Ghostbusting national identities
Linda has posed an interesting question: What is Finnish culture? Even though the answer to the question is more complex than one would think, it brings forth some very important points about our identity and who we believe we are.
One of the biggest problems with “national identities” and “cultures” is that they are built with heavy doses of myths. Other national cultures, such as the Germans, British, Brazilians, Japanese also use myths to build the pillars of their national and cultural identity.
One of the biggest myths about Finnish culture is that it is a tribe; Finns are honest; Finns love nature; Finns have Sisu etc… In every country children are breast fed and taught that their culture and language is the best. We speak of internationalization but, in fact, we are brought up to be very provincial and ethnocentric beings. In order to hide our myopic views of ourselves and others, we allow ourselves to be spoon-fed with a heavy dose of myths about who we are.
National identities have got the world into a lot of problems. It has been responsible for sparking wars, internal and external, and mass murder as happened recently in the former Yugoslavia and Nazi Germany. It continues to be the vital fuel that racism and stereotypes feed on.
I am certain that if we do not end up destroying ourselves, humankind will look at this period 50 to 100 years from now and feel sorry for us. They will say in disbelief: Didn’t they understand that cultural differences were human-made and maintained with the help of myths.
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February 6th, 2010 → 9:37 pm[...] Finnish identity and culture without compromising the Finnish culture(s), which after all, are social constructs.While there might be a contemporary divide between “Us” and “Them”, such [...]
FinlandSucks!
June 6, 2009
No country is an Island. Cultures will becme Myths and placed in Museums of antiquities. Globalization of every form is the way forward, boundries will be broken and cultures will intermix and dissappear into the human race and most of all, since Finnish people will never accept this even in a hundred years, they either will all commit mass suicide or whitter.
kenhsu
July 20, 2009
I too think it’s true, that one’s own national identity is being created by beliefs which are attached to a certain culture. By the same way we’ll also get the picture of other cultures, as you already pointed out (Koreans, Germans, Brits and so on.).
I myself, wish too, that Finland would be more open towards foreigners in the future. The younger generations here are already much more open, for example if you compare to the big generations, which were born shortly after the war, which has made a huge impact on Finland and Finns.
Oh, and by the way, I appreciate your work on getting to know this small weird corner on the Earth. I think Finns have sub-consciously a low self-esteem, due to all historical factors which have affected the way we think. Have you ever noticed “silent” reactions from other Finns, such as like : “Why are you here? There is nothing to see in here”? Afterall at least I, get really surprised if there is a foreigner who can look at our culture from a different perspective, and has investigated it a lot too. We kind of don’t expect anyone from somewhere else to be interested in this small country. That’s why we can feel a little bit offended with feelings like “What? Of all the places in the world you have chosen Finland??”
Anyway, I’m not planning to stay here for long. Hopefully I can spend time in another country after I graduate, maybe for year or two. I just need to get out of here. Maybe it will be better, or not. But I need to experience another lifestyle outside of this xenophobic box.
-a regular Finnish high-schooler
Enrique
July 21, 2009
Hi kenhsu, and welcome to Migrant Tales. Thank you for your insightful comment. Many immigrants who live in Finland consider this country their home. Home is a feeling that nobody can take away from you. It is similar to memories. People may never accept the fact that Finland is your home but at the end of the day it is their problem – not yours.
Alex87
October 22, 2009
I think you post makes the powerful point that in a age when people are using their brains to do all sorts of wonderfully useful things, appealing to subjective reality is no longer good enough. ,
Llewellyn Grohovsky
June 9, 2010
Oh, and by the way, I appreciate your work on getting to know this small weird corner on the Earth. I think Finns have sub-consciously a low self-esteem, due to all historical factors which have affected the way we think. Have you ever noticed “silent” reactions from other Finns, such as like : “Why are you here? There is nothing to see in here”? Afterall at least I, get really surprised if there is a foreigner who can look at our culture from a different perspective, and has investigated it a lot too. We kind of don’t expect anyone from somewhere else to be interested in this small country. That’s why we can feel a little bit offended with feelings like “What? Of all the places in the world you have chosen Finland??”
