Thank you Diane—Excellent analysis. Finland and Sweden will indeed eventually regret joining NATO, if it happens. Perhaps cooler heads will prevail as long as Turkey is putting the brakes on this folly. Time to resolve the conflicts, not exacerbate them!
During the Iraq War a good friend of mine (from the West Coast) took a suitcase full of strings for instruments for the Baghdad Symphony Orchestra, donated by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, when she went to Iraq as a journalist.. Later the city was bombed and she received a message from the orchestra leader that the bombing destroyed all the Symphony Orchestra’s instruments and the only item that was retrieved from the bombing was a cassette of Finlandia. A few years later, on a tour of Helsinki, we stopped at the statue of Sibelius, the composer, and I told the tour guide the story. She said she was going to tell all her tours and thanked me profusely.
I saw the "Top Gun Maverick" movie this weekend. It was entertaining but i couldn't help think it was setting the nation up again like they did with the movie "pearl harbor" in 2001 right before 09/11. It felt like a recruitment film for the military very "USA, USA, USA" get everyone riled up to fight for our "freedom" and spread democracy with drones. Wonder what they have in store for us all to suddenly want us to feel good about US and military. Prayers for all people of the world except for the narcissistic psychopaths
I agree with all. Yes, these films get support from the DoD and are very effective. We are outgunned. Need to be more creative, organized and coordinated and brilliant to attract psychic energy away from the powerful pull. Thanks for your comment.
Growing up in Finland, a granddaughter of men killed and maimed during a war fought to defend the country against attacking Russians, I experienced so much fear (absorbed from the adults around me) of the Soviet Union and a potential invasion that I would literally hide under the dinner table when I heard planes overhead. There was and is absolutely no sense that "Russia poses no threat" whatsoever. Finland is, as a matter of fact, extremely well prepared for a Russian attack, something that is always treated as a possibility. Whatever the reason for their attack on Ukraine - and I agree the the behavior of the US has a lot do do with it - Russia has essentially shown that they will not respect their neighbors, that the schoolyard is not safe, even if countries, like Finland, always do their best to placate the bully. Finland is therefore, understandably, tempted to create an alliance with the other big kid in the yard. There is no narcissism involved.
Thanks for your perspective. I did not wish to give the impression that I thought Finland was narcissistic. I meant the US. I do not at all. Putin, whom I am not a fan of, did make repeated initiatives to join NATO and to prevent and stop the war. Fear is not a wise advisor. Follow the money. Sorry for your childhood living fear.
Finland invaded Russia first. Finland was a part of imperial Russia prior to WW I. Finland allied with Nazi Germany for the duration of WW II, partook in the siege of Leningrad, starving those who did not die from the artillery barrages. Vladimir Putin's older brother starved to death in Leningrad during that time. Finland kept the swastika prominent in many of their special flags way past WW II's ending, their air force academy still flies that swastika.
And, Finland signed the Treaty of Paris, and by joining NATO will have declared war on Russia under its terms of settlement.
I have and have had many Finnish friends over the course of a lifetime. None of them want anything to do with this. it's their callous and quite callow government who are leading them into this folly and incipient disaster.
Regarding Ukraine and Russia's invasion, your answer is unfortunately riddled with ignorance. This is a U.S.-financed and fomented disaster, a thing pursued against the Soviet Union by the OSS/CIA since the end of WW II, and especially egregious beginning in its various color revolutions. The Maidan Massacre and Odessa Trade Union murders by fire were a result---a direct result--- of the CIA and US State Department under Victoria Nuland and Jeffrey Pyatt on a loose leash granted by Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. And of course heartily endorsed by Über war monger, John McCain. No, your grasp of history is tainted by what you apparently choose not to know---or understand about Ukraine.
Lasse Viren Olympic Gold medals 5 and 10K. I raced him c 1985 in Topanga Canyon. Paavo Nurmi, The Flying Finn. No disrespect for anyone, but most everyone in that part of the world has a bone to pick with neighbors. The Finns were somewhat forced to choose between Nazis or Ruskies. That's what I call a raw deal. Agree with this author that NATO and US provoked Russia to attack. Many broken promises dating back to reunification of Germany c 1991. There was actually no reason for NATO to exist when the Warsaw pact and the Soviet Union dissolved. The nation gangs ganged up; blood money for the MIC. There's no money to be had when it's peaceful.
Thank you Diane—Excellent analysis. Finland and Sweden will indeed eventually regret joining NATO, if it happens. Perhaps cooler heads will prevail as long as Turkey is putting the brakes on this folly. Time to resolve the conflicts, not exacerbate them!
Finland will essentially be declaring war on the Russian Federation if it joins NATO. Because it will be breaking the treaty of Paris.
https://en.news-front.info/2022/04/26/if-finland-joins-nato-it-will-return-to-war-with-russia/
Thank you for this. I also loved the lyrics....
Excellent survey. Thank you.
