Finland needs every now and then a wake-up call from the outside world. Columnist Eric Erfors of the Swedish tabloid Expressen, asks how is it possible that a person like Perussuomalaiset (PS) MP Jussi Halla-aho, which he calls a ”pure racist,” was eligible to become a deputy member of Finland’s delegation to the Council of Europe?
Erfors considered Halla-aho’s appointment to the Council of Europe as asking a pyromaniac to extinguish a fire.
Read full story (in Swedish) here.
Erfors states that it would be highly unlikely that Halla-aho would be accepted in the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. ”No [he wouldn’t be accepted] because it would be in conflict with its new image, which the party is trying to create” he writes.
Another Finnish politician that didn’t receive high marks on his column was Christian Democrat Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen, whose lowly views of gays, immigrants who aren’t Christians and minorities like the Roma are well-known.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone why Räsänen’s approval rating among the PS is so high.
The interesting question that Erfors poses to us in Finland is how did we arrive to such a point where a “pure racist” like Halla-aho was elected to parliament and ultra-conservative Räsänen appointed interior minister? What does it reveal about the present state of this country?
For one, it shows that the views of these two politicians have a home in Finland and go down well with many voters. But we’d have to look at Finland’s history to understand why we vote a “pure racist” to parliament and approve an ultra-conservative in government.
During most of our independence, Finland viewed the outside world with mistrust and did everything possible to discourage immigrants and foreign investment from coming to this country. Imagine the myths and “us”-versus-“them” mentality you have to drive home to reinforce your suspicions of foreigners from one generation to the next.
Halla-aho’s and Räsänen’s “appeal” is today a liability to Finland because it, if anything, is impoverishing this country politically, socially and what’s important, economically.
Instead of finding proactive solutions to our problems as is common in a Nordic welfare democracy, we are regressing in our worst prejudices with the weapon of scapegoating.
Finland needs leadership to challenge these threats that have already impacted our society in a negative manner.
I’m certain that leadership will come when our cultural diversity is strong enough and can stand on its feet.
I’m certain that leadership will come when our cultural diversity is strong enough and can stand on its feet.
…………
No it wont come, never ever because our cultural diversity is not strong and its not in union and wont be and cant stand on its feet.
Finland will crash, step by step
Because it built a step by step wall,a wall with hate
Dont forget my words
Me number 1 … Why am i banned on MT?
Me number 2 … I heard your posts are dangerous
Me number 1 … so where my posts gone?
Me number 2 … They gone to laundry
1 … Do u mean my posts are dirty?
2 … yes because they called you racist
1 … Why they called me so?
2 … They are free, they do as they like
1 … No i mean whats their reason?
2 … They don’t treat you with reasons
1 … Do you thinks this punishment is my right?
2 … They say it is
1 … why punishment?
2 … because punishment makes human feel yourself down
1 … oh i see
2 … oh lets be free
1 … I heard am not banned
2 … Your banned but a new brand banned
1 … so shall i leave here?
2 … you can make dreams true
How is Brave today?
Hiiiish,dont ask a secret
I wont answer important question in public
Whats ur idea about freedom?
Freedom DEAD and left me in a black circle of prejudice
Yes i know freedom left u without a goodbye.
Oh even,i never got a hi from freedom
You will get more label on MT if you don’t leave here.
I know,i will resign soon
What you wish for MT?
I wish it best and peace,take care MT
Peace will back here WHEN you leave here
Unfortunately its a fact,i am an excellent fighter
Why you changed situation and space on MT?
I did not my words done
What kind of words do u have?
Ask MT,many were watching me on MT,and many who never sign in MT
Why your words make people sad,and angry?
Because my words are coming from my pains
But why ur words make them to attack you?
My words are alive, thats why
I think ur words are strong and make them jealous at u?
Indeed my talent makes them very nerves
Do not stay here any more, don’t make storm on MT
Okaaaaay,am ready for flight
MT is for Finns plus foreigners.
I know, am an alien,i should leave
Leave here with no fight,peace is best
True, am agree, truth is best too
MT was a good place for all and you
And MT is and will be a good place for all
Just wish every body on MT good luck
Good luck,good luck to u MT and all
*
HUUUUUUUUM
*
Finns?
