I dare to slightly modify the original Sufi story about another aspect of the miracles of Jesus so that this article can be properly understood.
Once upon a time, while Jesus was passing through a village, he saw a mob handing a man over to the police for theft of jewellery and sexual assault. When the man saw Jesus, he shouted at him and said that this man (Jesus) was responsible for his crimes. Jesus said: “I do not know you, so how could you blame me for your wrongdoings?” The man said that he was blind by birth. He had never seen feminine beauty or thought of expensive things. “You have healed my vision. As soon as I saw the beauty of women and the importance of wealth, I could not control myself because the legal way was long and I had to commit a crime to enjoy them. You were responsible for my crimes.”, he said. Jesus was sad to learn that even giving eyes can be harmful.
Jesus moved forward and saw an intoxicated man. He was stealing goods from people and hurling mud and trash at passersby. He runs so swiftly that nobody can catch him. The crowds pleaded with Jesus to give him some counsel. Jesus went to educate the intoxicated man. But the alcoholic yelled at Jesus: “You are responsible for all of my crimes!” Because I had been bedridden for years and was paralyzed in both legs. I was never able to leave my home. You cured me, and I discovered the pleasures of walking again. I fled the house and became acquainted with drug users. Therefore, you are accountable for my actions. If you had not healed me, I could not have caused any trouble or inconvenience.” Jesus was profoundly distressed by the fact that even health can be injurious.
Jesus went on his way. He spotted a man hanging himself from a tree and committing suicide. Jesus raced up to him, stopped him, and delivered a sermon on the priceless significance and beauty of life. But the man opened his eyes and screamed at Jesus to stop his futile sermon. He also blamed Jesus for all of his challenges and misfortunes in life. “I don’t even know you, and how could I cause you so much trouble?” Jesus responded. The man yelled: “I had died peacefully. You heard the cries of my loved ones and brought me back to life. My dilemma began the day you resurrected me. I needed a job to pay my rent and take care of my family, and I was dealing with other issues. I was fed up and thinking of suicide to return to my tranquil grave, but you wouldn’t let me die even now. What have I done to you that you are seeking retaliation for?”
Hearing all this, tears started rolling down from Jesus’ eyes. He was deeply troubled to know that even giving someone a new life can cause pain and anguish. Like Jesus, we find it difficult to comprehend how someone may so simply turn their blessings into curses. We know many people are willing to turn their blessings into curses, opportunities into misery, and fame into infamy.
In Finland’s print, electronic, and social media, the term “street gangs” refers to migrant young people who are allegedly involved in numerous social offences and drug peddling. This word is a key topic on the table of representatives from various political parties negotiating the formation of a government. Youths from migrant backgrounds who came to Finland fleeing long wars, social injustices, government corruption, and crimes committed by various mafia or violent groups in their home countries, or those who were born here, have certainly heard true stories from their parents and elders about why they had to leave their home countries.
They must have been told inspirational stories of the power of hope, which gave them the strength to survive their journey to Finland. These stories must include disapproval of injustice, refusal to participate in crimes, and a desire for a civilized and safe society. It was not only a long voyage to arrive in Finland. It was also a great distance away from those unjust and corrupt societies in order to live life peacefully and provide a better future for their children. Hearing this, these young people should be grateful to their parents for bringing them here, as well as grateful to the host community for welcoming them and opening its doors, providing them with resources and the opportunity to begin a new life. The majority of refugees came from countries where there were few vocational training institutes where they could learn only one skill. Even after completing a vocational course of his or her initial choice, a person in Finland might apply to learn another vocational profession in order to fulfil labour market demands. Providing such opportunities involves a significant investment of resources, which many people fail to recognize. Those who are given all of these opportunities, resources, and privileges are naturally expected to share the host community’s social norms and values and to live the peaceful, appreciative, and civilized life of a law-abiding citizen.
