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.
“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. “
You are just wrong. If they have a good election it DOES mean that their policy of encourage skilled, adaptable and ease to assimilate immigrants to go to Finland while making as hard as possible for “diversity” to go, will be endorsed by Finns.
My friend, in a democracy the ballot box is where people say what they want, get used to it.
–You are just wrong. If they have a good election it DOES mean that their policy of encourage skilled, adaptable and ease to assimilate immigrants to go to Finland while making as hard as possible for “diversity” to go, will be endorsed by Finns.
Who is this “easy-to-assimilate” immigrant? That is a fallacy and a pipe dream. And I guess by your standards Muslims, Africans and other groups do not fit in this group. You should stop looking at people thorugh ethnicity, religion and culture and see them by the skills they bring. If you are the government of FInland, will you put a sign out stating that we don’t want Muslims?
How long are you going to live in denial? First True Finns were a taxy party, then polls were only polls, not they may do a good election, but even that you insist in refuse to admit that Finns don’t want illiterate refuges and Muslims coming to their county.
You can argue that Finland should get these people, this is a valid case, but take your head out of the sand. Finns don’t want these people, accept that as a fact, then make your case why hey should change their minds. This is better and more honest than living in denial.
–How long are you going to live in denial? First True Finns were a taxy party, then polls were only polls, not they may do a good election, but even that you insist in refuse to admit that Finns don’t want illiterate refuges and Muslims coming to their county.
If you like the True FInns then you like Hugo Chávez. I am glad you are for “people power.” Show me an impartial study that proves what you say. I guessed it. That is only your opinion.
–You can argue that Finland should get these people, this is a valid case, but take your head out of the sand.
Wow, you really have a sense of humor. Think about it, a party that has NO plan for most of the things facing Finland except for fear-mongering and spreading xenophobia is NOT sticking one’s head in the sand. Explain this one. I am fascinated by your reasoning.
My reasoning is simple, in case TF do well in the next election is does mean that Finns are rejecting immigration from some groups. The very same that the TF is denouncing as bad for Finland.
If keep believing in the fairy tale that Finns love Muslims and illiterate refugees makes you sleep better during the night, help yourself.
–If keep believing in the fairy tale that Finns love Muslims and illiterate refugees makes you sleep better during the night, help yourself.
The red herring is here: we are not against all type of immigration. Right, you are xenophobic and you expect people with brains to move to your country? Smart marketing tactic.
The idea that a certain group are illieterate sounds very much the way some snobs in Brazil speak about the poor.
“If you are the government of FInland, will you put a sign out stating that we don’t want Muslims?”
I’d start by following other European examples…
http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20110203-32847.html
“…and see them by the skills they bring”
That’s exactly what I’m doing, that’s why Finland shouldn’t accept illiterate refugees. They have no skills to bring, at least nothing useful for a highly educated country like Finland.
–I’d start by following other European examples…
Good one, Tony. Now tell me how many women in Europe use this type of clothing? And is it a European custom to tell others how to dress? You better talk to the punks about that.
Dont you think saying the True Finns are scaremongering and using Xenophobia and gaining votes because on the back of this is a insult to the intelligence of the Finnish people).
Is your opinion that Finnish voters are Medieval peasants who still think the world is flat . For you information Finns do have passports and some even have travelled on planes and see different countries outside of Finland (some have even seen countries outside Europe)
“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”
So if the True Finns xenophobic rhetoric is not endorsed Finns then there will be no votes for them. So how are they going to have a good election if they are rejected (Rig the election maybe)
The Finns are not stupid- The True Finns are speaking about genuine concerns about immigration this is not xenophobic but today’s Europe.
The fact you have said True Finns are going to have a good election, when a few months ago you said they would not. Shows even you are now seeing how immigration in Finland will pan out over the next few years.
Hi True Finns 2011, I guess you are a supporter of a certain party.
–So if the True Finns xenophobic rhetoric is not endorsed Finns then there will be no votes for them.
You are a minority party that insults immigrants. I think this should be said very clearly to your party.
Those that vote for the True Finns are gullible – not stupid. Fortunately the party is a minority. In my opinion, the True Finns do not have a faintest idea about how immigration works.