Oh dont call this word its forbidden word
I mean whats your message for some Finns ?
Please enjoy ur time on MT, Sharp/eyed bird gone
And foreigners?
Be happy,am not here any more, and
Wish you a peaceful union with Finns
Sigh,lets go now
Sight,lets go for ever
Any message for your enemies?
Enjoy ur party
You been a history on MT
NO i just been a drop of tear
But an angry drop
No,an extremely angry drop
Your anger spread hate speech on MT
Oh yes,i made sad all angels,cute angels
Angels?
Yes they are holy holy
How angels hate you?
Well angels have right all rights
What about you?
There is no right for me,am not angel
What are you?
A canary with loud voice
What is freedom of speech?
Never heard about
What does your mean with this comment?
Nothing except am leaving and take care all
Brave
If you get into this “Finns this…”, and “Finns that…” and it’s all negative and you stop for a second and realise that the biggest lie told about this website is that it’s ‘anti-Finnish’, then you should realise that you are just playing into their hands. A line has to be drawn somewhere.
It’s just really sad that you didn’t figure this out for yourself and that I had to step in. Now I’m taking the brunt of your sarcasm. It’s not like you have exactly left the topic alone, is it? I advised you stop using the word Finn and racism so that you could talk about everything else with more power…but no, you want to be the victim here!
So now if I disagree with you, I hate you? Should I be offended at that? It’s very tempting!
No, you were not spreading hate speech, what you did was not intentional, in my view – you started talking in broad and very negative generalisations about Finns and Finland. You might not have intended that to express ‘hate’, but you were very close to what is known as ‘hate speech’. But perhaps ‘hate’ is misleading when it comes to hate speech for the very reason that people think that if they don’t ‘hate’, then it cannot be hate speech, which is actually very wrong. The issue is whether you are defaming a group – and the test of that is very simple – if an accusation being made collectively towards a group is also blaming INNOCENT members of that group, it is defamation, and it is wrong. If the issues relate to individuals within a group, and you have no other way of identifying them, then you simply have to say ‘some…’, and that is that. It’s just a very simple discipline that you have to practice.
If you cannot be bothered to understand why you were actually put into moderation for a week, or you are just too stubborn to understand why this is important, then you and I will not remain friends, Brave. And I don’t need your sarcasm about this issue….it’s just too important to me to made a clear line for ALL OF US.
YOU are alive, not your words. Your words must stand or fall on the basis of how people interpret them, and if you are not careful with your words, then your words can be damaging to immigrants in Finland. Is that what you want? If not, then all you have to do is understand you have to be careful with your words. I am not asking you to ‘hide’ anything. If you are only here on this forum to ‘hate Finland’, then yes, you don’t fit here. If you are here to explain and express your difficulties in Finland and living with Finns, then you are very welcome to share that message.
Your comments are in a moderation queue, meaning that your comments are checked before they are published to make sure you do not repeat the original comments that got you into trouble in the first place. This is not banned, and is not remotely the same. Banned is NO COMMENTS allowed. You have made 27 comments since you were put into moderation, all of which were published except one.
There is nothing ‘new’ about this kind of ‘banned’, as you put it, as it has been used many times before on MT when people start to publish comments that are inflammatory.
Last message for u Joonas
congrats u won, ur Conspiracy did work against me.
U were my biggest enemy on MT
But this was mod who made decision against me not u, ur wise eyes helps him, I wish you both a peaceful time and discussions on MT.
I got all kind of ugly label on MT
from you and others
Joonas ur racist, a yellow snake
oh dear….well, let’s see how you feel in a couple of years time. Take care, Dana.
It surely has been interesting to, eh, debate with you over the past few months. But unlikely you, I do not think discussing with you was about winning or losing – and I certainly do not feel like I won something. I was hoping there could have been a common ground for us and you could be reasonable in some things – but during the past week I had realization it is not possible with you.
Maybe some day you will grow up and we can discuss peacefully (even we might disagree on the subject), but I honestly don’t think this day will come. I’m certain you will return to MT, but if not; I wish all the best to you and hopefully you will find the peace within yourself.
then you and I will not remain friends,???
