94 years ago today, after centuries of getting fucked in the ass by Swedes and Russians, my country became independent.
Happy birthday Finland!
Later my grandfather fought and was injured in a war to preserve our independence. The Karelian area where he came from was forfeited to the Soviet Union, his family lost their homes and were forced to migrate elsewhere.
These days independence is traditionally celebrated by first watching The Unknown Soldier on TV, followed by watching the Presidential Independence Day reception at the Presidential Palace (unless one is particularly famous and important, in which case they will actually be at the Palace).
I can’t force myself to feel a goddamn thing about the day, so I will be eating fish sticks and watching whatever TV channel isn’t covering the presidential ball.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate my independence, or the sacrifices made by others for it, but it feels like celebrating it has been stolen from me. The independence, the veterans, the flag… the only people making a fuss are right wing, nationalist, racist dumbasses. They feel like being in the EU is a threat to our independence, or selling cottage lots to Russians, or having a female (and LGBT-friendly, gasp!) president as the high commander of the army. On the other hand, they would like to join NATO and buy back Karelia from Russia. In short, the mere existence of these people offends me. And it feels like today is their party.
So… I wonder if Jersey Shore is on.
