- By Zuzeeko Abeng
- In a country where a Member of Parliament for the Perussuomalaiset (PS) political party can openly use racist and derogatory language (video) against Muslims and people of African decent and is not forced to resign as representative of the people, it is easy to conclude that racism is deep-seated. However, any racially motivated shooting or killing must be unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms by all people of goodwill.
- The pizzeria shooting claimed the life of a 21-year-old man of Moroccan origin and left a 42-year-old Moroccan man wounded. The owner of the pizzeria – an Algerian – was not hit. According to a news report published in Metro Helsinki, a daily newspaper in Helsinki on Monday 20 February 2012, the shooting could have been motivated by racism. Other sources say police believe the shooter was not motivated by racism.
However, given the current toxic political climate and hateful rhetoric by some influential politicians, members of parliament and ordinary Finnish citizens targeting immigrants, racism cannot be easily ruled out as a motivation.
Following the Oulu pizzeria shooting, for instance, Tommi Rautio, a board member of PS – a right wing anti-immigration party – reportedly wrote on Facebook that the shooter should be given a medal because there is “a war going on and for every war decorations are handed out.” [Source]. This speaks volumes about what the PS is made of and sheds light on the sorry-state of affairs in Finnish-Immigrant relations.
A poll commissioned by Helsinki Sanomat revealed that Muslims in general are among the groups most affected by racism and intolerance in Finland. In 2011, President Tarja Halonen expressed concern about the rise of racism and xenophobia in Finland.
The Oulu pizzeria shooting is the third incident in less than one month that resulted in the tragic death of immigrants – two Somalians and one Moroccan.
Finland is going down the wrong road. All persons of good conscience in the Nordic country must condemn racism and racially motivated crimes in the strongest terms and distance themselves from people who use immigrants and other minority groups as targets or punching bags. Politicians who use their influence to preach hate or sway public opinion against minority groups must be held to account. More importantly, law enforcement must take hate crimes more seriously and perpetrators should bear the full weight of the law. No one should be killed or discriminated against because he or she looks different or professes a different faith in a society that prides itself as free and democratic.
- Read story on Zuzeeko’s blog.
Clearly, the Finn who shot himself was mentally unstable, by definition, if he committed suicide with his own gun. To call him a racist when the victims were Moroccans is to use the word “racist” incorrectly. Technically, at least in the USA, Moroccans would be classified “white” as would the Finn if all three were immigrants here. If a Moroccan male harassed a Finnish or Algerian female on the street, that could be considered hate crime of the sexist variety,but not of the racist variety.
The heavy discussion here should be: why is a mentally unstable person roaming the streets with a gun? Are the Finnish psychiatrists allowing disturbed people to be released as long as they take their meds, as happens in USA, hence endangering all people, even those of immigrant status but white category? If a man is considered “crazy”, as suicidal types are, then his shooting at young, old, white, black, male, female, rich or poor is all of the same piece: it doesn’t make sense in any case; to cast it into other political footballs is the game of the leftwing. Even if someone had antagonized him, it would not explain the shooting or his suicide. Shouting, yelling, fistfighting, etc.. that could be understandable, especially under the influence of alcohol, as is common in young men. But shooting others and one’s self? Now we’re talking NUTS, so don’t go putting “hate crime” into the game. If he had a shot a Finnish white woman, would that be a sexist crime? I think it would be more of NUTS.
We just had a rich Hungarian Jew by the name of Cukor, in the hills of Berkeley, killed by assault with a cement planter box, by an unstable black male (DeWitt) who’d broken into the man’s house. DeWitt, partially black through the father in any case, was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic put on meds and released five years ago to live on his own.
No one here started shouting at DeWitt that he was a hate crime racist for killing the 67-year-old Jewish(white) male. He was considered simply NUTS and has been locked up at last, condemned of murder. The psychiatrist is the one under investigation now. The parents are “upset” but are blaming “the state” for not taking care of their son-gone-nuts/racist.
Racism and Insanity are separate problems, Enrique. They may appear to intersect, but that is the job of the court to determine if “racism” or “sexism” or “ageism” can be proven as a motive. In the case of a nut who’s killed himself, how can we know what was in his head?
–Racism and Insanity are separate problems, Enrique.
Have I suggested that concerning what happened in Oulu? Please read the blog entry and my threads carefully. You are suggesting the term “hate crime.”
Some mistrust the police in Finland so much, that they do consider what happened a hate crime. The political climate in Finland for immigrants and people of diverse backgrounds is very bad. People are rightfully suspicious.
Come on now, even if Algerians are technically considered white, do you Finns seriously consider them white? In a place like Finland where even Caucasians with black hair are considered inferior,am I to believe that you guys embrace Algerians as one of your race? I have repeatedly heard Algerians and other Middle Eastern people here being referred to by the N word.
This crime in the Oulu pizzeria definitely had something to do with racism. The guy who did the shooting was not as mentally unstable as you claim. Had that been the case, then he would have just randomly shot at everyone in the pizzeria. What he did was a systematic execution: he shot only at the visible minorities in the pizzeria. I am sure that there were white Finnish customers in the pizzeria at that time, yet he refrained from shooting at them.