……………………
I got ur perfect message, thank u very much,again was very loud
Wish u wise friends, who are fit in MT
U insulting me so much with ur last comments in this last days, u insulting me in public, thank u so much
Ur anger was loud, i could hear it if it was not very loud too
However as i told i am leaving, this is my last comment
I dont care
I wont answer any more
TO
NO/ONE
so
every one is free to put me down
Good luck
Brave
No you didn’t. And that’s the problem. I needed you to stop and think about this matter, to tread carefully, but rather, you got all sarcastic and carried on making comment after comment about it and how I was ‘wrong’. Now you say you are leaving, that you have been banned, hounded out of MT by the hateful angels. It is not true that you have been banned. Does truth count for nothing?
Friends listen to each other Brave. So far, you have not listened to what I have tried to tell or to understand the reason why I chose to draw a line on your approach. Instead, you keep blaming Joonas, even when I have told you that that really is a very disappointing response from you that insults my intelligence!!!! You really think I can be manipulated by Joonas? And what about the fact that I have told you again and again that it was the weight of your own words that drew my response? That counts for nothing because you think I’m so weak of mind that I can be blinded by a ‘wow’ from one of our commentators? That’s quite sad that you would think that.
Why do you keep hurting me this way? Friends don’t do that. Friends understand when someone draws a line and says, beyond this line is damaging our friendship. Except that I am very clear that beyond this line, you are damaging the reputation of Migrant Tales. And yet still you haven’t listened to me, as a friend would! So I ask you, are you really being my friend right now?
I have backed you up through thick and thin in the debates about your case. I did it because I believe you have the right to tell your story and I really do believe also that there are very important lessons to be learned from it. Are you now backing me up, when I need you to?
And you continuing to complain about this instead of taking some time to think about it? You blaming Joonas for something that I made very clear was to do with what you wrote? Is that insulting me?
I have not insulted you in any way. Please explain how I insulted you? You have forced me to explain, over and over, the very simple reality of this situation from my point of view as an editor here on MT, and you have not respected that opinion. All you had to do was take some distance, accept that you were not careful, instead of assuming that because you didn’t intend any harm, there couldn’t possibly BE any harm in your words. If that is what you believe, then you are too naive to be putting yourself in the middle of these debates in the way you are. You should tell your story and leave the ‘politics’ to those who understand it. Because otherwise, your attacks on ‘Finland’ and ‘Finns’ starts to completely undermine the message of tolerance that is the very foundation of a website like this. The call for tolerance from this website falls on all of us, not just Finns.
Now you are just fooling yourself. Of course you care, or it wouldn’t hurt and you wouldn’t feel insulted. But there is a healthy way to care and a not so healthy way to care. I wish you light on your path Dana!
You know Dana, I’m really not surprised you are angry with me. Why don’t you take some time off from this conversation and if you want to come back later, I will welcome you with open arms again. I’m sorry if this has hurt you, but I would not be a real friend to you if I did not say something about what you were doing with your words.
I won’t hold a grudge. Be well, my friend.
Who would have thought that MT would end up descending into a dysfunctional soap opera 🙂
Sticking up for principles of tolerance is dysfunctional?
I would have thought by now you would have realised that you can’t reason with the unreasonable.
You didn’t answer the question, Klay. What is dysfunctional about standing up for Finns when an immigrant goes too far in expressing their misery at their life in Finland and starts generalizing?
Klay
Your last comment was deleted by a moderator for being hate speech. How ironic given the previous comment. Consider this a warning. And consider rephrasing your comment in a way that doesn’t break the law!
‘By a moderator’ meaning you. At least have the guts to say it. All I said was merely under those conditions Finland would be different. I didn’t even say whether for the worse or the better.
I don’t mind, censor me all you want, it seems since you took over this duty on MT this blog only allows people to comment who agree with you. Stating something would be ‘different’ is not even allowed. Keep going with your power trip.
And your idea of guts is to take cheap shots at a woman deep in grief after losing both parents while separated by politics and her refugee status, which denied her the right to a proper family life? Wow, you certainly have a skill for the ironic today!
Complain all you like, you don’t have post here. This site now applies standards, and it’s been like this for over a year. Your comment was hate speech. The fact you didn’t realise it is your ignorance, not mine.
