 30% of the population is over 65 years.

There is nothing wrong with pensioners. The problem, however, is who is going to pay for all the expensive health care and social welfare costs to service this ever-growing age group?

Should we be worried that the True Finns are heading for a victory in the April election?

Yes because instead of Finland looking for effective answers to its demographic as well as a number of other challenges facing our country and society, a large number of Finns have chosen instead to be spooked by the rhetoric and populism of the True Finns.

We have only ourselves to blame for the rise of the True Finns in the polls. We have never really addressed racism and discrimination forcefully enough in this country since we have had so few immigrants among our ranks in the past. Instead of questioning our hatred for the Russians, some of us still feel the same way about our eastern neighbor as on the same day they unjustly  attacked us in the 1939-40 Winter War.

Instead of trying to rid our society of ills like racism, some politicians have used it for their own opportunistic political aims by instilling fear and claiming that our country will be overrun by Russians and foreigners.

On the positive side of things, it is good matter that many Finns who should know better than to peddle nineteenth-century racial “theories” are now in the public light. I personally believe that they have given us a good opportunity to challenge for good their distorted ideas that date back to the 1930s and to the writings of Rolf Nordenstreng and Eugen Fischer.

I refuse to believe that Finland, the country that is our dear home and which sacrificed so much to build a world-class educational system and society, will throw it all away for a few cheap populist soundbites from groups like the True Finns and politicians like Social Democrat Kari Rajamäki and Wille Rydman of Kokoomus.

The “True Finland” that the True Finns want to build is nothing more than a “False Finland” glued by populism and low self-esteem. We must all stand up against them, especially on April 17.

BBC: Danish immigration minister Hornbech fired over scandal

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting story from Denmark reporting that Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech had been fired from her job for not only illegally refusing citizenship to a group of Palestinians born there, but not informing parliament immediately of such a mistake, reports the BBC.

Writes Yahoo News: “Hornbech’s refugees, immigration and integration portfolio was handed over to Development Cooperation Minister Soeren Pind, who is considered a hardliner on the immigration issue.  In one of his first statements after his nomination, Pind described the UN convention that sent his predecessor packing as ‘stupid.'”

Some Finnish politicians from the True Finns are hoping that they will hold the same power as the populist and xenophobic Danish People’s Party (DPP) led by Pia Kjaersgaard. Denmark’s Liberal-Conservative coalition government has relied on the support of the DPP to stay in power in exchange for tightened immigration and citizenship laws.

Even though the majority of Danes do not back the DPP, Denmark is a sad case how Islamophobia can grip a small nation. Denmark is the biggest loser of such a mistaken policy because it creates an inclusive and unequal society.

Do you agree?

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Denmark’s Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech has been sacked after 36 stateless Palestinians were wrongly refused citizenship.

To continue reading click here.

YLE: Ruotsalaisministeri huolissaan Suomen kielikeskustelusta

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Here is an interesting story where Sweden’s Integration Minister Erik Ullenhage expresses concern over the tone of the ongoing debate concerning the rights of minorities such as the Swedish-speaking Finns in this country.

Without naming any parties, Ullenhage states that those countries that don’t respect minorities are losers because foreign trade is growing between nations.

Those who naively believe that one can bash one group of people and be for immigration at the same haven’t told us how this balancing act works and how you make sure that this hatred does not rub off  on other minorities. There sure is a lot of political opportunism and ignorance with a capital “I” out there that characterizes a number of Finnish politicians.

Do you agree?

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Ruotsin hallituksessa tunnetaan huolta suomenruotsalaisten asemaa koskevasta keskustelusta Suomessa. Muun muassa vähemmistökysymyksistä vastaava integraatioministeri Erik Ullenhage on huolissaan Suomen keskustelun sävystä, joka on tuttu muualtakin Euroopasta.

To keep on reading click here.

Aamulehti: Rajoja sulkemalla ei rauhaa rakenneta

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Below is one of the best editorials I have read in a long time from Tampere-based Aamulehti. It makes reference to Milla Hannula’s book, Maassa maan tavalla, and how she attempts to give legitimacy to anti-immigration groups in Finland.  It is a good matter that dailies like Aamulehti can reveal this group for what it is: a minority attempting to rob our sacred historical icons to justify their xenophobia.

I have written before that Finns are wise and understand that the future of this country does not lie in spreading hatred and populism.

Do you agree?

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Matti Mörttinen

Maahanmuuttokriitikot ovat kaikesta päätellen vyöryneet viimeisen vuoden aikana ainakin jonkin hyväksyttävyyskynnyksen yli. Heidän taistelunsa ”poliittista korrektiutta” vastaan on ehkä seuraavaksi johtamassa siihen, että maahanmuuttokriitikoiden arvostelemisesta tulee poliittisesti epäkorrektia.

To keep on reading click here.

