Yesterday, being the Freedom of Speech day, worldwide, the local newspaper, Kaleva, and the local division of the Finnish National Radio Station, YLE, organised a 2 hour Free Speech Podium in the central Otto Karhi park in Oulu. They had originally announced that it would be London Hyde Park Corner style, with each speaker choosing his own location and podium, and speaking to his audience.
When I arrived at the park, I found the rules had been changed. They had organised a single podium with a recording mike in front of it. The speakers were asked to line up and take their turn in making their presentation.
I had set off from home with my own stand, a rickety steel frame with a wooden top which had been made by Annikki. When Annikki saw me leave on my scooter with this contraption, she was aghast and tried to get me to put it back. She felt that it would just fall to bits under my weight.
I was, however, adamant.
There was only me with a stand.
I was not too anxious to join the queue of speakers, as I knew I would not be able to say what I wanted in the short time one would be compelled to observe if one is taking a turn.
The audience was large. Several of my friends had turned up. I told them I would run my own show once the Finnish speakers had finished their presentations.
CHAFF participant Matti Moisa spoke.
Chaff participant Eeva-Maija Kolehmainen spoke.
I listened to several speakers who expressed the problems faced by them. It was obvious that they were all on the same page as they had no-one listening to or airing their genuine complaints. They hoped this public forum would be effective. These residents of Oulu were quite excited to have this chance to speak their mind. Obviously they were hoping that someone would listen to them.
I waited till the string of Finnish speakers were run through. When there was absolutely no one else approaching the main podium, I mounted it and did a 2 minute speel (Watch this on Windows Media Player using this link - http://www.kaleva.fi/video/fos001.wvm - it is the last speech on this video by Veli Pekka Tolanen).
I told the audience my main rant and introduced Annikki's new book "Freedom of Speech - Whose?"
The organisers were hit with a bolt of lightening as I pointed to THEM directly as being, not the solution, but the PROBLEM.
I directly threw down a challenge that my speech would probably be the only one not reported in the following day's report of this event!
When I completed this short speel, there was a great applause. I was now sure I would be able to make my longer talk from my own podium.
As I walked to my podium, several people asked me to continue, even though I was speaking in English. A large proportion of the audience were older Finnish folk whose English would have been strictly limited.
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I did not need much persuasion. Mounting my soap box. Actually I put a small soap dish under my platform so as to say I was standing on top of a soap box. (This humour was not lost on my audience.)
I let fly attacking the corruption prevalent in Finnish society including in the Police, the Judiciary, the Politicians, the Bureaucracy, and above all the Media. I used specific examples as to how each of these authorities were totally corrupt from the very top, as they all practiced a "Big Brother" mentality at the expense of the common man.
I shouted that I was now able to speak out as I was now retired. This was unlike my many hundreds of foreign and Finnish friends who were unable to make their voices heard as they feared being punished in their daily working life!
I introduced Annikki's new book which focuses especially on the censorship practices by the Media in Oulu, in particular the Kaleva newspaper. I also gave examples from our two previous books - "Handbook for Survival in Finland" and "Seven Years Hard Labour in a Finnish Holiday Camp - A Finnish University".
When I finished my rather emotional speech, from my podium it sounded as if there was thunderous applause, making it very clear that the truth had been told.
I received several congratulatory remarks from the listeners. I went home and told Annikki of the red faces of te organisers I had seen in the audience. Without doubt, I was sure that this speech of mine would not be covered by the media.
To my surprise, in this morning's paper, the Kaleva had fallen for the trap as they were forced to give my speech and my comments a special place. My picture waving my book about the University of Oulu got full exposure!
So as to blunt my comments, the main Editorial in the Kaleva newspaper was written claiming that, as per Freedom House, the Finnish Press was amongst the most free in the world.
Freedom House is either a totally incompetent organisation or it has fallen hook, line and sinker for the mastery of Finnish authorities to create an image.
(Is there any other country in the world where the Police rings up a suspected criminal and asks whether a crime has been corrected? If the suspect, a bureaucrat, says that no crime has been committed, the Police does not investigate! Is there any other country in the world where the media restricts the right of reply, if the reply is from the "common man"!)
In conclusion, I must include here an email I received today.
from: Eeva-Maija Kohlemainen
to: Jacob Matthan
subject: Re: Kaleva today
I think it takes enormous bravery to face and criticize Oulu's main media like you did. They can't just ignore it, because you reallypublically put yourself on the line there. I admire you and don't know whether I could do the same myself. Media has a lot of power and should be responsible for it as well. It's great that there are people like you to remind them for it every once and now.
I said to my sister that my young rebellious times are probably over, because I felt a flash of shame after my speech and the Kaleva-quote. After all, we have it so well compared to what used to be. On the other hand - nothing changes if people tape up their mouths. ;)
Back to painting Eerik's room and sewing a quilt for his bed.
Eeva-Maija
I think my speaking out is for little Eerik and my grandchildren, Samuel and Daniel, whose future in Finland rests in what we do to ensure their freedoms!
1 comment:
Go for it, Dad!
Love, Susanna
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