Showing posts with label Finns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finns. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Depressing realisation

SL Õhtuleht today has an interview with Finnish historian Martti Turtola, who claims that the view of Estonia as poor cousin in his country has disappeared almost entirely without trace.

"There may well have been people who looked down their noses at Estonia before, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but not any more. It has come on so rapidly that everyone ought to be green with envy."

The historian says that the Finns have in fact learnt a thing or two from their southern neighbours. "Mostly to do with their lifestyle," he explains. "Finns are a very serious bunch. I lived in Estonia for four years and I realised that while our histories are similar, for some reason Estonians are much happier."

If that's the case, what does it say about Finns?

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Beating a retreat

In the aftermath of a Postimees exclusive this week uncovering the barbaric treatment of the drunk and disorderly at Hotell Viru's classy Cafe Amigo - deplorable scenes of victims bound hand and foot being beaten for extended periods in dingy back rooms by thuggish security staff - there has been a call in such newspapers as the Helsingin Sanomat for Finns to boycott the hotel.

Every cloud has a silver lining.