By the way, since you are visiting us, could you tell us what are the True Finns’ position on the welfare state, relations with Russia, aging population, creating more jobs, maintaining high standards in our educational system and what are you going to do about the Non-Discrimination Act (Yhteenvertaisuuslaki). Are you going to scrap the law and change the constitution because your whole program is based on inequality. Please inform us. We would be interested in knowing your party’s stance on these issues.
Another question: Is there a difference between those that signed the Nuiva thing and Timo Soini?
“Now tell me how many women in Europe use this type of clothing?”
It doesn’t matter, it’s all about sending a message that this is not Kabul.
” Right, you are xenophobic and you expect people with brains to move to your country? ”
So, Now we should believe that if Finland close its doors to illiterate Africans or Muslims terrorists, engineers and doctors from Japan, South Korea, US or other civilized countries won’t immigrate to Finland? Ludicrous…
“The idea that a certain group are illieterate…”
The “idea”… I see… Well, I guess you are right, the highly advanced education system in Africa or Muslim courtiers can’t be compared with the mediocre one (to say the least) that we have in Finland, can it? Sorry I have missed this…
“…snobs in Brazil speak about the poor.”
Another name? I’ll put it on my list, thanks.
–So, Now we should believe that if Finland close its doors to illiterate Africans or Muslims terrorists, engineers and doctors from Japan, South Korea, US or other civilized countries won’t immigrate to Finland?
Your affirmation is ludicrous. It shows how you turn and twist things. That may work with some gullible voters in a far-flung community but it won’t here.
–The “idea”… I see… Well, I guess you are right, the highly advanced education system in Africa or Muslim courtiers can’t be compared with the mediocre one (to say the least) that we have in Finland, can it?
OH, yeah, that’s right. You think that a good Muslim is a dead one.
“So if the True Finns “xenophobic rhetoric” is not endorsed Finns then there will be no votes for them. So how are they going to have a good election if they are rejected (Rig the election maybe)”
Check mate…
Nice try but are we speaking of 20% or 30% of the votes? The percentage is much smaller. It won’t be as high as what the polls show.
“You think that a good Muslim is a dead one.”
Enrique, do you really want to keep this?
Ludicrous? Really? Well I had a work mate from South Korea here in Ireland (senior engineer BTW) who would be quite happy to move to a country where Muslims were not welcome. And I can tell you, he’s not the only one.
Sorry but my point is valid, the less illiterate Africans and Muslims we get, the safer we become, the easer it’s to attract good immigration.
–Ludicrous? Really? Well I had a work mate from South Korea here in Ireland (senior engineer BTW) who would be quite happy to move to a country where Muslims were not welcome. And I can tell you, he’s not the only one.
One way of solving these types of phobias is by seeing a shrink. Being maladated has its serious disadvantages.
Haha Tony, you always forget that there are also literate Africans and Muslims 🙂
Tony can’t see that. He still thinks the world is flat socially.
I never said Muslims are illiterate, quite the opposite of it. The European training camps for jihadists are not in ghettos but British Universities. MI6 and CIA are pay particulary attention to Muslims graduating from civil engineering and chemistry courses.
Oh Klay_Immigrant is also studying Chemistry in the UK. I knew that there was something wrong with him 🙂
Ha xyz I was born in Qatar (an Arab country) and am not white too. But you know what, I realise the concerns of security forces and that in many ways I fit the profile of a terrorist so if they took me away to a separate room for extra questioning and further verification of my papers and passport I wouldn’t complain one bit because they are just doing their job. Better to be safe and sorry.
I’m all for specific targeting and profiling when dealing with terrorism and crime. It would be stupid, a waste of time and money for the police/security forces to treat me exactly the same as an old white granny. The problem is the majority of young men in my position don’t agree with me. Common sense seems to have evaded them. That’s how the riots in Paris started.
–I’m all for specific targeting and profiling when dealing with terrorism and crime.
So you accept racial profiling? Oy vey! Just because you are from Qatar and just because you may not look white does not give you the moral high ground. Tony is Brazilian, a white one and a minority. Should he advise us about how to make Brazilian society more just? No. It depends on the person. You guys are too much into “race” and that’s where you get it terribly wrong. The key word is to be judged by ones character not skin color.
