Latvijas Avīze / 2010-08-17 / Komentāri, viedokļi

Mācīsimies no igauņiem!

Autors: Anna Žīgure

Apātija un neticība nākotnei no tautas apziņas ir jāizravē

Latvieši arī pagātnē iepazina citas zemes. Ceļotāju, protams, bija daudz mazāk nekā mūsdienās, jo lielākajai daļai iedzīvotāju nebija tādas iespējas – vajadzēja strādāt, lai izdzīvotu un skolotu bērnus. Ceļošana bija izglītoto un arī mantīgo cilvēku privilēģija. Toties tie, kas redzēja, kā cilvēki dzīvo ārzemēs, avīžu lapaspusēs dalījās ar redzēto. Viņi gribēja arī savā dzimtenē ievest labo un jauninājumus, ko pamanīja citur.
Pēdējā laikā esmu lasījusi, kas latviešu presē rakstīts par Somiju un somiem. Vairāk nekā simts gadus šī ziemeļu zeme bijusi nopietns paraugs, pēc kā censties. Runa ir par itin visām dzīves jomām – izglītību un sociālo nodrošināšanu, politiku un kultūru, zemkopību un rūpniecību, dzelzceļu un ierēdniecību, sieviešu jautājumu, bērnu audzināšanu un veselības aprūpi, pēc neatkarības iegūšanas arī valsts aizsardzību. Šīs tēmas latviešu avīzēs sīki un rūpīgi atspoguļotas kopš 19. gadsimta otrās puses, un secinājums allaž bijis viens un tas pats – ja reiz to visu var sasniegt somi, kas dzīvo tik nelabvēlīgos klimatiskos apstākļos, kāpēc tā rīkoties nevaram arī mēs, latvieši? Vēl 1930. gadā dzejnieks Kārlis Skalbe savam rakstam devis virsrakstu – “Mācīsimies no somiem”. Nekā. Neraugoties uz vairāk nekā gadsimtu ilgiem rosinājumiem, tas nav izdevies, un laikam beidzot jāraugās patiesībai acīs – ja nesaņemsimies, tad arī neizdosies.
Arī igauņi kopš seniem laikiem uzmanīgi vērojuši Somijas attīstību. Viņiem tas bijis vieglāk, jo valodas taču radniecīgas. Atjaunotās neatkarības gados Igaunija ir saņēmusies, spējusi likt lietā savas prasmes un cilvēku resursus un tuvojusies Somijas līmenim ievērojami ātrāk nekā Latvija. Šis ceļš nav bijis liegts arī latviešiem.
Acīmredzot mums jābūt reālistiem un jāatkāpjas no Skalbes ideāliem. Varbūt dzejnieka domu mūsdienās vajadzētu pārveidot – “Mācīsimies no igauņiem”. Mums ir vienāda pieredze, tās sāpīgā mācība, un pirms deviņpadsmit gadiem bija vienādas cerības un nākotnes iespējas.
