I was approached by a teacher (Mr. Eric Mwai from Kenya) from the Oulu International School with a strange request.
Eric had written an article about the inauguration of 3 schools in Oulu who will cater to "the English speaking, Anglophile Finns and Foreigners community in Oulu", under the broad label of "International".
Eric submitted it to the Oulu City run online web site, 65 Degrees North. (You can read here our coverage of the event on the web.)
65 Degrees North published "his submission". To his horror, Eric found that the version printed had little resemblance to what he had submitted.
Eric wrote to the Editor asking him/her that the edited version should be removed from the web site. It was removed.
Eric found he had not saved a copy of the 65 Degrees North edited version. He asked me if there was any way I could find him a copy.
of the article submitted by Eric Mwai.
Although I am a complete computer idiot, there a couple of things that I do know. "Hey Presto" - within a minute I had sent him the text of the "edited version"! (See above for a screen image from the internet of the page! Click on the picture to see a larger image.)
When I read through the two versions, I was astounded with the liberties the Editor of 65 Degrees North had taken with Eric's submission.
Either the Editor has a personal agenda in running 65 Degrees North or the Editor feels all powerful in rewriting articles by authors based on his/her interpretation of events!
In order for you to judge the situation, I am including the two versions below, the one in BOLD ITALICS, being the Editor's version of Eric's article which is interspersed with Eric's original submission. [Spelling mistakes and punctuation errors in the 65 Degrees North version (a sign of bead editing) have been corrected by me!]
Oulu International School Celebrates New Finnish Links
Written by Erik Mwai
Monday, 21 May 2007Oulu International School, Oulun Lyseo Upper Secondary School IB Diploma programme and Leinonpuisto school have started their co-existence in the newly built and renovated campus at Kasarmintie 4 in Myllytulli suburb.
Oulu International School, Oulun Lyseo IB and Leinnonpuisto schools have begun a co-operation initiative and celebrated in an inauguration ceremony this week attended by a senior Finnish politician.
The three schools held their inauguration ceremony in colourful celebration on 4th May 2007 officiated by the former minister of defence, former UN Special envoy for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and presidential candidate in 1994 and 2000 Ms Elizabeth Rehn. The choice of Ms. Rehn as the guest of honour can be explained through her extensive experience in international affairs and her minority status as a Swedish speaker in Finland. What cannot be easily explained was the chosen theme of Finnish Kalevala epic for the ceremony.
The newly co-operating schools are now housed in a renovated campus at Kasarmintie 4 in the Oulu suburb of Myllytulli. The opening ceremony was attended by Elizabeth Rehn, the former Finnish Defence Minister who came second in the 1994 Presidential Election, standing for the Swedish People's Party. 'The choice of Elisabth Rehn as the guest of honour can be explained through her extensive experience in international affairs and her minority status as a Swedish speaker in Finland,' claimed one of the teachers.
Kalevala epic poems are very national in many ways. They have been used through generations to unite and inspire Finnish nationalism and identity. The epic poems role in Finnish national identity in magical, like sampo! So then, why would Oulu International school staff members agree to this very Finnish theme? Is it not alienating the non-Finns or is it "doing as Romans do while in Rome?"
The theme of the opening ceremony was the Finnish Kalevala. 'Kalevala epic poems are very national in many ways. They have been used through generations to unite and inspire Finnish nationalism and identity,'said one of the teachers. He admitted it might seem 'alienating' to 'Non-Finns' but apparently there was a good reason for the choice.
'Though Kalevala is a Finnish; creation myths and epics are similar around the world,' Also, 'those who choose to leave their countries accept that they become representatives of their country of origin and students of the ways of the country that hosts them. Therefore, knowing Kalevala epic poems would do no harm to international students!'
These are important questions for Oulu International School, Oulu City and Finland in general. Oulu City Innovation strategy 2007-2013 includes an internationalism and aims and attracting non-Finns to come and do business in Oulu. In order to attract the international investors and experts, structures like an International school are necessary. Internationalism is vital for Oulu as a city and the school plays an important role in making it possible. On the national level, discussions are held every now and then on how foreigners are received in Finland, how they adapt if they do and what roles are they expected to adopt.
According to a school press release, the co-operating schools have a vital role to play in Oulu City Council's strategy of attracting more international people. However, the school emphasised that 'Oulu International School wishes to be part of the community and not an isolated school for foreigners. Cooperating with other schools like Lyseo Lukio, Leinnonpuisto, pre-schools, Myllytulli Comprehensive School and other institutions makes it possible to be, and feel like part on the community.'
There are three ways foreigners can live in country that they were not born in. One, assimilate and try to act and behave like their hosts as much as possible, two, integrate meaning that they maintain their cultural practices but try to co-operate and interact with the hosts as smoothly as possible and three, isolate themselves as much as possible from the locals. These three methods are not entirely dependent on the foreigners but they can be triggered, supported or encouraged by the hosts however, in most cases most of the responsibility lies on the individual.
So then, was the Kalevala theme aimed at assimilating or isolating the international students? Definitely not! Though Kalevala is Finnish, creation myths and epics are similar around the world. The students made the point throughout their presentations. Secondly, those who choose to leave their countries accept that they become representatives of their country of origins and learners of the ways of the country that hosts them. Therefore, knowing Kalevala epic poems would do no harm to international students. On the contrary, they can compare it with epics from other countries of their interest.
Oulu International School wishes to be part of the community and not an isolated school for foreigners. Cooperating with other schools like Oulun Lyseo Upper Secondary, Leinonpuisto, pre-schools, Myllytulli comprehensive School and other institutions makes it possible to be, and feel like part on the community. The school should be one of the venues and avenues that foreigners and other minorities meet the Finns and begin to build bridges. If someone watching the students presentations asks what is Kalevala, that makes a good start.
According to the school, the new co-operation can allow foreigners and other minorities meet the Finns and begin to build bridges.'One of the teachers felt that the Kalevala themed ceremony might seem strange but knowing about the Finnish epic would certainly be a good way for foreigners to come together with Finns.
Ask yourself:
- Is there any relation between the article authored by Eric Mwai and the one put up (and subsequently removed) on the web site 65 Degreees North by the Editor of this site?
- What was the purpose behind this mutilation?
65 Degrees North has no space restriction, so that could not be the "Motive"!
If 65 Degrees North intends to run its Editorial Policy based on what is the "Hidden Agenda of the City of Oulu" mainly "Positive Image Creation" or of the Editor of the Web Site, it would be better that the journal does not ask independent-minded authors to write for it!
As you know, Annikki and I stand for "Free Speech" and are willing to stand up in Public and shout for it.
Maybe the Editor of 65 Degrees North can answer us about this "censorship policy" being adopted by the City of Oulu Web Journal run with "tax-payers (read as Eric's, Annikki's and my) money"!
We will certainly publish any reply (most probably SILENCE) - UNEDITED!
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