These extra checks have happened to me in airports, on the road in my car, or just on the street. You see Enrique I agree with measures and policies and may directly affect myself because I am able to think from the other side of the fence and argument. What I’m interested in is the improvment of the country in general not my narrow interests and because I have an education, speak multiple languages and am ready to assimilate it’s no problem accept those kind of policies.
I think you have an identity problem. Honestly, get some help.
Everyone has the right to be what he wants to. But I agree. You are trying to be more white than “whites.” That’s fine and your thing but to oblige others and accept racial profiling and prejudice in general is pretty uncool. I wrote you a long comment before. I said to you that I learned to accept myself and stop “assimilating.” You will never figure out who you are nor untap your full potential as a human being under the present circumstances. This is my humble opinion and, as I said, who you are is your business.
Not at all xyz I can just see things the wider picture from an impartial view point. It’s not like I’m some person from the 3rd World desperate to enter Europe and ready to accept any conditions in order to do so. The countries I have issues with are the countries I won’t live in, that’s why I don’t see the point in living in a country for many years like Enrique complaining about it non stop. If you don’t like it move on, it’s that simple, that’s what I will do once my education is over and my working life begins.
-‘The key word is to be judged by ones character not skin color.’
Tell me Enrique how can you judge ones character from across the street? When a crime has been commited and there are witnesses what do they police ask about the culprit? Their character? Forget police sketch artists and profiles when finding criminals, let’s look into their character first. You make me laugh Enrique.
–Tell me Enrique how can you judge ones character from across the street?
So everytime you see somebody with certain ethnic characteristics red lights turn on? One of the thing you have to learn, and which I learned, is to look past skin color and ethnicity. If you learn how to do that, judge a person by his character, you can get along with almost everyone. You don’t have racial hangups. And hey, that is what Martin Luther King said in his famous 1963 speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Maybe you think Martin Luther King, a source of inspiration for so many, should have adopted your approach to the racial problems in the US?
Haha you make people to criminals just because of their skin color. As I said, get some help. Better today than tomorrow.
xyz you’re obviously too ignorant to understand my point.
–xyz you’re obviously too ignorant to understand my point.
That type of high-and-dry comment doesn’t surprise me. If somebody disagrees with you, you just write him off as ignorant. Isn’t that what these repressive Arabic governments are doing and saying? I think we have been in this blog too nice to you and Tony. Some of the remarks you make are totally off the wall and don’t really offer anything new to the discussion except than waste our time. And to do all this anonymously! That is not ignorance but a lack of character.
No, I dont understand it, sorry. And to be honest I am also a bit tired of this discussion…like in a Kindergarten.
-‘Maybe you think Martin Luther King, a source of inspiration for so many, should have adopted your approach to the racial problems in the US?’
Tell me Enrique where in Western Europe do people of non-European origin have to sit in the back of the bus, use different toilets, not allowed to eat in certain restaurants, and not allowed to date white people purely for racial reasons. There were massive obvious inequalities written into the law. Again to compare one situation and to another is completely flawed as I’ve have said in many occasions due to the fact that conditions and parameters are worlds apart.
Look Enrique it works both ways. Imagine if a multi-million Euro money laundering scheme was used by individuals in banks to steal money, would the police stop and question young 20 something age black men living in an impoverished area of town for that crime or white middle aged suit wearing bankers in the city? Well?
“That type of high-and-dry comment doesn’t surprise me. If somebody disagrees with you, you just write him off as ignorant.”
This is a very interesting comment…
” I think we have been in this blog too nice to you and Tony.”
Nice? calling me names every time you are cornered? You have an interesting concept of being nice…
“Tony is Brazilian, a white one ”
Am I? You just said I’m not? My friend, you really confuses me…
–Am I? You just said I’m not? My friend, you really confuses me…
You know perfectly well what I am talking about. All people with European background with no Ameridian or black “blood” are considered “white” by Brazilian standards. It is the same story all over Latin America. In Misiones, where I did a lot of research on the Finns, and southern Brazil (Região Sul), we have gringos, who are northern Europeans (Poles, Russians, Germans, Swedes, Swiss, Norwegians).
Klay
So no complaints when they lock you up in Guantánamo?
Bullshitter.