Pārbraucot robežu, rodas iespaids, ka ceļotājs nonācis kādā Rietumeiropas valstī. Ceļi ir ievērojami gludāki, līnijas rūpīgi ievilktas, un, uzmetot acis Dienvidigaunijas mazpilsētām – Karksi Nuijai vai Vīlandei, Veru vai Elvai, nevar neievērot, ka cilvēki tur, Igaunijā, ir apmierinātāki nekā Latvijā. Pat paviršam caurbraucējam paliek iespaids, ka valsts un pašvaldības vairāk strādā sabiedrības un iedzīvotāju labā un sabiedrības līdzdalība ir ievērojami aktīvāka. Protams, arī Igaunijā pēdējos divdesmit gados gadījušies negodīgi darboņi vai pašlabuma meklētāji, un arī igauņi meklējuši darbu citās valstīs, tomēr sabiedrība kopumā attīstījusies vēlamā virzienā.
Nevar iedomāties, ka igauņi nicinātu savu valsti un viņiem būtu pilnīgi vienalga, kādā virzienā valsts attīstās. Nevar iedomāties, ka igauņi būtu ar mieru pārdot savu valsti vai atkal un atkal uzticētos politiķiem, kuri reizi pēc reizes darbībā pierādījuši, ka sabiedrības intereses stāv tālu aiz personīgajām un partijiskajām.
Nevar iedomāties, ka igauņi vispār nedotos balsot.
Pretējā gadījumā arī igauņi justos tikpat nospiesti un nedroši par nākotni kā viņu dienvidu kaimiņi. Igaunijas garīgo un ekonomisko možumu novērtējusi Eiropas Savienība, lemjot to pievienot eirozonas valstīm. Tas viesīs papildu drošības garantijas šajā jūtīgajā ģeopolitiskajā teritorijā, kur dzīvo arī mūsu tauta.
Kāpēc Igaunija var, bet Latvijai pāri klājies tāds kā nolemtības plīvurs? Apātija ir visbriesmīgākais, kas var piemeklēt tautu. Vismaz aptaujas liecina, ka liela daļa latviešu iegrimuši pilnīgā bezcerībā un zaudējuši veselīgu spriestspēju. Kā citādi lai izskaidro to, ka 40% potenciālo vēlētāju paziņojuši, ka neredz sevi dodamies pie urnas 2. oktobrī.
Apātija un neticība savai nākotnei neatkarīgā valstī ir tas, ko gadu desmitiem mācīja padomju Latvijas skolās, pieminot brīvo Latviju tikai ar ironiju, naidu un izsmieklu. Šāda attieksme dīvainā un nožēlojamā kārtā pārtransformējusies uz šodienu, uz mūsu atjaunoto Latviju.
Šāda attieksme no tautas apziņas ir jāizravē, no tās jātiek vaļā tāpat kā no latvāņiem Latvijas laukos. Visupirmais vēlamākas nākotnes garants ir tas, lai katrs no mums apzinātos savu personīgo atbildību par mūsu valsts nākotni. Lai bērni jau šūpulī nebūtu nolemti dzīvei svešā valstī.
Tāpēc saņemsimies – kas zina, varbūt šī ir pēdējā iespēja. Tik daudz laika aizlaists zudumā, bezjēdzīgi zūdoties. Mācīsimies no labiem paraugiem, no valstīm un cilvēkiem, kā to dara kultūras tautas. Mums ir tik daudz izglītotu, garīgi možu un godīgu sava darba darītāju, viņi ir visās jomās. Domājot par priekšā stāvošo izvēli, jāapzinās, ka Latvija nav nolemta izvēlēties sev nelaimi, ja pati to nevēlas. Var izvēlēties godīgu valsti, tāpat kā pirms 20 gadiem kļūstot par paraugu citiem.

