From: alexei@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Alexei Moiseyev)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet,soc.culture.europe,talk.politics.soviet
Subject: RUSSKII S FINNOM BRAT'A NA VEK!
Date: 17 Dec 92 23:21:59 GMT
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK

I would like to thank Mr.Hietaniemi for his friendly message which follows:
>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 :-)



I'll definitely go along with this!




>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).



Well, I do not smoke, and unfortunately I have not got a hat, but I do
wear my TEL'NYASHKA (one of those Russian navy shirts) !!!



>, 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.



Actually I would not be too dismissive as far as the Russian and other
xUSSR mafias are concerned.  When I was in Russia and Uzbekistan last
April, I got to see some of them in restaurants...seriously nasty
customers.  I believe that countries like Finland should have
strickter border controls to prevent the spread of crime beyond the
former USSR.  I also believe that Russia should have strickter border
controls to prevent smuggling and the infiltration of criminal
elements into Russia from other xUSSR republics.



>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.


Well, you've presuaded me.
Next time I am in StPetersburg I'll try crossing the border.  I spent
my childhood in StPetersburg, and every summer I used to go to
Roschino (Raimulo?), even closer to the Finnish border.  I often
wondered then what it was like in Finland.



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




                                   Best wishes, Alexei.