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eamad mazouri · Feb 25, 2004, 03:25 pm

A new article by Mr. William Safire in New York Times on how oppressed nations can learn, build be creative when freed from captivity.

Here.

Henry-Finland · Mar 16, 2004, 01:57 am

From the article:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by
In the years since, Latvians suffered the anguish of raw democracy. The hundreds of thousands of Russians sent to colonize and dominate were no longer the elite; they now made up a disliked minority that would not go "home." Grudgingly, Latvia offered citizenship to Russians willing to learn the local language and residency to the rest.<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

This is a lie.
- My 17 year old daughter (through marrige), is born in Latvia, had always to visit her grandmother in Russia without a Latvian passport, just an international one (I do not know what it is in English). Her real biological father is Latvian, but has no Latvian passport.
- Her mother, born in Russia, living in Latvia for 31 years, can not get a Latvian passport.
- The language tests that is done in order to get an passport, are so difficult that even born Latvians fail. (My wife could not describe an atomic fusion in Latvian, for instance, so she could not be citizen).
- First of May this year, Latvia will be a part of EU, and they still do not know what to do with the majority in Riga (55% of the citizens in Riga has no Latvian passport).
- The language tests are just used as collecting money from people who would like to have a Latvian passport.
- EU has been pressing hard in the question about solving these problems.

Latvia is the most corrupted country in the area, according to many studies, but has not much to do with democracy.

- Nationalism in Russia is a big problem.
In Latvia the nationalism is a sickness.

Nationalism has nothing to do with patriotism.

castille · Mar 16, 2004, 07:57 am

Hi,

One of my geography and media teachers used to visit Estonia. He reported constant fighting between the Estonian boys and the Russians.

I guess the Russian ravages of Eastern Europe are now resulting in anti-Russian feeling all over. Stalin should've surrendered to the Nazis, seeing how he killed more people than Hitler.

Henry-Finland · Mar 18, 2004, 02:51 am

<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (castille,)
Hi,

One of my geography and media teachers used to visit Estonia. He reported constant fighting between the Estonian boys and the Russians.

I guess the Russian ravages of Eastern Europe are now resulting in anti-Russian feeling all over. Stalin should've surrendered to the Nazis, seeing how he killed more people than Hitler.<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

The difference is when guys fight and when a government does laws that erects hate.

The Russian policy in these countries was very sick. It does not help "to revenge on an ethnic group" that is forced to move there. In this case Russians.

They are as innocent (the people) as the American people to how US is acting abroad. The only difference was, that the US citizens could vote for a change. Russians could not.

On the other hand, they can today, and the elections are as propaganda-based in main media in both countries.
But that is another thread.

Henry

Mar 16, 2004, 01:57 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Henry-Finland Igneous Magma Posts: 188	From the article: </span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by In the years since, Latvians suffered the anguish of raw democracy. The hundreds of thousands of Russians sent to colonize and dominate were no longer the elite; they now made up a disliked minority that would not go "home." Grudgingly, Latvia offered citizenship to Russians willing to learn the local language and residency to the rest.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> This is a lie. - My 17 year old daughter (through marrige), is born in Latvia, had always to visit her grandmother in Russia without a Latvian passport, just an international one (I do not know what it is in English). Her real biological father is Latvian, but has no Latvian passport. - Her mother, born in Russia, living in Latvia for 31 years, can not get a Latvian passport. - The language tests that is done in order to get an passport, are so difficult that even born Latvians fail. (My wife could not describe an atomic fusion in Latvian, for instance, so she could not be citizen). - First of May this year, Latvia will be a part of EU, and they still do not know what to do with the majority in Riga (55% of the citizens in Riga has no Latvian passport). - The language tests are just used as collecting money from people who would like to have a Latvian passport. - EU has been pressing hard in the question about solving these problems. Latvia is the most corrupted country in the area, according to many studies, but has not much to do with democracy. - Nationalism in Russia is a big problem. In Latvia the nationalism is a sickness. Nationalism has nothing to do with patriotism.

Mar 16, 2004, 07:57 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
castille Citizen #21521 Posts: 2,599	Hi, One of my geography and media teachers used to visit Estonia. He reported constant fighting between the Estonian boys and the Russians. I guess the Russian ravages of Eastern Europe are now resulting in anti-Russian feeling all over. Stalin should've surrendered to the Nazis, seeing how he killed more people than Hitler. Ideological loyalty is the act of giving your soul to a vague concept, to be manipulated by people smarter than you.

Mar 18, 2004, 02:51 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
Henry-Finland Igneous Magma Posts: 188	</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (castille,) Hi, One of my geography and media teachers used to visit Estonia. He reported constant fighting between the Estonian boys and the Russians. I guess the Russian ravages of Eastern Europe are now resulting in anti-Russian feeling all over. Stalin should've surrendered to the Nazis, seeing how he killed more people than Hitler.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> The difference is when guys fight and when a government does laws that erects hate. The Russian policy in these countries was very sick. It does not help "to revenge on an ethnic group" that is forced to move there. In this case Russians. They are as innocent (the people) as the American people to how US is acting abroad. The only difference was, that the US citizens could vote for a change. Russians could not. On the other hand, they can today, and the elections are as propaganda-based in main media in both countries. But that is another thread. Henry

Feb 25, 2004, 03:25 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
eamad mazouri Molten Ash Posts: 64	A new article by Mr. William Safire in New York Times on how oppressed nations can learn, build be creative when freed from captivity. Here.