Stop making excuses for the racists. It is cowardly to do so.If you are a racist and one of your racist goons commits a racist act, then own up to it, instead of coming up with excuses!
Mary Mekko: Clearly, the Finn who shot himself was mentally unstable, by definition, if he committed suicide with his own gun. To call him a racist when the victims were Moroccans is to use the word “racist” incorrectly. Technically, at least in the USA, Moroccans would be classified “white” as would the Finn if all three were immigrants here. If a Moroccan male harassed a Finnish or Algerian female on the street, that could be considered hate crime of the sexist variety,but not of the racist variety.
The heavy discussion here should be: why is a mentally unstable person roaming the streets with a gun? Are the Finnish psychiatrists allowing disturbed people to be released as long as they take their meds, as happens in USA, hence endangering all people, even those of immigrant status but white category? If a man is considered “crazy”, as suicidal types are, then his shooting at young, old, white, black, male, female, rich or poor is all of the same piece: it doesn’t make sense in any case; to cast it into other political footballs is the game of the leftwing. Even if someone had antagonized him, it would not explain the shooting or his suicide. Shouting, yelling, fistfighting, etc.. that could be understandable, especially under the influence of alcohol, as is common in young men. But shooting others and one’s self? Now we’re talking NUTS, so don’t go putting “hate crime” into the game. If he had a shot a Finnish white woman, would that be a sexist crime? I think it would be more of NUTS.
It’s amazing that, a white finn like you lives in the usa, continues the same racist B.S wich some people do here in Finland. Btw maroccans are colored people, just like chinese or indians, not caucasians. I hope you know that, America belongs to Native indians.
Foreigner: Come on now, even if Algerians are technically considered white, do you Finns seriously consider them white? In a place like Finland where even Caucasians with black hair are considered inferior,am I to believe that you guys embrace Algerians as one of your race? I have repeatedly heard Algerians and other Middle Eastern people here being referred to by the N word.
Ive seen and heard plenty of time, even Indians called the N word, Funny that, mary mekko comes here with bs like, maroccans are white.
Mary
So there’s no racism involved in calling someone a stuck Irish pig?
No racism then, if you get turned down for promotion because you are Irish.
No racism in the Shoah, either.
And definitely no racism in your silly semantic games.
Just to reference that last comment
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UVMwP-Kdc8&w=594&h=365]
Marimekko.
Your thread is disgusting. You even try to excuse a Finn after his killing a foreigner. In a country with one of the highest “possession-of-guns” rate in the world, you already pave the way for many “mentally unstable persons” (sic: Finns) to go on a killing spree.
Actually I should bring your thread to the policy as a threat to public safety.
Are you out of your mind!!
Get a gun, Sally!!
How is it possible that muslims face racism, when Finland have sources stating that foreigners are convicted of hate speech/discrimination in ratio 1:10 more than Finns. It could be interesting to know also how many claims/pressed charges have been made by muslims.
This is really absurd. I think they need to show some evidence or this discussion can and should be forgotten.
”Shooting of Immigrants in Oulu pizzeria must be condemned ”
Why the hell should a normal citizen stick their nose in this business? And especially without knowing the facts behind. This is just absurd as the previous one.
Is Zuzeeko’s blog trying to say that we should judge things we have no idea about? To get involved and potentially cause more victims, is it what Zuzeeko wants?
Finland isn’t free or democratic. Our representative democrative system makes it sure it don’t matter how you vote, the policies stay the same.
I’m struggling with what you’re saying here. I mean please, feel free to codemn and challenge the United Brotherhood for their racism. Make a blog about how their member made a racist attack. Make a dozen. Demand them to condemn racism. Challenge them openly.
Condemning racism. What do you think it’ll do? Can I get an example? Even one example, where racism have stops existing by condemning it? Challenging it?
Making it socially unacceptable only makes it hidden. It only affects those who care in the first place.
Now this dude that shot them, and people like him, do you think they really care if you condemn them?
Problem is, they exist in the first place. It’s not racism that makes you kill a man. You’re a killer first and racist the second. You’re already fucked up before you did any of that shit. And every moment there’s a child born that’ll grow up with certain influences, outside of the society, condemned his whole life. Challenged his hole life. He’s growing up to a society where the old people are more important than him. He’s growing up to a society where immigrants are more important than him. Nobody gives a shit about him. He’s not minority. He’s just a statistic. Lost cause. The devil that needs to be condemned and challenged.
Now, I’ve known this kind of people all my life. Have you? Do you know them? Do you really think anything you suggest here for a cure will work? Do you think they care if you condemn them?
It’s not like you don’t get it. You’re talking about how immigrants need to be integrated to society. What about the non-immigrants? I mean, if you really want to cure racism, it’s them you need to convince, not other immigrants. It’s them you need to stop from falling out from the edges of the society.