This fact must be accepted: if people from immigrant backgrounds commit a crime, the consequences are more severe than if a native person commits the same crime. Even though the essence of the two crimes is similar, the impact on society of both a native and a migrant’s origin will be vastly different. Despite differences in the rapist’s background, race, and colour, the court’s legal sentencing will be the same, but no argument on human equality can bridge the enormous divide of strong public opinion against the crime of an immigrant.
In short, immigrants’ unlawful actions divide society most rapidly and create a negative perception of all other uninvolved immigrants. Because if a native commits a crime, he is considered disobedient and an offender, whereas if a migrant commits a crime, he is deemed ungrateful and a gangster. The disobedient is ignorant that he should not be doing what he is doing, while the ungrateful person reacts unkindly after having received a good opportunity. Offences committed by natives are “actions” of an individual mindset, while offences committed by immigrants are “reactions” from their psychological makeup, which force people to think beyond the individual.
For example, it is generally understood that an immigrant flees his country of origin because he does not want to be a part of social injustice, wars, crimes, corruption, or cruelty. He should be grateful for new life and its blessings, and he should not turn them into a curse. Refugees are granted asylum in this country on humanitarian grounds. Refugees did not qualify to enter Finland based on their contributions in the fields of education, science, medicine, music, or art. They were eligible to settle in Finland through a political decision considering their persecutions, human rights violations, life-threatening risks, ethnic prejudices, discrimination, and Finland’s commitment to helping deserving people on humanitarian grounds.
Surely there are highly educated and skilled refugees. But they are recognized as refugees, not based on education or skills, but to save them from the ravages of war and threats of ethnic and religious violence. In social terminology, it is called compassion and mercy. It does not count if they have not contributed anything to Finland’s prosperity and peace in the past, but it is expected that they will play a positive role in the future, as we see few immigrants earning a name in sports, music, politics, and business. Sadly, “street gang” activities are taking over these examples.
There is a psychological attraction to the unlawful activities of street gangers among less-privileged people from third-world countries. It is an easy way to become well-known, famous (notorious), powerful, and influential. It takes a long time to earn respect and nobility through character. Crime and corruption are shortcuts to leadership in some societies. Professor PLO Lumumba wisely said: “In Japan, a corrupt person kills himself. In China, they will kill him. In Europe, they jail him. In Africa, he will present himself for an election.”
It applies to all developing countries. Presenting himself to contest elections means expecting public acceptance and support. The existence of such a psyche in Finland that notoriety brings influence and power then having a Finnish passport and permanent residency won’t be enough until we modify our own attitudes, lifestyle, family, and home environment in terms of developing, raising, nurturing, and spending our time.
If you spend 90% of your time on the phone communicating, posting and commenting on social media, following the news, listening to music, making friends, and participating in activities related to the exact origin of race, language, and culture you belong to, you are not living in Finland. You just exist and are counted here but your spirit and whole being is where you came from. In a situation like this, a decade is a very short period to learn the basic concepts of the Finnish language. “As immigrants, if you want to get together to live in the same locality, street, or even apartment where people from your cultural and linguistic background live, you may find some temporary psychological comfort, but your personal growth will slow down,” one of the earlier articles stated.
Such clustering and grouping are elements that are empowering so-called street gangs. It may sound hard, but it is reasonable to advise that the government and social integration organizations should urge and persuade immigrants not to live in large groups. If the government was forced to prohibit a maximum of ten immigrant families from living in the same town during their first five years in Finland, it should not be accused of violating their freedom of movement rights.
To curb street gangs, it is important to cooperate and coordinate with the concerned authorities. Parents, elders, and members of ethnic groups should keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it to the authorities. Suspicious activities include the smell of drugs, hiding and locking up items that the person has never done before, secretive conversation or communication, a sudden change in money spending, a lack of interest in physical cleanliness, keeping a knife or sharp object, and an unexpected change in lifestyle and friendship with people. Hiding and covering such actions from authorities in the early stages of their detection in order to maintain the honour and name of a family would lead the individual to go further into the ditch of crime, resulting in enormous mockery for parents and family.
Cooperating and collaborating with authorities not only diminishes the presence of gang streets but also maintains our gratitude and joy at being a part of a peaceful society like Finland.
