Finnish demonstrators bellow Finlandia at Russian Embassy

Finnish demonstrators bellow Finlandia at Russian Embassy

News

norman lebrecht

May 16, 2022

The  Cold War just turned frigid.

Comments

  • MPMcGrath says:

    Would that all people so definitively opposed the Russian government and war and lie machine. Some speak of peace at any price. “Better red than dead.”

    Finland has a rich heritage of courageously standing up to oppression, threats and outright attacks and land grabs by Moscow. Good to have them in NATO.

    • John Kelly says:

      Quite right. “Live Free or Die” as the number plates on New Hampshire cars proudly proclaim.

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    Brilliant! There’s been a Ukraine contingent across the road from the Russian Embassy, at Kensington Gardens for weeks too.

  • Gustavo says:

    Nationalism is worth nothing in times of moral decay.

    “Helsinki: zero points.”

  • Gary Freer says:

    Frigid? how does that not inspire and warm the cockles of the heart?

    • Gustavo says:

      “Finlandia” means looking back in history, doesn’t it.

      I would have preferred seeing Finland and Sweden being proud of their long-standing military independence.

      These hasty NATO-applications are more likely to lead towards WWIII rather than towards peace.

      It seems quite apparent that all this is driven by fear. Thus, I find it more timely to cite Master Yoda:

      “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

      • John Kelly says:

        It isn’t driven by fear, it’s driven by common sense.

        • Gustavo says:

          Wouldn’t it then make more sense that all Slavic nations formed their own organization.

          • John Kelly says:

            On the basis you are suggesting we would have no IMF, no World Bank, No Bretton Woods agreement, no United Nations etc etc etc

          • Gustavo says:

            What a wonderful world if we could do without.

          • John Kelly says:

            Yes, and the traffic would be a lot better here in NYC when the UN would no longer be in session!

  • Anon says:

    Meanwhile, in Turin, Italy: Ukraine won Eurovision & teamed up with the group from Finland for a memorable street jam! Wonderful collaboration!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-BdcqeEBFk

    • Gustavo says:

      The Eurovision song contest has been and will always be the epitome of lack of culture, lack of standard, deference to Anglo-Saxon pop culture, abandonment of any norms and values within a pseudo-democratic framework.

  • Herbie G says:

    A stark reminder to Putin of what happened during the Winter War… On that occasion, the League of Nations expelled Russia – any chance that the UN will do the same? Don’t hold your breath.

  • fflambeau says:

    This is why Sibelius is so great: not only patriotic but lovely music.

  • Peter Schünemann says:

    Sorry! I don’t understand, why in the headline “bellowed” is used instead of “sang”. When it is sung open-air, it doesn’t sound like in a concert hall.

    In my opinion of more importance is the fact, that they replaced “Suomi” by Ucraine.

    • William Osborne says:

      Nothing like having the wolf at the door to create a sudden change of heart about NATO. Then it’s time to “bellow” one’s allegiance.

    • Gustavo says:

      Well, that what nationalists do, they bellow their anthems.

      You know, like “Rule, Britannia!” or “Land of Pomp and Circumstance”.

  • Novagerio says:

    It’s called Solidarity, Norman…

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