By Matt Underwood Finland Apologizes to China, Japan and South Korea for Racist Gesture
So, it seems Finland’s government has found itself in a bit of a pickle, and the main subject matter is that they are offering apologies to China, Japan, and South Korea, specifically. This situation stems from a rather unfortunate event involving a former Miss Finland, who, let’s just say, made a very questionable social media post. The gesture in question involved pulling her eyes back to mimic the appearance of slanted eyes, accompanied by a caption suggesting she was “eating with a Chinese person.” This image and caption are undoubtedly considered racist.
Following this initial transgression, the story took a further dive when several Finnish far-right politicians decided to show solidarity with the former Miss Finland. They replicated the same offensive gesture and shared it on their own social media platforms. It’s a baffling move, to say the least, and it has prompted the Finnish government to undertake some damage control. Now, why the focus on China, Japan, and South Korea specifically? Well, these three nations are major players in terms of Finnish tourism and trade, making them significant economic partners. This reality likely played a major role in the decision of where to offer an apology.
Looking at the context, it’s not entirely surprising that such an incident occurred. Some believe there is a notable level of racism or a lack of understanding regarding different cultures and groups, within certain segments of Finnish society. Some commentators believe that some Finns, especially those in more homogenous communities, might view East Asians more as abstract concepts rather than as real individuals with their own thoughts and feelings. This lack of interaction, they say, can sometimes lead to a dismissive attitude toward those who find such gestures offensive, dismissing their concerns as being “too sensitive” or “politically correct.”
There is considerable debate about the nature of the apology. While the government is apologizing, some believe it is more of a “sorry we got caught” situation, rather than a genuine expression of remorse. Some of those involved in the initial offense are reportedly still defending their actions. The penalties for those involved also seem rather light, with a “stern warning” being the main consequence. The underlying sentiments seem to be that a lack of education and exposure to different cultures might, unfortunately, correlate with a higher degree of prejudice in certain instances.
The way that this situation has unfolded, the lack of apology to a wider collection of Asian countries, and the targeting of only the biggest Asian economies, suggests that the primary motivation is pragmatic rather than sincere. It also raises questions about the government’s priorities. The apologies were issued in the nation’s official language by the Finnish embassy in each of the three targeted nations, a move that underlines the seriousness with which this is being taken. However, this raises questions about the lack of any apology to Asians living within Finland itself.
It’s clear that the intent behind the gesture was malicious. It’s not a misunderstanding. And given the reactions, within the culture and media, it is clear that doing this kind of gesture is idiotic, and there are far more people who disagree than agree. The fact that this gesture was adopted by several members of Parliament and the EU parliament makes it worse. It is not just one person, but a group of people who are elected. These people represent the country and its people by the nature of their elected roles.
It’s important to differentiate between the actions of a few individuals, even if they are public figures, and the views of the population at large. It’s not fair to assume that these actions reflect the sentiments of an entire country. However, in this case, the fact that several politicians joined in suggests a deeper problem. The fact that the apology was targeted specifically to three countries underscores the political motivations behind the response. And, of course, the fact that this gesture is considered extremely offensive in large parts of Asia is well known, given the internet and the age of information. And it’s not simply the physical gesture itself, but the context and intent behind it that make it racist. It’s safe to say that such actions are seen as an insult. The impact of such actions, whether it is known to the actors or not, is to cause offense.