In Finland we have this hot potato called pakkoruotsi.
Already for decades (since the law about the mandatory second native language was established in the 1970s), certain generations have promoted for ending the obligation of Swedish in Finnish schools, because they see it as a violation of freedom of choice. I find this completely retarded.
With a justification like the above people should demonstrate against the whole compulsory school system. After all, it obligates every Finn to study during nine grades following the convergent syllabus, which includes a whole bunch of other disciplines as well.
Of course the prevalent system should not be unquestioned, but to speak about the importance of basic education, I think it is just great that we have so many different subjects to study in our schools – let them be mandatory.
And I think here lies the problem: it is not so much about the language itself, but the fact that some uptight old farts – who are/were bitter about Sweden ruling over Finland in the 18th century and making us bilingual – have taught their children and grandchildren to hate the jävla svenska språket!
What I find the funniest is that the Swedish speaking Finns (a Finnish language minority) are obliged to study Finnish. However majority of them complain about nothing.
So, with this introduction I come to my point. The latest grassroot movement has put up a petition and gathered over 50 000 signatures against pakkoruotsi, which means (as to the Finnish law) that the parliament needs to have a hearing about it.
Making Swedish optional would not be so concerning if Swedish would be vibrant in the country otherwise, but the thing is that more and more people know less and less Swedish. And it is all because of the stupid attitude.
Didn’t God himself say something along the lines ”As long as people are speaking the same language, nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them”.
Not being a great fan of God nor the Bible, I must say there is a point there. Or at least according to my interpretation there is. In the story of the Tower of Babel, people screw up their city and scatter apart because they stop speaking the same language.
So, isn’t it the benefit of all to learn different tounges to keep communicating and building a rich and vivid world together?
Peace and love, puss å kram,
Roivis, whose level of Swedish is embarrassingly poor (at the moment)
