Robert G. Kaiser, in an
interactive diary in
The Washington Post, has some interesting observations about Finland. He says "for a patriotic American like me, the Finns present a difficult challenge: If we Americans are so rich and so smart, why can't we treat our citizens as well as the Finns treat theirs?" I look forward to reading his diary entries and the blogger comments.
Here is an excerpt of his interview with Finnish philosopher Pekka Himanen:
Q. American society is divided on a number of contentious issues. Can you tell us briefly what the situation is in Finland in regard to:
* Abortion?
A. The Finnish view is that women have a right to decide on their bodies. There's no controversy on abortion.
* Euthanasia?
A. Passive euthanasia--that is, not keeping people alive hopelessly--would be acceptable to many Finns. Active euthanasia would be more divisive.
* Prayer in schools, and the separation of church and state generally? Does religion play any role in public life?
A. No prayer in school. Finnish politicians don't refer to religion. You would never hear a Finnish politician say "God bless Finland." Finns want these things to be separated.
*The teaching of evolution or creationism in the schools?
A. All schools teach the evolution theory, the Christian theory of creation is naturally also taught but not as an alternative to science but rather as an allegorical story.
* Gay marriage, and gay soldiers in your military?
A. Gays can marry but not in the church. They don't yet have all the same rights as heterosexuals do. No issue on gay soldiers.
* The death penalty?
A. Finland is strongly against death penalty, which is not part of our system.
* Gun control? Can citizens own rifles? Pistols?
A. We don't think that owning a gun is a constitutional right or that it would have something to do with individual's freedom. The Finnish thinking is that the number of guns is linked to having a more violent society. But you can own guns on certain conditions, for example, for hunting, which is quite popular in the countryside.
* Immigration. Do you have immigration? From where? How are immigrants treated? Do foreigners seek to become citizens of Finland? Is that possible?
A. We have immigration in relatively small numbers so compared to the US Finland is a very homogeneous society, which I think is a limitation. Immigrants can become citizens of Finland but here our attitudes should get much more open.
A reader recently provided this link (above) to an essay by James Kurtti, who reports that many Finns have Sami blood. 
