From: thietaniemi@cc.helsinki.fi
Subject: Re: RUSSIANS and FINNISH patriots (Was: Estonia 15)
Organization: University of Helsinki
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 10:31:28 GMT

In article <12054@sorley.ed.ac.uk>, alexei@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Alexei Moiseyev) 
writes:


>>The word nationalism has a heavy metaphorical burden in Russian speaking
>>parts of XUSSR. Perhaps one should avoid the term and use the
>>term patrioticism instead.
> 
> Actually the word PATRIOTISM has recently become even more loaded than
> Nationalism in certain Russian speaking parts of the former USSR.
> 
> And anyway, this is English.


I think I understand you. Memory is a good thing indeed, but not Pamyat,
if they are the movement that's called patriots. We have other names
for them :-)

 
>>Finland is one good example of a nation where (bilingual) patrioticism
>>and democracy co-exist. Visit us an experience it. Estonia will look
>>the same after one or two generations, I suppose. At least, I hope so!
> 
> I would visit Finland, but I fear I might run into somebody like
> Vorlund, who having identified me by my "Russian appearence" might
> feel like celebrating again.


Every country has the idiots it deservers :-)


Actually, as a Finn visiting Russia, I have noticed that most of Finns
resemble of Russians and I am asked in Russian where the railway station is
and such a things. 

If there is some kind of "Russian appearance", it's the clothing 
and behaviour of some Russians. If you walk in Helsinki in groups wearing 
fur capes, speaking Russian, smoking Belomorkanal or something like it and 
if the ladies use Krasnaya Moskva, you are relatively easy to 
regocnize to any Finn. :-) :-)

Change these things and you assimilate in crowd (if that's what you 
wish, of course).

Nowadays, Helsinki is filled with Russians. During this year, hundreds
of thousands of individuals from XSU have visited Finland (perhaps
even one million? I am not sure). And most of them come through
Helsinki, urbs fennorum. A good choice.

Despite of this fact, the violence between Russians and Finns in Helsinki
is almost non-existent, which is surprising. The Finns are afraid of
Russian and Siberian mafias, of which they read from the tabloids,
which are not the most reliable sources. There is an increase
in Russian speaking petty criminality (shoplifting and things like that) 
in Helsinki, but what do you expect when you invite a million
new visitors from the countries that face deep economic troubles?

Nowadays, the most frequent contacts the common Finnish people have
with the Russians are the (mostly alcohol) smuggling and prostitution, 
unfortunately. But you need two in tango: some Finnish men are eager 
enough to pay convertible currency for those services and the Finnish police
is trying to prevent this illegal trade. This is not nice trade,
but still, relatively harmless. Anyhow, Finns and Russians would deserve
better contacts.

Actually, Helsinki symbolizes these previous better contacts:
the monumental centre of Helsinki (Senate square) was built by 
Russians in the Czar's command. Helsinki was deliberately built 
as a kind of smaller version of St. Petersburg. And, accordingly, 
the statue of the liberator Czar, Alexander the Second, The Grand Duke
of Finland still stands and will be standing in the middle
of the Senate square. Visit Helsinki and admire it.

with best regards
Tapani Hietaniemi, Universitas Helsingiensis (the former Alexander Univ.)
                   urbs fennorum

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