Here is a touching message I got by email -
During the Iraq War a good friend of mine (from the West Coast) took a suitcase full of strings for instruments for the Baghdad Symphony Orchestra, donated by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, when she went to Iraq as a journalist.. Later the city was bombed and she received a message from the orchestra leader that the bombing destroyed all the Symphony Orchestra’s instruments and the only item that was retrieved from the bombing was a cassette of Finlandia. A few years later, on a tour of Helsinki, we stopped at the statue of Sibelius, the composer, and I told the tour guide the story. She said she was going to tell all her tours and thanked me profusely.
Lavina Shaw
Port Coquitlam, BC
I saw the "Top Gun Maverick" movie this weekend. It was entertaining but i couldn't help think it was setting the nation up again like they did with the movie "pearl harbor" in 2001 right before 09/11. It felt like a recruitment film for the military very "USA, USA, USA" get everyone riled up to fight for our "freedom" and spread democracy with drones. Wonder what they have in store for us all to suddenly want us to feel good about US and military. Prayers for all people of the world except for the narcissistic psychopaths
I agree with all. Yes, these films get support from the DoD and are very effective. We are outgunned. Need to be more creative, organized and coordinated and brilliant to attract psychic energy away from the powerful pull. Thanks for your comment.
Russia aint isolated. Tis a grand ole country with no need for the West.
The US of Arrogance and Hato war against Russia to the last UKroNazie has been lost. Poland won.
Finland is the prime target of many nukes.
Cold.
How come amerICaNS are unable to pronounce the word Nuclear.
Tis always Nuke-You Lar.
Don't nuke me with the Arrogance of the US Hato please.
Thank you
Regards
Thanks, Good to hear from you - just reminded me of a cartoon to add.
Growing up in Finland, a granddaughter of men killed and maimed during a war fought to defend the country against attacking Russians, I experienced so much fear (absorbed from the adults around me) of the Soviet Union and a potential invasion that I would literally hide under the dinner table when I heard planes overhead. There was and is absolutely no sense that "Russia poses no threat" whatsoever. Finland is, as a matter of fact, extremely well prepared for a Russian attack, something that is always treated as a possibility. Whatever the reason for their attack on Ukraine - and I agree the the behavior of the US has a lot do do with it - Russia has essentially shown that they will not respect their neighbors, that the schoolyard is not safe, even if countries, like Finland, always do their best to placate the bully. Finland is therefore, understandably, tempted to create an alliance with the other big kid in the yard. There is no narcissism involved.
Thanks for your perspective. I did not wish to give the impression that I thought Finland was narcissistic. I meant the US. I do not at all. Putin, whom I am not a fan of, did make repeated initiatives to join NATO and to prevent and stop the war. Fear is not a wise advisor. Follow the money. Sorry for your childhood living fear.
Finland invaded Russia first. Finland was a part of imperial Russia prior to WW I. Finland allied with Nazi Germany for the duration of WW II, partook in the siege of Leningrad, starving those who did not die from the artillery barrages. Vladimir Putin's older brother starved to death in Leningrad during that time. Finland kept the swastika prominent in many of their special flags way past WW II's ending, their air force academy still flies that swastika.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53249645?fbclid..
And, Finland signed the Treaty of Paris, and by joining NATO will have declared war on Russia under its terms of settlement.
I have and have had many Finnish friends over the course of a lifetime. None of them want anything to do with this. it's their callous and quite callow government who are leading them into this folly and incipient disaster.
Regarding Ukraine and Russia's invasion, your answer is unfortunately riddled with ignorance. This is a U.S.-financed and fomented disaster, a thing pursued against the Soviet Union by the OSS/CIA since the end of WW II, and especially egregious beginning in its various color revolutions. The Maidan Massacre and Odessa Trade Union murders by fire were a result---a direct result--- of the CIA and US State Department under Victoria Nuland and Jeffrey Pyatt on a loose leash granted by Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. And of course heartily endorsed by Über war monger, John McCain. No, your grasp of history is tainted by what you apparently choose not to know---or understand about Ukraine.
Thanks for those details and your knowledge.
I'm sorry, I see you were answering someone else's post, not mine
We're getting there. lol (You had me going for a sec, no problem.)
I agree with everything you said, except I don't know how you ever got the impression I felt otherwise. Maybe you are addressing someone else's post.
Thanks, Steve. Indeed, my comment posted on the wrong part of the thread. thanks for letting me know.
Lasse Viren Olympic Gold medals 5 and 10K. I raced him c 1985 in Topanga Canyon. Paavo Nurmi, The Flying Finn. No disrespect for anyone, but most everyone in that part of the world has a bone to pick with neighbors. The Finns were somewhat forced to choose between Nazis or Ruskies. That's what I call a raw deal. Agree with this author that NATO and US provoked Russia to attack. Many broken promises dating back to reunification of Germany c 1991. There was actually no reason for NATO to exist when the Warsaw pact and the Soviet Union dissolved. The nation gangs ganged up; blood money for the MIC. There's no money to be had when it's peaceful.
Interesting point of view. Helpful Thanks.
This is probably much more accurate than my tale https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/finland-once-snuck-inside-the-soviet-air-force/
Fascinating.