Every first Monday of the month, exactly at 12 o’clock noon, the city of Helsinki performs a test of its air raid alarm sirens. 

This is to check that the system works as intended and that every citizen is able to hear the alarm. 

The latest test was today at noon. I was happy to notice that the audibility of the sirens has improved recently. 

Today, on the eve on the American elections, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between the air raid sirens and Hemingway’s “For whom the bell tolls”. 

It tolls for thee.

The bells have been sounding alarm in America for a long time now. 

My thoughts also travelled to Philadelphia, the home of the Liberty Bell, the symbol of American independence. 

That bell tolls for no one anymore, as it cracked a long time ago. 

Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, the state whose voters tomorrow might decide whether America and the world will embark on a path towards light or darkness. 

Back to Helsinki: everyone can imagine why Finland is improving its civil defense these days. Si vis pacem para bellum. 

I hope we won’t need to use our air raid sirens for real any time soon. We have seen the results in Ukraine and elsewhere. I hope America chooses light over darkness tomorrow.

We are a proud nation. Come what may, we’re more ready than most countries. Perhaps because we have a longer border with Putinland than any other Nato country.

In the meantime, life continues as normal as possible, and the Finnish people have a clear preference regarding the winner of the American election. We are one of the nations for whom that’s an existential question. 

Along the lines of John F. Kennedy, my humble message to any American willing to listen is this: 

Ask not why America keeps sending money to other countries, ask why Putin is sending money to America.

Vote.