Finnish Selective Memories on Russia
Why do Finns Choose to Remember ONLY Shit from Russia and Forgot All the Good Things?
Selective Memories are Bad, just in case. As a Finnish Russian, I had to write this post for my American friends, so they would learn why Finland joining NATO might bode trouble for US. Also, my historical knowledge would dispel both Kremlin and Finnish propaganda, but you’re welcome to fact-check me on my every point - I do encourage an independent research and critical thinking.
Tell me why do Finns remember only bad things of Russia but never good ones? Finns owe their independence and the mere existence of their state to Russia, why don't Finns ever mention that? Lenin granted Finland its independence back in 1917 and what's Finnish gratitude for it? Now they're tearing down Lenin monuments and closed down his museum in Tampere, the city I lived actually.
What's about Finnish autonomy state under Russian rule where Finnish culture flourished? Finns chose to remember only brief bad time under emperor Alexander III who was bad tyrant for Russia too by the way just like Putin but not a century of good living as an autonomous Duchy under Russia. Selective memories again. Before Finland was just an outskirts of Sweden, Russia made it an independent state, and they hate us for it. Fuck them.
Now, to WWII. First Stalin again slaughtered millions of Russians too, he was just a monster - it was not about Russia conquering Finland but Stalin subduing EVERYONE he disliked.
But even here not all is as straightforward. Finland itself aligned with Hitler, planned to take St. Petersburg and Karelia from Russia to create a ‘greater Finland’ with Nazi help, why don't Finns ever tell you that? Also Finns bombed St. Petersburg along with Nazi, and tortured and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Jews, Poles and Russians in Nazi concentration camps, it's proven and I can share the links.
Again, I have an excellent history knowledge and Finnish propaganda doesn't work on me. Finnish hypocrisy, Russophobia and selective memories just piss me off.
Most Finns wanted to join NATO? One more lies. Public referendum on NATO membership which should have been held in this case according to the Finnish law wasn't held, so public attitudes to NATO are largely unknown and Finland joined it illegally, in violation of its own law. They justified it by fake state media polls but no smart person believes state or media conducted polls.
Again, Finland owes its very existence to Lenin. It owes its prosperity to Russian gas and oil due to being a Russian neighbor. Without Russia Finland would have been nothing, and Finns are just Russophobic ingrates.
As for ‘no one would trust Putin not to invade' - another unfounded paranoia and old grievance based on selective memories. Ukrainian war isn't Finnish business and Finland shouldn't have meddled here.
Also, even if you want act on paranoia, joining NATO albeit illegally would have been more than enough for protection, to completely shut down Russian border right before Xmas on fabricated grounds thus depriving tens of thousands of Russians living in Finland from visiting their families in Russia for Xmas (and vice versa) was an act of pure evil, spite and Russophobic fascism, and as a Finnish Russian I will never ever forgive Finland for that.
But OK, you might say, that’s all bad for Finns and for Russians and for me personally as for a Finnish Russian, but why should Americans care of this shit? Because Finland might drag US into yet ANOTHER WAR SHIT with Russia in case Ukrainian one would end. I had just explained how Finland planned to take St. Petersburg from Russia (and bombed it along with Nazis) to get a ‘greater Finland’. Finnish Nazi general Mannerheim had actually invaded Vyborg in Russia straight after Lenin granted to Finland its independence and slaughtered a lot of Russians here. More of 'Finnish gratitude’ to Russia for its independence and existence - a brutal attack on the very first day after gaining this independence.
How is it relevant now? Do you think Finland gave up its imperial plans to get Vyborg, Karelia and even St. Petersburg from Russia? Judging by all current Finnish Russophobic policies, I hardly think so. So Finland might use NATO and US now in its geopolitical machinations in order to grab some Russian land ‘preventively’ (to ‘prevent Putin’s invasion’ ofc just like Finns joined Hitler to ‘prevent Stalin’s invasion’, attack is best defense after all, sigh).
Now, do Americans really need that? Do they really need to be dragged into another dangerous foreign war with a potential to turn nuclear, just to satiate Finnish Russophobic imperial ambition? I hardly think so. That’s why BEWARE of Finland, Americans. It’s a very small state but capable of a big shit. I lived there and sadly I know.
Fascinating, thank you. Like most Americans, I am very ignorant of this history, but look forward to learning. Three of my grandparents were born in Russia and one in Ukraine. As an Ashkenazic Jew, I do not identify as Russian - it was a place my people had to escape from. Without any sense of fealty to the progenitors of a communist state, I am not sure that knowledge of history is going to have much sway as to my perhaps simpleminded opinion. I intuit what is probably the consensus belief among Americans - Trotsky, Lenin, Marx, Putin, communism bad - Finland parliamentary democracy in the 21st Century good, and at risk with a neighbor like Russia.
So interesting - had no idea. We are all taught very very selective parts of history in great detail. Education should include a broad knowledge of the world around us. We are like the old bumper sticker about mushrooms - kept in the dark and fed shit. We know nothing.