Sunday 29 September 2013

LETTER FROM FINLAND

2013

Dear Friend,

I'm a bit of an outsider, not being a Scot. However, I lived in Scotland for several years and still maintain a keen interest in all things Scottish, hoping to return to my country of choice one day.

I come from a country that was under Swedish rule for several hundreds of years, then under Russian rule for about a hundred years. Finnish independence is one of the most important things in my life. I cry tears of gratitude every Independence Day (6 December) that my “wee, stupid and poor” country is independent, since 1917.

The first couple of decades were quite a turbulent ride but WWII galvanised us and now, we, a small nation of approximately 5 million, are a united country. We've done well from an agrarian backwater to a modern industrialised and then post-industrialised country, and still a welfare state that looks after the weak and vulnerable and educates the young to the highest PISA standards and beyond - no tuition fees in our universities. We could not have done it if we hadn't been independent.

Of course, the case for Scotland is different. Finland has fewer natural resources (like oil), fewer opportunities for hydropower (Finland is a very flat and boggy country, imagine Caithness x 10), no chance of tidal power (the Baltic Sea doesn't have tides), we have Arctic winters (need to sell different kinds of diesel fuel summer/winter, by law two sets of tyres (summer/winter) compulsory for every car), houses/blocks of flats required to clear snow from pavements etc. Living in Finland is a real drag. All these problems, but yet we are a rich nation and are mostly happy in our own country.

From the outside, it seems that Scotland is being hood-winked into believing that it cannot stand on its own two feet while at the same time being asset-stripped to pay the debts of a dysfunctional larger neighbour. I'm baffled as to why all Scots can't see that. I'm baffled why anybody would vote for the unionist parties. They don't want what's best for Scotland; they want what's best for the UK, which usually isn't what's best for Scotland. Of course, there are Scottish voters who want what's best for the UK (read London/SE), and I cannot for the life of me understand WHY. But each to their own.

The tragedy of Scotland is that it gets bogged down by UK politics and can't fully function, realise its potential. Look to Norway - a small nation with a multitude of potential infrastructure problems including sparse population, hilly terrain and semi-Arctic climate. But they've made it, because of their oil and wisely spent oil revenues. Why didn't Scotland fare as well with the oil? Because England (officially, the UK) hoovered it up and squandered most of it.

No use crying over spilled milk (or oil) now. But I just cannot understand how so many who live in such a fundamentally rich country don’t want to control their own affairs through their own government.

Maybe Finnish independence wasn't so "financially viable" in the beginning, but sometimes you have to think with your heart, not numbers. As to Scotland, Scotland is richer in natural beauty, natural resources, education, history, just about anything (except land area) than Finland. Begs the question, why isn't Scotland independent again? You've got more going for you than we ever had, and we made a success of it. 


Come on in – the water of independence is lovely!

Yours fraternally,

Lumi

27 comments:

  1. Now if only we could spread the word that Independence is not to be feared but actually something that can and should be embraced. If only we had some sort of mechanism that would allow us to spread the word to everyone that Independence is not a dragon to be feared but a pussy cat to be loved.

    Ach what am I talking about we already do have the necessary mechanisms.........the INTERNET.

    Excuse me Tris while I start spreading the news......lol!

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    1. That sounded like the opening words for a song Arbroath...

      Start spreading the news...

      We are, and I guess in many ways, will continue to, whether it's knocking on doors or writing on the net.

      With little help from the traditional media it's not that easy, but it's only for another year....

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  2. I have always found that "real" foreigners (I don't regard that as a negative term, of course) have no trouble at all in grasping the obvious viability of Scotland, and why It would be better off in multiple senses as an independent country.

    Unfortunately, decades if not centuries of feeble but self-seeking unionist politicians have actively undermined our confidence, but hope remains.

    The much greater attachment of Scots to Scotland rather than to the unreal construct of Britain will prevail, hopefully sooner, but certainly later,

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    1. Hello JPJ2.