Klay
What rubbish. Ninety percent of what commentators write in the comments is disagreeing with this site or those who defend it. But hey, don’t let even the most blatant facts get in the way of your delusions.
If by ‘cheap shots’ you mean the truth then yes. Grief doesn’t allow or give an excuse to oneself to act irrational and accuse a whole country and it’s people. A country that the person volunteered to enter and live not forced or kidnapped.
No excuse, but understandable. So now you don’t think it’s wrong for MT to apply standards also to its own guest authors? And trying to suggest that Dana is in some kind of position of freedom and power in this situation is just yet more pathetic self-delusion aimed at justifying your generally heartless attitude to her predicament. You haven’t half the character of that woman for all that you think you have some kind of “rational” and “moral” high ground.
So saying something would be ‘different’ and not expanding on that is hate speech?
I’m not repeating the full context of what you wrote as that defeats the object of denying you the opportunity to generate that kind of hate speech. But just consider the principle of defaming a group of people on the basis of loose religious affiliation in a way that generates a negative public response. Your comment was certainly defamatory.
-“So now you don’t think it’s wrong for MT to apply standards also to its own guest authors?”
This where you and I differ. I don’t believe in any kind of censorship whether I agree with it or not. I believe in debate and argument, in other words freedom of speech. It’s down to the people reading it to decide what course of opinion to take.
But having a one way street where you can only generalise a group in positive terms but not negative terms is plain simple bias prejudice.
–But having a one way street where you can only generalise a group in positive terms but not negative terms is plain simple bias prejudice.
Our position on MT is to be a voice of those who don’t have one in this society. Generalizing about certain groups is exactly the fuel that permits intolerance to grow. In all groups there are different types of people. However, there’s one difference about our position and that of different anti-immigration groups: We believe in the constitution and laws. The problem is applying them to everyone concerning equal opportunities and other laws that foster mutual acceptance and respect. Cultural diversity is one of these cherished values in my opinion.
Klay
Hate speech laws are not censorship in any sense of the word as you would normally understand it – they have nothing to do with obscenity or indecency, even though these censorship norms operate throughout society, including the US. Hate speech is an extension of the defamation laws and safeguards against intimidation and personal threat.
And someone who cannot debate these issues without breaking hate speech laws is not someone that has anything worth offering to the debate, simple!
In the public sphere, speech constitutes ‘acts’, and they cannot be ‘undone’ by other acts, in the way that ideas can be argued with other ideas, as envisioned in a marketplace of ideas, as denizens of ‘free speech’ often claim. If the acts are harmful to innocent individuals or their standing in society, then they should be outlawed, and indeed they are. While the law does allow one to offend another, the law does not allow people to defame or to intimidate others, even while these are also offensive, and hate speech laws extend this protection into the realm of speech acts.
And freedom of speech never meant people could say what they want. Never. Again, only an ignorant git would even begin to think that was true.
Hate speech laws are not meant to stop the debate – but understand, one element of the debate is over: the decision was made a long time ago that all citizens have an equal position in society, all citizens have protection against discrimination on the basis of religion, sexuality and ethnicity. The law must be seen to stand by that foundational commitment. Allowing people like you to give the impression that some groups do not enjoy equal status in society undermines that fundamental equality.
You can express negative things about a group. What you cannot do is undermine their equal position in society. You have to separate the issues of the group you find negative from that group’s collective identity. Your comment contained no specifics whatsoever in terms of identifying negative aspects – and likewise, you ascribed that generalised negativity to the whole group, not to members of that group. You want to debate these things, you can, but you have to show discipline and respect for the dignity of the whole group. It’s not difficult, Klay, unless you are blinded by hatred, in which case I can imagine it’s very difficult.
It’s not a one-way street, either, is it? The law protects all groups, as do the standards on this site!
I think victims of (internet) bullying might disagree with you. There has been several cases where kids have been spreading vicious lies of a victim, abused him/her and calling it “freedom of speech” – after all, it is just their opinion about the person. You agree with these bullies? There is difference expressing your opinion freely and then slandering (group of) people.
I do agree we should be able to discuss difficult topics, but we should remember when we are talking about group of people, they are individual as well. If you bash group of people you will also bash the innocent people in that group.
Klay_immigrant or klay who hates itself
My questions for you Klay,if u could control ur fear then u could answer….
