Mackie
01-21-2007, 02:17 PM
heres a fun article I came by... couple of quotes from the beginning and the end :D
I cannot recall a time when the world would have loved Finland while Finns hated the world as much as now.
Alluring Finnish phenomena include at least HIM, Lordi, the world's most educated children, and a president who looks like Conan O'Brien. The most recent evidence of the appeal of Finland came when the world-famous travel guide, Lonely Planet, put Finland on its list of 30 rising destinations for 2007.
However, the Finns are not reciprocating. The EU Presidency was held for six months by Europe's most anti-EU nation. The Finns also tend to take a very negative view of the NATO alliance, the United States, and immigration.
It almost sounds as if Finland would never have become westernised. Since we are in Tampere, let's give Tammi and her friend the final word.
"Finns tend to isolate themselves. We don't even like our neighbours. And we are also resistant to change", the friend says.
Eeva Tammi does not want to exaggerate. Finns will accept simple and practical change - as long as it does not spark ideological passions.
"The information society has made rapid progress. And the euro was also accepted", Tammi says. Perhaps part of our charm is in this: Finns do not feel a special need to please anyone else. We are willing to be different - "complex and idiosyncratic", which is how the fresh edition of Lonely Planet describes this irresistible country.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finns+inc...n/1135224181740 (http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finns+increasingly+critical+of+EU+NATO+USA+and+immigration/1135224181740)
Yes... hehe :D
I must admit i am quite pleased.
(excuse me if this has been posted already earlier)
I cannot recall a time when the world would have loved Finland while Finns hated the world as much as now.
Alluring Finnish phenomena include at least HIM, Lordi, the world's most educated children, and a president who looks like Conan O'Brien. The most recent evidence of the appeal of Finland came when the world-famous travel guide, Lonely Planet, put Finland on its list of 30 rising destinations for 2007.
However, the Finns are not reciprocating. The EU Presidency was held for six months by Europe's most anti-EU nation. The Finns also tend to take a very negative view of the NATO alliance, the United States, and immigration.
It almost sounds as if Finland would never have become westernised. Since we are in Tampere, let's give Tammi and her friend the final word.
"Finns tend to isolate themselves. We don't even like our neighbours. And we are also resistant to change", the friend says.
Eeva Tammi does not want to exaggerate. Finns will accept simple and practical change - as long as it does not spark ideological passions.
"The information society has made rapid progress. And the euro was also accepted", Tammi says. Perhaps part of our charm is in this: Finns do not feel a special need to please anyone else. We are willing to be different - "complex and idiosyncratic", which is how the fresh edition of Lonely Planet describes this irresistible country.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finns+inc...n/1135224181740 (http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finns+increasingly+critical+of+EU+NATO+USA+and+immigration/1135224181740)
Yes... hehe :D
I must admit i am quite pleased.
(excuse me if this has been posted already earlier)