+1
Enrique
June 10, 2010
Hi Llewellyn, welcome to Migrant Tales and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Setting aside the low-esteem of some Finns who wonder why somebody would move to Finland, there are many people who enjoy the country. Finland would be a near-perfect country in my opinion if some could set aside their fear of so-called outsiders.
Lucilla
November 23, 2010
I don’t think nationalism is only a bad thing as it replaced the idea of people being subjects to being citizens, with rights and responsibilities. As you of course know, nationalism is a product of Enlightenment and Romanticism, 18th Century and is part of the thinking that you have some say in your affairs, not just your King/Tzar etc. Also, it influenced some good art – Neo-Gothic here in UK (some bad art as well, as Palladian architecture), National-Romantic Art Nouveau in Finland etc.
Nationalism on its own didn’t cause the conflicts of 20th Century alone. the whole mentality of early 20th century was so militaristic that supporters of every ideology wanted a war. The results were so frightening that I don’t think there’ll be a re-run any time soon.
As for Finnish culture – culture is a product of history and environment. Of course Finns see the nature differently than people from countries where nature is lethal (in my husband’s case the forest would have been full of poisonous snakes and bugs). Of course course cold weather affects people as the long darkness too. Small nations have very different histories and traumas than big ones. religion is a factor too – majorly protestant countries are very different from catholic or orthodox ones and I can tell easily calvinist culture from lutheran too. I’ve lived in 4 countries, all very different.
My husband, even that he’s from another side of the world loves Finnish culture. Even all the cliches I hate – Ice hockey, sausages, angsty metal music… I’m personally proud for my roots, but really like it anywhere, as long as I can find a book-shop near by
Enrique
November 23, 2010
Hi Lucilla, welcome to Migrant Tales. It was very nice to read your views. You are a true traveller who has seen a lot. We’d be really interested in hearing more of you and about your life in England. If we look at all the war that has existed in Europe in the past four hundred years, we can see a definite relationship with the banks, which financed them. We have all the technology and we feel so advanced but still we haven’t resolved a social ill like racism. Incredible, no?
William O'Gorman
January 8, 2011
What is national identity and how is it relevant in a world that is, whether we like it or not, fundamentally non national but international? I think anyone who has spent time in Finland can appreciate the positives and negatives of the culture- like any other country in the world. But in recent times I think that perhaps Finland is not just another country in respect to this. This little country does things very well, indeed many are trying to emulate its success. This is an interesting juxtaposition when you consider that the normal Finn would be modest of their country and culture and wonder why others would hold it in such high regard!
The question maybe then is what is the future of a ‘nation’ and in 100 or 200 years time will small countries like Finland and Ireland still exist? Maybe they wont but I think that the heart of the culture will live on. Of course will racism still be existant in a world of no nations?
I guess I got a bit of track but interesting points to be pondered in decades ahead as boundries become more and more blurred between cultures and the concept of nations. Could there be a new ‘virtual nation’ on the horizon?
Enrique
January 8, 2011
William, I liked very much your thoughts about the future and how national identities will change. I believe a good example of what you are saying is us: The future is now. I like to speak of travelling between cultures. There is a lot of interesting material on hybrid culture, which means creating new culture from what you learned and the new habits you must learn in your new home. But there is a lot of money and interests in maintaining the present system. Think of how many people you employ because you are an immigrant? Think of the threat scenarios I have to build in order to slap my countrymen in line and apply for money for national security. Discrimination exists in a society because it serves the interests of a group. Find out what that interest is and you have won half of the battle.
Seppo
January 16, 2011
I think that the whole point of travelling and seeing other places is the existence of different cultures and nations which to explore. We have to be careful in this age of globalization that we don’t give up our own characteristics and turn the world into one meaningless “world culture”.
National identities are created by myths but are nevertheless true. Finland would have never come up to existence without nationalism and the creation of Finnish national identity. And the day that identity is lost so is Finland and Finnish culture.
Enrique
January 16, 2011
—And the day that identity is lost so is Finland and Finnish culture.
I agree. We can be all proud of who we are and our backgrounds. There is an important point, however. Others can also embrace new identities and be included.
Mary Mekko
April 3, 2011
KAIVAMA the singing group is performing in Berkeley this coming week, at a private home.