Ambersun initiates immediate damage control measures.

Let’s just say that Prof. E.‘s post on LOL was no accident and no thanks to you.

Maybe it was no accident but I was glad to read them…Some of his points seem to conflict rather directly with yours.

Yet I hear *crickets* from you Ambersun.

Pray tell why ? Are you also stupefied ? Cat got your tongue ? Posting copies of other people’s works hardly engages you.

You obviously did not get the full import of his remarks as you also missed his issues with Evans’s treatment of the Kaunas tragedy.

I think I have a bit more of Lietukis covered than you do Ambersun. I read what Evans wrote darling. I neither need nor am looking for your acknowledgment or affirmation. You’re totally disconnected.

As I remarked before - look after your own house. There’s more than enough anti semitism and racism to keep you busy amongst your Latvia.

A while ago, I alerted you to Evans but you’re “asleep at the wheel” unless you feel the urge to carry on about something important like what Mr. LL has written rather than Evans.

Oh, Mr LL is not important to me at all Ambersun - but he’s a prize of your Latvia. The Latvia that you present yourself as being the embodiment of. Didn’t you refer to him as a national hero way back when ? So hows that working out for you now ? Have you figured out his politics yet ? He’s your baby. I’m ready to listen to you explain yourself Ambersun.

What Evans wrote is more of an issue to me than you. What Mr LL writes is more of an issue to you than me. Same for what Bruno writes and your sweet sweet bigot Jazeps.

Yet I hear *crickets*. Nothing. Nada.Zilch from Ambersun. I’m no expert in constitutional law - but would you say your silence accuses Ambersun ? Or can your silence be seen as tacit approval ? Seems you’ve got some ‘splainin to do.

It’s obvious you care more deeply about Latvia than Lithuania.  That’s understandable.

Just so I’m clear on your getting the right Baltic message out - are you talking about Latvia, “Latvia” or the spineless and soviet deformed Republic of LatRuss ?

I care enough about Latvia Ambersun that I would never refer to the Latvian Republic and its citizens in the disgusting and disrespectful way you do over and over again. Why you hate “Latvia” (soviet deformed LatRuss) so much is for you to explain. I’m simply here to point out your overpowering hypocrisy. And you don’t make that effort of mine very hard at all.

ambersun continued:
“You just keep it up and pretend that you also are a cretin.  When, dear maza latviete no mazas latvijas, was Denmark identified in any article as “tiny” Denmark?  What is your problem dealing with reality?  I can only wish that you were Danish and not Latvian so that the next time someone referred to your country in that patronizing and ignorant way as “tiny” for anything more enlightened to say, you’d give them a piece of your “big” Danish mind. You’re just being ridiculous and wasting time.  I have no idea why.  Also, let’s show some consistency on what days of historical note reporters need to remember “victims.”  On 9/11 I expect David Greene to write for NPR and The New York Times his “balanced” article about the “struggles” of “the minority Muslims” in the US.”

In response to “when… was Denmark identified in any article as “tiny” Denmark?” I went to Google news and entered just that.  The first result, posted only 12 hours ago: 

http://dvice.com/archives/2010/08/denmark-builds.php

I think getting that worked up about “tiny” is indeed being ridiculous and wasting time - especially since it IS the truth (speaking of dealing with reality)!  Yes, both “former Soviet republic” and “tiny” may be trite and unnecessary as modifiers for Baltic countries, but there are a legion of more important things to get worked up about.

I also don’t have a problem if you say it in Latvian: “maza Latvija”.  Galu gala, mes tacu pasi dziedam ka ta ir “mazliet pa mazu lai palaistu vienu/pasaules plasajos celos.”  Go protest that!

As to your last point, first of all, 9/11 is a much more obvious day of remembrance than August 23.  If you are (again) “expecting” foreign journalists to not release stories about anything other than Baltic tragedy (told from only a certain viewpoint) on certain dates that are meaningful, on a greater or lesser scale, it will eliminate a lot of dates.  Do you know how many “seru dienas” of one sort or another there are in Latvia alone?  Start with June 14, move to July 4, work your way through them. 

But more importantly, a few weeks from now, lets look in American media.  I can guarantee you that there will be travel stories, and cooking stories, and stories that have nothing to do with the tragedy.  And I bet there will be stories in any number of media outlets about how Muslims in the U.S. have suffered from harassment since 2001… and that the release date of those stories will be intentional rather than coincidental, as I’m sure the date of the release of the Greene story was.

Whilst trying to get it I mean keep it up, I kinda wonder about 23 August as a major anniversary, too. I mean, Ambi’s fave dictator got into it, no? I do believe he told his best friend/alter ego Valters to shaddap. Where was the backbone, Ambi? You stay in your place; I’ll stay in mine.

/P

Anita,
All that wasted effort to prove just how “pathologically tolerant” you are!  What does the following that you wrote mean that I was not saying?- ... “tiny” may be trite and unnecessary as modifiers for Baltic countries… . Not even you thinks that when an article refers to “tiny” Israel or “tiny” Denmark, it’s intended as a “trite” modifier. 