Finally have u told who are u on MT?
Ur an animal? yes or no? explain why yes and explain why no if no is ur respond.
Are u sure ur not animal?
U praise others for a bone?
R u still homeless and wanderer in Finland?
Or u wish to come in Finland and they don’t let u?
Can u feed ur family or social welfare service feeds u?
What time ur wife will work? Does she knows how to speak Finnish language?
What time she will learn?
Endless time?
How your wife treats u at home? Does she is ur boss?
could u change ur children color to a pure white color?
Why u hate yourself?
Why u hate ur parents and root?
why u hate ur country and nation?
Why u hate ur race?
Tell us about ur race?
U R A SHOE LICK, Klay, tell us ur a madam or Mr?
What time u will grow up? Have u finished ur kinder garden course?
Can u count from 1 to 10?
Tell us why u hide yourself behind walls and u never have anything to speak about?
Immediately u come here to abuse Mark?
Abuser abuser
Old crocodile
Dont abuse him, dont abuse Mt and dont abuse Enrique Tessieri,i like both very much and they have my respect for always, this kind of humans u cant even see in ur dreams, so
CLOSE UR ugly mouth.
They opened the door of MT on you and u instead telling a thanks coming here and attack and escape?
Why u never stay in ur soap opera that u make here?
Ur full of fear i never seen u here serious, u just jump here like a clown and say something meaningless and then u escape and hide yours behind walls and ur watching us?
………..
From where are u? Which country that u r so shoe lick?
Which hungry country u came from?
U can not tell, u afraid people make fun at u? Why?
From where u came to Finland so hungry for food and now for sake of a bread that welfare services gives to u and ur children, u praise system?
U can not debate with Mark and Enrique, ur level is down down down, when u talk spit come out ur mouth instead words.
WHAT U TOLD BEHIND ME? If ur a man tell it again i want see that comment.
Ur speaking about censorship? censorship is u, u censorship ur race and color at yourself.
Now this me a very intelligent barve, who knows how to sit you on your broken chair, eat ur bread and dont try to speak with peoples who are high than u in characters and quality.
soap opera is ur family life.
Who cares about u rootless guy?
U can not debate, u have no goal in ur life and u dont know how to start a debate, then how can u argue with Enrique and Mark?
U looks like an ant when u try to debate with Mark and Enrique.
U afraid people see ur real face????
U afraid they figure it out where are u from and what are u doing here? Really what are u doing here? are u really in Finland or u wish to come here with ur children and wife?
U afraid because u don’t like yourself?
Are u a lair? how many lies u told about yourself on MT?
Some are like u, just hide themselves behind walls and watch MT, they have no self confidence to put their feet here and say even a word.
What u know about freedom of speech?
U attacking me a woman? How can u call yours a man?Is that freedom of speech or is that hate fever in ur blood?
WHAT U TOLD BEHIND ME?
why u escape of ur race?
Is there something wrong with ur genetic that u hate ur race?
Whats ur race? WHAT IS UR RACE?
Tell us
Go and laugh at yours in front of mirror If mirror can accept ur face… u can not laugh at me because ur under my feet.
How many times u told a thanks to MT?
Mt is the only place in this society that accepted u? if no
tell us
How many different places accepted u as a human being?
How many places do u have that u can go and make a speech?
How ever ur not a man of speech but a man of hate speech.
U are jealous at me because what i have u don’t have and ur not able to have it, NEVER.
I am brave and u r opposite me
I am struggling for my rights and u r licking shoes
My chin is up and yours is down on dust
I am prod of my root, parents,race and face but u hate your race
I am talking with my soul but u r talking with ur mask
Your not my level
Have u told any thing about my parents?
Ur silence means ur guilty so come and again spray ur hate if u have gut?
Dont hide yourself like a shy 14 years old teenager girl
Have u never heard anything about Moral?
do u think moral is a food some kind of chocolate?
How many morally act u done today? or ur whole life?
I am my kingdom and ur a scary slave in my area.
Had i a post here?
OOOPS
Welcome back, Dana. I probably should have made a welcome banner for you, but you were gone only roughly 18 hours since you said “this is my last comment” and it seemed quite futile.