Finnish voters deserve better

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

The opportunity to make political capital out of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seeker has proven irresistible to some politicians ranging from the True Finns to Social Democrats. Certainly on this list you will find politicians from all of Finland’s major and minor parties.

It’s pretty clear that the election in April will be dominated by immigration and refugees. The answer is simple: immigrants and refugees are easy targets and they awaken voters’ passions even if 2.9% of the population in Finland are foreigners.

A recent review of Milla Hannula’s book, Maassa maan tavalla, by Helsingin Sanomat blasts her arguments to pieces and with it the central argument of the so-called “immigration critics.” The daily states, correctly, that being an “immigration critic” is only a word hiding anti-immigration sentiment attempting to make xenophobia acceptable.

We at Migrant Tales had spotted the red herring of the “immigration critics” a long time ago.

It is sad but never in the history of Finland have so many politicians jumped on the “immigration critic” bandwagon and appealed to the worst in Finns: blatant racism and hatred of people in need.

When the True Finns’ bubble bursts there will be a lot of angry voters because they will have noted that they have been taken for a ride.

It will be the day when these so-called “immigration critics” will lose face among the voters for good.

Pekka Siikala: Three types of immigration critics in Finland

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Enrique Tessieri

Pekka Siikala is a blogger of the Green Party who writes stinging commentary about anti-immigration groups in Finland.  In his latest blog on Uusi Suomi, Three type of immigration critics (Kolmen sortin maahanmuuttokriitikoita), is no exception.

(I personally don’t use the term “immigration critic” because it is a red herring that hides the true nature of the beast: anti-immigration and Islamophobia in the most extreme cases. Click here to get a better explanation in Finnish.)

The most visible of the three groups cited by Siikala are the ones that see religion as the key issue. This groups, led by Jussi Halla-aho and James Hirvisaari, hate Islam and in practice Somalis. He considers this group to be the most dangerous to Finland because it is made up of religious fanatics.

The second group comprises of those that simply fear foreigners. Their main argument hinges on skin color and dress. Like the first group, this one is also highly suspicious of Muslims and Somalis. Their favorite motto is “conform to our country or leave.”

The third group is worried about the chances of immigrants adapting to Finland. They are critical about immigrants moving to our country because they believe that we  do not have the resources to integrate them in our society. This group is less visible and the smallest of the three mentioned by Siikala.

In my opinion, there are two big groups concerning those that take part in the immigration debate: those who see immigration as beneficial/positive and those that see it as a threat/negative.  The arguments that ensue from these two views are only “background information” supporting the former or latter group’s stance directly or indirectly.

Do you agree?

BBC: Do Denmark’s immigration laws breach human rights?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Denmark has tightened its immigration and integration laws an umpteenth time, according to the BBC.  The Danish case is a cause for concern since it may involve a breach in human rights and EU laws.  The political power balance is held by the far-right Danish People’s Party, who have voted for legislation in return that the government tightens immigration laws.

The question to ask about Denmark is what is the end-game? Will immigrants embrace Danish society when the country’s laws are hostile to this group of people? Does it promote inclusion?  Does it create the groundwork for a new healthy generation of Danes of  different ethnic backgrounds?

If you asked DPP’s Pia Kjaersgaard she’d probably tell you to go fly a kite.

Two important matters are at play with respect to the rise of far-right parties in Europe: the so-called war on terror waged by former President George W. Bush after 9/11 and the financial meltdown of September 2008.

Some see strong anti-immigration sentiment in Denmark as a blow to the country’s image. Can we speak of Denmark being a liberal, enlightened Nordic welfare state?  Probably the correct description would be reactive, far-right and populist at least when it comes to immigration.

Do you agree?

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By Chris Bowlby, BBC Radio 4

Critics of Denmark’s tightening rules on immigration and integration say the country is violating European norms, including human rights legislation. How much has Denmark’s approach to these issues been transformed under pressure from a right-wing populist party?

To keep on reading click here.

 

Savon Sanomat: Rasismin tutkija: Maahanmuutto on Halla-ahon ainoa vaaliteema

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Comment: Researcher Vesa Puronen says in the Kuopio-based daily Savon Sanomat article below that immigration will be a big campaign issue in the April elections.

The attention and the appeal that Jussi Halla-aho’s followers and their Islamophobic statements have got in the media reveal a worrying trend.  Even if their hostile and offensive remarks may be hailed by some, sensible Finns, immigrants and refugees should be outraged by them because they are based on hearsay.

Even though the True Finns may have a good election result in April, it does not mean that their xenophobic rhetoric will be endorsed by Finns.

Do you agree?

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Pasi Ahtiainen

Tutkija Vesa Puuronen uskoo maahanmuuttopolitiikan nousevan teemaksi kevään eduskuntavaaleissa.

– (Jussi) Halla-aholla ja kumppaneilla ei mitään muuta vaaliteemaa ole, joten maahanmuuttopolitiikkaa nousee varmasti esille.  Click here to continue reading the article.