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Finland is making preparations for coping with an increase in immigration. In addition, the administration of immigration affairs is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation. While wondering at the size, number and shape of the pieces to be fitted together, I realise that ambition is a matter well worth supporting. It remains to be seen what kind of concrete impact the transformation will have on immigrantsī everyday life. I wish a lot of strength and patience for those engaged in its preparation and realisation. ---------------------------------------------- Even though it doesnīt sound very ambitious, compared to the considerable reforms taking place in administration, an ordinary daily life is worth its weight in gold. We do a lot of work to secure it. If you doubt it, you can try the other alternative. After trying it out you will be delighted to return back to work if they still want you. Everybody must be aware of this, regardless of their educational background, including those who have tried out the other option and those who think it isnīt even worth trying. However, people sometimes drift outside the labour market unexpectedly and uninvited, through no fault of their own. Getting into a difficult situation is not anyoneīs conscious choice. Perhaps they drift, partly due to the wrong and unfortunate choices they have made, but not purposefully. Is everybody aware of it, despite their educational background? Iīm not at all convinced about it. First of all, making people feel guilty is unfair once you realise how much good luck you need to change your own situation, in addition to a tremendous effort. In practice, good luck means that you have a chance to do things which many take for granted. To name but a few, you have a job which you get an appropriate reward for. I wish a lot of strength and patience for those engaged in its preparation and realisation. ------------------------------------------ You need to make a lot of effort in your own daily life. However, the fact that an ordinary, smooth everyday life isnīt possible to everybody seems to be of surprisingly little interest. Except when the grounds of your own daily life are shaken. Itīs surprising that the quiet boys next door have expressed their feelings in an unexpectedly violent manner. After you recover from the first shock, you also notice positive things. Itīs comforting that people have the need to show their feelings of community and compassion and willingness to understand the various sides to the phenomenon. Naturally, it would be great if people could show compassion towards each other more often, in other words, in matters which we find familiar and commonplace. A threshold to show compassion should be lower, compared to such tragedies as school killings, in the context of which, we act collectively. To too many, the stirring of hatred on the Internet has become more real and credible, compared to a feeling of support which surrounding people can create. The message of indifference has reached these people extraordinarily strongly. We arenīt really like that, but why does it still happen? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Irīs not worth thinking gloomy thoughts. In fact, things are just fine. As a full member of the Finnish society, itīs good to go on with your daily life. This is what the immigrants are also aware of. Moreover, they are willing to invest in achieving it. They want to get started in building a good everyday life. This issue features the survey on the ethnic equality of housing by the Ministry of the Interior. It demonstrates immigrantsī wishes which seem rather middle-class. The interviewees want to live among the original population, preferably in the vicinity of Finnish families with children, in order to learn the Finnish language and culture more quickly and naturally. The survey raises a justified question whether the various sectors have a prevailing misconception about the daily life immigrants wish to have. The interviewees are afraid of being labelled and drift to live in concentrated communities, close to the other immigrants, for other reasons but on their own initiative. According to the survey, immigrants tend to be left outside the free housing markets or can only enter them with great difficulty, regardless of their education and means of livelihood. Obviously, they have to obtain quite considerable results to freely choose the surroundings of their everyday life, the environment, for instance. Our own daily life is familiar, safe, ordinary, boring and irreplaceable. When we invest all our energy in realising and maintaining it, we ought to be able to respect other peopleīs attempts to reach it. --------------------------------------------------------------- Monitori is pushing forward every day with this yearīs three issues, instead of the usual four. Some readers have been concerned about this. There is no cause for concern. Monitori will be published in the future too. We take a great interest in developing the magazine. Next year we will put a lot of effort into it. 18.11.2008 Antti Rechardt Acting editor-in-chief Back |