Okay folks, i.e. Joonas and Dana, let’s keep this civilised. The personal feud going on between you two got boring a long time ago. Let’s try to keep the comments to the discussion points.
Yes, it was childish comment from my part. I apologize my behavior.
Thanks Joonas!
Hello to all people on this blog, even to Klay who is very happy that i lost my parents, I am aware Kaly and some foreigners and Finns were enjoying a lot when they saw my tearful blogs about my parents, its good at least my dead news make them happy and it was me who made them all happy, but no one told me thanks for my drama real stories that i left In MT
……
Klay death is a guest on every wall and for all, however u are free to dance against my grief, u just make more pain on my wounds but i get used to receive whip on my pains okay it was not only u who attacked me with whip on MT and u wont be last one if i stay here, but i wish u a peaceful time in MT, ur always welcome on MT.
However my case is different, after being far of home and waiting 7 years it was not normal and wont be, i am an alone refugee i have no family with me here, Some of immigrants, refugee, foreigner are here from long time ago they have their families, some came here 20 or 30, 18 years ago, with all members of their families and still they live with social service welfare and yet they complaining about this and that, but where r they? Why they dont come here? Why? because they have all they want, yes if i had my family with me here, i never ever had even a complain, thats true.
Why shall i complain when i can meet my parents every day? Why shall i complain when i don’t need visa and immigration service, why shall i whining if don’t need carry any problems on my shoulders????
When u have ur family with u, u have ur supporters with u, family works like and immune system in ur body but in ur life.
This was for u Klay and ur free to laughing at my grief, enjoy it, world is not kind to me and u r one part of world too, take care.
……………………….
Joonas I know am not welcome here, i am so sorry that i bothered u again, please forgive me, ur right i don’t deserve a welcome banner,thanks for reminder, from my deep heart wish u great time on MT. (i know ur comment meant that u missed me a lot, 18 hours was a century for u, and ur comments shows how u feel happy for am here again, thank u and take good care.
………………………..
Mark – permanent resident on November 3, 2013 at 10:38 pm
You didn’t answer the question, Klay. What is dysfunctional about standing up for Finns when an immigrant goes too far in expressing their misery at their life in Finland and starts generalizing?
******
Yes dear Mark, ur right, am completely agree with u.Standing up for Finns is a very good idea am glad that u and dear Enrique are in union about this matter, and i wish that now Finns understand this site is their friend,also i wish they come here and make their points, for me they all welcome here, Finns and foreigners.
IN my case,justice in MT was standing so clearly for Finns, even it made Klay to dance with his all energy on MT ( And GOD knows how many more other humans ) but hey people
Its just justice even against me its good and law.
MT does work only for ***** mutual acceptance and respect**** as dear Enrique said … The problem is applying them to everyone concerning equal opportunities and other laws that foster mutual acceptance and respect. Cultural diversity is one of these cherished values in my opinion.
Thank u Enrique, yes ur right, very right.
……………..
I have no complain at all, i did not follow the law of acceptance and respect, i am a fighter and am not fit in here at all, thats why am not welcome here but it does not mean MT told me ur not welcome, NO , and i am sorry for problems that i made here for MT and others.
Instead i have a well done to MT, MT is a safe place for every body and all, so please every one u r all welcome.
…………………………
With many respect for MT, MT has my permission to delete my all finger prints here, from comments and blogs to poems and essay, i give this permission to MT because i am not a dictator and i believe in free will, and I don’t want MT feel any push from my side, however my friend MT as u wish and u like, ur free on my eyes.
………
Thank u MT for all moments u supported me, thanks moods.
……………
Enrique Mark please take very good care and wish u both a happy life.
…
Peace to me and all people on MT
No worry Joonas, i am truly leaving, and believe me that i wish u best of times on MT.
Take care all
Peace out
Beautiful, why are you leaving? There is no reason for you to do so. I doubt any sensible person would be happy about the grief you suffered due to the loss of both of your parents in such a short period.
One important thing that I have learned is that tomorrow is a new day and things may change for the better. Most of us, or at least I, take part in MT because we believe that matters can change tomorrow for the better. Like Frederick Douglass said: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
We will miss you if you leave and it’s my sincere hope that you don’t abandon us.
Seconded!