Thank goodness for Latvians like Ann Zigure.  After reading what depressing things Peteris and you write on LOL as you crisscross Latvia looking under rocks for dead “bad” Latvians and their misdeeds and rummage through “awful” Latvian history (that Russians in Latvia never have to learn like they do Estonian history in Estonia or Lithuanian history in Lithuania or French history in France - well, you know the normal of other countries - and “foreign” languages too), it’s a wonder Latvians aren’t running to the nearest Daugava bridge to jump in with their shame to be Latvian - and with a “dictator” like Ulmanis, known to all Russians as “bad” as opposed to Stalin.  Peteris, the braveheart, of course would have given Ulmanis a real tongue-lashing, like he does the Russian-speakers who tell him to “shadap” when he says “paldies” occupiers for all your enthusiasm and positive contributions to Latvia as “David Greene immigrants” to Latvia.

I believe “tiny” refers to the size of the population, not square footage.

Vidas,
It is you who seems to not understand what Prof AE has written.  After your shallow reading, you have erroneously concluded that “Some of his points seem to conflict rather directly with yours.”  They do not. Let me refer you to his website again http://web.me.com/ezergail/A._Ezergailis_on_Holocaust and in particular to http://web.me.com/ezergail/A._Ezergailis_on_Holocaust/from_Nazi_Soviet_disinf..html.

Hey, girl, let’s set some things straight. I very often deliver a tongue-lashing, actually, and even file complaints. Unlike others. I don’t ever do it to a decent person, because that is not how you get people to speak your language. The real pigs in this linguistic environment are not russophones but lettophones, who whine a lot about nobody using their language but never use it themselves. And that is, unfortunately, a majority of Latvians here.

As to elementary politesse—I give it and expect it back. If I don’t get it, I smirk. But the human matters a lot more to me than some bizarre conception of how language ought to work. It has never worked your way, Ambi. There is no reason it should. 80% or so of the people in my city have Russian as their native language. Almost all of the lettophones are fluent in Russian, and very few ever use Latvian in public with russophones. That is a simple fact of life. Crusaders need not apply.

How would you change that? And why? When you come live here for a couple of decades and actually contribute to the Lettish linguistic environment, maybe I shall listen to you. But even then—I doubt it. You have what you think is a “natural” antipathy toward Russian. To me it is essentially unnatural. Most Latvians lack it because most Latvians know Russian. Deal with it in your tiny mind.

Vysu lobu,
/P

Aleksejs,
OMG!

WTF, ambersun!

You are here ranting and raving about how everyone is stark mad, but as always run away when confronted with some interesting details about ethnic Latvian historians, Without Whom Latvia Wouldn’t Exist(tm), unwilling to speak on the record about the MR pact anniversary.

As a side note, should the world media write an article on every anniversary? In Latvia, we didn’t even have our flags out. Should the NYT cover June 14 deportation, or maybe December commemorations? Should the world media put a spotlight on every time you, the Hard-Working Latvians, Without Whom Latvia Wouldn’t Exist(tm), commemorate something? Will that heal your victim complex?

For Ambi, yet again.

“All your sanity and wits they will all vanish, I promise—it’s just a matter of time!”

/P

ambersun goes off:

“All that wasted effort to prove just how “pathologically tolerant” you are!  What does the following that you wrote mean that I was not saying?- ... “tiny” may be trite and unnecessary as modifiers for Baltic countries… . Not even you thinks that when an article refers to “tiny” Israel or “tiny” Denmark, it’s intended as a “trite” modifier. “

I’m not pathologically tolerant, but I’m also not inclined to get my knickers in a knot over use of a word or phrase that was a quick fix at worst.  What I think is that in the context of both of the stories being discussed (and for another example, see the story linked on LOLs main page - about “Fierce music” from the Baltics), tiny was not an insult.  What I think is that it’s not “intended” as a trite modifier, it just IS a trite modifier.  I can hear the editor now… “this looks a little bare, put in an adjective.”  So what’s an obvious choice?  What I think is that sometimes an adjective is just an adjective.