You can circle jerk all you want here, but it does not change a thing. You’re just boggling here with your eyes round and self righteous saliva dripping from you mouths. Have you ever wondered why are you so outraged? Why are you so surprised and struck? Could it be you’re not dealing with the reality of this thing? Could it be that you’re so in love with your struggle, that you need the victims and the wrong doers? You need more of them to make your condolences. To have your cases. To feel your anger? Am I right? You just love it when an immigrant gets banged up? Like some of those hommaforum chaps love it when a girl gets raped by an immigrant or one lies about it: “It’s very sad, and disgusting, but what’s important is the proof that IM RIGHT! I LOVE BEING RIGHT!”.
Well, if you want it to go on and continue, just keep doing what you’re doing. Worked so far. You get your pats on the shoulder, and people continue to get killed, raped, beat and so.
Method
Was it a coincidence that Martin Luther King, Jr only met his untimely death after his campaigning work had broadened from opposing racial discrimination to addressing the broader issue of poverty?
Janne: ”Shooting of Immigrants in Oulu pizzeria must be condemned ”
Why the hell should a normal citizen stick their nose in this business? And especially without knowing the facts behind. This is just absurd as the previous one.
Is Zuzeeko’s blog trying to say that we should judge things we have no idea about? To get involved and potentially cause more victims, is it what Zuzeeko wants?
Janne, you don’t need to get involved or stick your noses in to something, by judging, all you have to do is to condemn. How? by not accepting racism against foreigners in your circle. So when you hear someone being racism or making threats against foreigners or colored finns, you should condemn it and establish it to be wrong. There you go, easy huh?
Method, just cause there is a problems, doesnt mean you can’t do nothing about it. Racism is a social il, it’s wrong, maybe it doesnt stop at one person, but it sure needs to be tackled and spoken against. You can make a difference, by starting in your circle, condemning racism, making it look bad to others. We cannot get passive on racism, or else there will be more killings of minorities, that’s unacceptable.
Method: Problem is, they exist in the first place. It’s not racism that makes you kill a man. You’re a killer first and racist the second. You’re already fucked up before you did any of that shit. And every moment there’s a child born that’ll grow up with certain influences, outside of the society, condemned his whole life. Challenged his hole life. He’s growing up to a society where the old people are more important than him. He’s growing up to a society where immigrants are more important than him. Nobody gives a shit about him. He’s not minority. He’s just a statistic. Lost cause. The devil that needs to be condemned and challenged.
Now, I’ve known this kind of people all my life. Have you? Do you know them? Do you really think anything you suggest here for a cure will work? Do you think they care if you condemn them?
I think, your kind of people are the ones who’re spoiling children: You’re using an example of a innocent child, but don’t you realise, that kid can be influenced by his parents, so if his parents are dumb, racist alcoholics, he will become as one who. You claim that, the kid thinks, immigrants are better tha him? no i thik that’s your thinking and your injecting that thought to your kids, so they can have a hateret for immigrants. Why would any kid think of immigrants are better than him, unless, his dumb parents arent helping him with his selfesteem. I dont want even to coment on, your last stament about, kid thinking elderly people being better than him. I think we all need to have a respect for elderly people, not to see them as a competition.
Janne. Get yourself some spectacles of reality.
Do you have facts and evidence?? Police Inspector??
What are your sources of hate-speech crimes of foreigners?? Finnish ones you say. Which ones??
They NEED to show SOME evidence?? How my dear Janne if the police isn’t taken their claims serious!! And…..don’t come up with your “Police listen to everybody” story. First it isnot true. Second, listening doesnot make registering a complaint. Thirdly, what happens as nothing is done?? Back to the floor again, Janne??
Reading into texts isnot your strongest competence as it seems. Better to improve that and than challenges threads. OK Janne??
It seems to me that you don’t give a damn about people getting killed.
What a mentality!! No niin.
D4D
if racism was so easy to tackle as you make it sound then why does racism have a long history, contionous efforts to fight it etc? Actually I think racism has gone worse since it entered the millenium. Isn’t the human being supposed to be more enlightened now than 20 years ago?
UN job for you?
D4R
Actually since you deliver clinical diagnoosis openly in this forum (another page) you may stipulate what racism is. Race, something to do with the human being and to differentiate one from another you need clinical evidence. What could that be, possibly dna, blood sample…
eyeopener
Is it the fact that they are rather big criminals that they get more opportunities to complain about the police
eyeopener
Criminality increases little by little every year but the police shrink in number. These kind of events may happen in the future.
of course I care about that people get killed. This fact however doesn’t make me obligded to stick my nose where some individuals propagate us to do.
In fact, we don’t know yet what happened. Let the police do their job or go yourself and do it for them.
Piia, I tried to send you an email but it boomeranged back. [email protected]
Enrique
[email protected]
eyeopener
You have not travlled alot it looks like. You do not have to go far from here with a Finnish passport and you are likely to get bad treatment. That’s life, if you want to complain you are likely to do that for the rest of your life. Though, you can choose differently