In one of the most incredible statements yet by Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party secretary was quoted as saying on MTV3 that the term racism should be defined more clearly since it can mean many things to different people.
“Today it feels that way [that there is no clear definition of racism],” she said. “It’s even hard to get a [clear] definition from Wikipedia [sic]. We have to define it [racism] again like monoculturalism and other [similar concepts]. Is racism a matter of interpretation?”
Slunga-Poutsalo’s statement is another example of how the PS aims to encourage and make racism and bigotry more acceptable in Finland. In her statement white Finnish privilege is exposed as well.
If something is clearer to the PS, it is its anti-immigration and anti-cultural diversity message that has become more open and hostile.
The PS is trying its hardest to change people’s perceptions of social ills like racism and fascism. The PS’ view of racism is similar to how dictatorships view human rights violations. In both cases the best way to deny social ills like racism and human rights violations is to redefine and change their real meaning.
If we look at the Finnish-language Wikipedia page on racism, it is defined clearly.
The English-language version defines racism in the same manner:
Racism consists of ideologies and practices that seek to justify, or cause, the unequal distribution of privileges, rights or goods among different racial groups. Modern variants are often based in social perceptions of biological differences between peoples.
Pretty clear, no?
If Slunga-Poutsalo’s statement and intentional ignorance on racism should have surprised the reporter, her statement about PS MP Olli Immonen’s declaration of war against multiculturalism and posing with neo-Nazis in June is another example of the PS’ concerted campaign of disinformation.
“Olli Immonen is a very nationalistic person,” said Slunga-Poutsalo. “An MPs willingness to to be in pictures with voters will be curtailed if we have to check each person’s background.”
The interview shows, unfortunately, how the media helps to spread the PS’ urban tales and misinformation about racism and fascism.
If I were the journalist interviewing Slunga-Poutsalo I’d find on the spot the Wikipedia page on racism and ask the party secretary what’s wrong with it.
This did not happen, however, which means that the PS succeeded once again in spreading racist misinformation to the public.
* The Finnish name for the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The English names of the party 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.