“Thank goodness for Latvians like Ann Zigure.  After reading what depressing things Peteris and you write on LOL as you crisscross Latvia looking under rocks for dead “bad” Latvians and their misdeeds and rummage through “awful” Latvian history (that Russians in Latvia never have to learn like they do Estonian history in Estonia or Lithuanian history in Lithuania or French history in France - well, you know the normal of other countries - and “foreign” languages too), it’s a wonder Latvians aren’t running to the nearest Daugava bridge to jump in with their shame to be Latvian”

Anna is awesome, I agree.  I find it interesting, though, that when she says harsh things about Latvia (and she can be brutally, if justifiably, harsh) it’s ok with you, just like when you say harsh things about Latvia it’s ok with you, but when anyone else even brings up a - heh - inconvenient truth - much less says a harsh thing, it’s a depressing thing that makes Latvians want to jump into the river.  Sweetie, I’m not the one who talks about LatRuss and the “spinelessness” of the Latvian people; that would be you.  Your behavior with prof Ezergailis was similar.  If anyone else had said the exact same things he did, you would have been all over them with “Hey, but look what the Soviets did!  Why aren’t you talking about that?  Are you happy that Latvians were deported to Siberia?”  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that you can and did restrain yourself, but you really need to look at what the message is, not be regularly blinded by the messenger.

“... - and with a “dictator” like Ulmanis, known to all Russians as “bad” as opposed to Stalin.  Peteris, the braveheart, of course would have given Ulmanis a real tongue-lashing, like he does the Russian-speakers who tell him to “shadap” when he says “paldies” occupiers for all your enthusiasm and positive contributions to Latvia as “David Greene immigrants” to Latvia. “

Wow, ambersun, listening to Tea Party rhetoric lately?  When the discussion is getting away from you, toss in all the words you can from the approved list and don’t even stop for thought or punctuation.  You’ve got them… dictators, “all Russians”, “bad as opposed to Stalin”, occupiers, immigrants.  But does it mean anything even vaguely related to the original issue or to what Peteris asked about Valters?

The “pathologically tolerant” phrase Ambi so loves to drag around is from Ludmila Azarova through me, here, some time ago. It doesn’t mean what Ambi thinks it means. I would rather not see it dragged into these debates again. I am getting a bit tired of this sh*t. It was sort of amusing in another age. Wander in here and see Ambi lecturing me on step-by-step processes—sorry, but if anybody wanted to give a leg up to anybody one could have done so, and did so. I’m not proud of my life at all, free and hopefully drunken spirit that I am, but I see my former students and as far as I can tell not a one of them is “Soviet-deformed.” This constant puke from the other coast of the New World is pretty f’ing deformed, methinks. Little toy country of the reptilian with nothing to stand for it, not even a diacritic.

/P

Aleks wrote:

“I believe “tiny” refers to the size of the population, not square footage. “

to which ambersun cogently replied:

“OMG”

Indeed. 

In either case, though, a wise man said of the tiny:

Uz zemeslodes, zem saules
mūs trīsarpus miljardu. Tajos
latviešu pusotra miljona tikai. Tas ir kā
pusotra piliena jūrā

Kāda var būt pusotra piliena dziesma par
sauli? Un tomēr −

uz zemeslodes, zem saules
ir tāda zeme − Latvija,
uz zemeslodes, zem saules
ir tāda tauta − latvieši,
uz zemeslodes, zem saules
ir tautai dziesma par sauli:

Lec, saulīte, rītā agri,
Noej laiku vakarā,
No rītiņa sildīdama,
Vakarā žēlodama.

Whoa, fella, no need to use your “free speech” to try and restrict that of another.  Look at this bright side before you have a major conniption.  We, unbelievably, have a lot in common: You and I speak Latvian at home everyday and we speak a foreign language on the streets.  Only problem is that I’m in the States, and that’s appropriate, and you’re in Latvia, and that should not be appropriate unless you are a “pathologically tolerant” Latvian.