It will bring all the Finnish tribal types together, so I will sit in the back and watch for stereotypes of Finnish behavior, appearance, facial and body types, sexual interaction habits, feeding habits, ambulatory styles, shoes and clothing and glasses – purses and bag styles, too – and even how they hold their mouths or make eye contact when speaking.
Then I will send you an outsider’s point of view report from sunny California: How do Finns look to us, the polyglot multikulti mess nation, when they appear before us?
Remember the tenets of philosophy: one can only define matter in opposites: hot-cold, high-low, old-young, thin-fat, hard-soft and so on. If a tribe seeks a unified identity, and which one doesn’t? – then it defines itself by what it is NOT: we Finns are NOT loud, exuberant, sexist, dark-skinned etc. To say, “We Finns are quiet, introspective, nonsexist, white as snow” is the same thing. Finns are comparing themselves to others to get a definition.
I am not very good at explaining philosophy since I never studied it properly, but there is a term for this concept about words and definitions – and therefore identities of individuals and societies.
Comrade
August 17, 2011
Hmmm. . . maybe people should just respect boundaries. Like maybe starting with you idiot! If immigrants from X in country Y don’t like it, they should go back to X or find somewhere else to go – like Amerika! So simple really.
People like you don’t promote diversity. Your ultimate goal is one big amorphous brown blob.
Maarit Heinonen
December 13, 2011
I have to say I find the whole conversation about borders and national identity utterly irrelevant and old fashioned as well as who has a ‘right’ to be in a certain country. All these idiots who are ‘defending Finnish identity’ and ‘Finnish values’ haven’t got a clue what they are defending and cannot even agree between themselves what Finnish culture, values or identity are. Even if they happen to agree, they would find hardly anyone who would fit the description any more, if they ever did. All based on myths and lies that were never true. I also have to say, that before immigration was discussed, Finns were arguing between themselves and hated people who supported different political parties to themselves, or for more silly and mundane reasons such as having different clothes or hairstyle, let alone coming from neighbouring town! In my hometown you certainly were beaten up for coming from the neighbouring town and anyone looking different was shouted at that they should be killed (and/or beaten up). Lovely (and since the Finns don’t get irony, that means I am sad) to find out that nothing has changed in my kotimaa and I am sorry that anyone should have to be at the receiving end of it.
Thank you for this blog and discussing these issues. About the time.
Just to note, because I am utterly fed up with pseudonyms and people hiding behind them, I am publishing and will publish any comments in my real name. You see, I have got nothing to hide.
Enrique
December 13, 2011
Hi Maarit and welcome to Migrant Tales. I am always happy to meet people as yourself who have the courage to question matters such as national identity and borders. Think for a moment how much pain and suffering we bring to people because of these matters. For us it may be easy to cross borders but for others it could be a matter of life and death.
This blog is proof that there are more people than you think who are fed up with labeling others by nationality.
We not only bring suffering to others, we lose opportunities to reap synergies with people and new ideas.
We hope to hear a lot more of your views on the topic as well as others.
Timo Ojanen
December 14, 2011
To Maarit Heinonen,
I’d like to take issue about the use of pseudonyms a bit. As you can see I also post this using my real name, but being a sort of immigrant myself at the moment, I can well understand how some people could put themselves in danger by certain comments they make with their own name, especially but not only in the context of immigration.
I’m mostly thinking of legal issues mostly, like if you have to watch over your shoulder for a slander lawsuit or the police, or if you’re in a dodgy situation regarding immigration, employment etc. regulations yet you’d like to share about your situation without giving weapons to those who might rather find “evidence” to get you out of the country, prosecuted, in jail etc.
This could be a problem in Finland, but it can particularly be a problem in countries where the legal system is more politically motivated. You could lose a lot by openly telling the truth.
So, I think using pseudonyms can be quite justified in some cases.
Enrique
December 14, 2011
Hi Timo, publishing with your real name or not is your business. Some may have good reasons to do so and it’s one of the rights we have. I publish this blog with my real name because it forces me to think and weigh what I say. It is the minimum that can be asked of an editor of a blog. Writing thread is a different story. But if writing with your own name helps you write and focus your opinions better, then all power to you.