      I agree completely. I've always been struck by the confidence of my French, American, Canadian, Swiss, Hungarian, Bulgarian, etc, etc, friends, as opposed to the negativity that you get from so many Scots, browbeaten by years of subservience and belief in the superiority of London.

      The thing is that when you ask them... why... why are we better off as part of this decayed empire of would be world leaders, they have no answers, or their answers are those spread by the naysayers with their own interests paramount: pensions, the EU, social security… All unfounded fears.

      Project fear was quick to see that, with nothing positive to say about U KOK, the best thing they could do was to spread the fear of utter annihilation for little people in a little country who couldn't possibly manage to do what countries 1/10th our size and with far fewer resources do.

      It so sickens me that this appears to work. We will be in the top ten of countries in the world in terms of per capita riches. We have a far better chance of paying unfunded pensions than the UK does. We are popular, and loved throughout the world. We have an excellent reputation for warmth, welcome, intellect, ingenuity, skills, only slightly tarnished by the garbage spouted by the likes of the Daily Mail about benefit dependent drunks. (Has Simon Heffer been out of an evening in London, or Nottingham, or Liverpool?) Industry will flock here. People from all over the world will want to invest. We can be so successful.

      As you say, the self seeking nature of so many of Scotland's unionist politicians means that they refuse to see the benefits for the country, and countrymen, as their minds are firmly upon the glittering career of international statesman or woman, the UN, the G8, and finally that great resting place, a title, elevation to the aristocracy and their own little bit of red leather bench.

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  3. I absolutely knew who wrote this before I got to the bottom thanks lumilumi
    and can I say tris this is the best independence site in Scotland and doesn't get the credit it deserves

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    1. I took the letter, John, from EU Citizens for Scottish Independence, which I think is a great site for finding out how, at least some, other people think of us. Interesting to look in, from outside.

      I thought Lumi's letter inspiring. All I did was share it. :)

      Thanks for your incredibly kind words.

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  4. The trouble lumi is for (some) Scots, standing so close to the monolith and being force fed a diet of yea canne dae it its hardly surprising that some people are determined to forsee nothing but failure for Scotland should it go independent, its when you take a step back from the beast and you can see beyond it and see other great little countries like yours who are bemused by the anguish and the wailing from Scotland maybe my countrymen will finally wake up in time to create a future our little country really deserves,
    and not one preordained by another country who do not have our best interests at heart

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    1. Yes, exactly.

      I think one of the things we should always ask is WHY NOT?

      The answers are there. The logic is there. There are facts and figures there to back it all up.

      Why believe Cameron and Darling and Maggie Curren or Michael Moore? Are they in the habit of telling you the truth?

      Do they have a personal agenda?

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  5. Hi Lumi- that's just what I was needing to hear this morning. Fair cheered me up. Many thanks.

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    1. Hi Jeannie... I'm happy to hear that you are cheered. That's a big ask on a Monday morning!!

      :)

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  6. No semi-relevant pictures of muscular men from Finland? :P

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    1. LOL

      Munguin's not here to supply your every need Deano my lad!

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    2. No semi-relevant pictures of penguins from Dundee? ;-)

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  7. Dean semi-relevant who'd of thunk it!

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  8. I'll try to find one pp :)

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  9. Dean...lol, I can be a bit.

    But at least you've cheered up CH

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  10. If you look at the latest post PP you will have your heart's desire.

    Dean... you'll have to wait mate.

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  11. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/images/2013/09/TomOfFinland.jpg
    will this do Dean?

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  12. just so as you know, it was on a google images page of Finnish people I didn't personally search it you understand harrummpp

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  13. LOL LOL LOL, John...

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  14. A really good letter! Its great to hear views and thoughts on Scotland, from elsewhere.

    I do often say, many from outside Scotland and the UK, simply do not understand why Scotland would possibly consider voting no.

    Vote YES, with confidence :)

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  15. Remember our king accepted the throne of england ...

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    Replies
    1. Aye. He wanted the hight life in London. I believe that he never even visited again. Another rogue.

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  16. No, Just intelligent people who think about their replies

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  17. That's Munguin readers... by and large... :)

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