Papin Puntari, Veli-Matti Hynninen, 9th of December 1999
Snake or paradise
I picked the wrong one. My favourites were Antti Hyry, Jari Tervo or Veronica Pimenoff, but the annual Finlandia literature prize went to Kristina Carlsson for her book Maan ääreen ("to the ends of the earth"). Congratulations to Kristina! This decision also shed new light on Erkki Liikanen, one of the judges and a Finnish EU commissioner. Choosing Carlsson’s book as the best informs us of his tastes. What does he think there in Brussels? What kind of tastes has he? As soon as I get to "The ends of the earth" I promise to tell you whether it’s a good gift or not.
Jermu Laine gave us a new view on Mikko Heikka’s book Paratiisi ajattelee meissä ("paradise thinks in us") in the Kanava-magazine. But in his critique the paradise and the snake change places subtly – instead of the paradise it is the snake that starts to think within us. Is this really so? Laine proves how difficult it is to measure an idea. The heavier the idea the greater the change that the scales collapse. Mikko Heikka’s ideas go so topsy-turvy in Jermu Laine’s hands that bystanders can’t help feeling scared too. Who to believe?
Heikka’s book gave me so intense intellectual satisfaction that Jermu Laine can’t ruin it. I am also rather proud of Heikka’s train of thought. This rural dean belongs to a group of priests who can also think. Church elections often favour mediocrities and after reading his book I can’t help but to recommend for Heikka to stay in his position. I also believe he is too smart to be chosen as the bishop of the soon to be founded new diocese. And since the presidential elections are turning into the senseless melee similar to church elections we will probably see even more devilish than usual race to the presidency. It’s well known that the Devil is busiest when it comes to electing one person over another.
Mikko Heikka’s strong morals and clear thought are charming. He reminds me of Mannerheim in a play Mannerheimin kätketty elämä ("the hidden life of Mannerheim") by Laila Hietamies. Mannerheim holds his head high in all situations. He wouldn’t abide sluggishness, narrowmindedness or uncivilised behaviour. He was always true to his original style and kept his secrets to himself. There are things you should share and others you shouldn’t tell to anyone. Mannerheim knew this well.
Mikko Heikka inspires us to be there for one another. He tells us an exciting story of Howard Hughes, a man whose dreams come true. He became the richest man in the world, the most skilled pilot and the greatest producer. Technology and industry lifted him on the top of the world and into the penthouse of his own skyscraper where he fortified himself looking down on the rest of the world.
In Hughes’s skyscraper everyone was waiting for him to call. Beautiful women in a harem desiring him, a limousine in a garage waiting for him, a pilot in his plane on the runway ready all the time. Everything was made ready for him, but he never stepped out of his dark room. He lived in the middle of the empire he himself built, in the middle of the action. He was there physically, but at the same time he was absent. He did not open himself to anybody. He did not interact with anyone. Everyone was waiting for him, but even when he was there he was absent.
Is this absent presence symbolic for our time? We are past postmodernism. The present has not even been termed yet. Even thought our days have already been accused of too much idealism, I risk all by revealing what it is that we most long for. Is it not warmth, contact, touch, closeness, approval by others? Jari Tervo, a media personality in his own right, did not fare that well with the Finlandia jury, but in his book Minun sukuni tarina ("the story of my family") he urges us to study these most intimate relationships. Even though studying one’s own family is always a leap into dark, there is a possibility of finding something new, surprising and inspiring. Even though our relationships with others often include unnecessary, affected and overly self-conscious behaviour, search for a better life, a humane behaviour and a daring to be real are well worth it. That is what the Christmas season with its lights, fires and preparations urge us to do.
Chin up, Christmas is at hand!
Veli-Matti Hynninen