Trust in own nation

By Sandis Reinvalds, BEd, MEd, Latvia    

It is acceptance of democracy as an axiom where “as much as possible we would need to debate over all important matters on all those levels with all those instances that are involved in decision making and also involve as large masses of people as possible  which will be influenced by consequences of such decisions” (Vike-Freiberga, 2000). The main pre-condition for this is a free person knowing and respecting ABC of democracy.

            No person lives isolated; we spend our lives within a society, meet work colleges, acquaintances, and friends… And on their turn parliament politicians meet managers of banks and factories as well as public and thus this pyramid ends with the state president who meets presidents of other countries. This, of course, is just a primitive model. The main idea I would like to stress here is that there are consequenced “links of the chain” with which we all are bound together – regardless of whether we wish it or not- in one or another way. And as soon as one of these chain links does not “function” – there is an interruption that means that there is some authoritarian or non-democratic formation in this chain and democratic system does not function any more.

            Looking back to events 7 years ago – the 5^th elections of Latvian Saeima we see how democratic elections turn out to be triumph of the old nomenclature. When Popular Front in the Supreme Council had discredited itself (this, to my mind was artificial formation – initially with the roots in Moscow), the old nomenclature formed a party “Latvian Way” (Latvijas Cels). In reality this party all the time has had 20% of supporters in the Saeima. I do not have direct evidence that this party was financed by the old communist party and KGB but since the moment they are in the Saeima and the government, one can speak about democratic progress only theoretically. At that moment the democratic reforms stopped and there was as if the second “grasp for breath” by old nomenclature and legitimating of pseudo Latvia could approach its logical end.

            In reality each of us feels this in the really insignificant gross national product  - now, for instance, post communistic Slovenia has gross domestic product of 71% from the average level of the European Union, while in Latvia it is only 25%. I refer to these figures because functioning (democtratic) capitalism is uninterrupted competition and development of economy, although with some falls and bankruptcies. Development of capitalism in Latvia after 1993 I call pseudo capitalism, which is a synonym for a primitive standard of living of soviet times.

            If we look back in 9 years old history of this Parliament, one can see the first negative symptoms of pseudo development. The first “interruption of democracy chain”, to my mind, was already immediately after the August putsch in 1991 when the basic renewal idea of Latvia of November 18 was not clearly defined. Instead they created as if a new the so-called Latvia of May 4, 1990. 9 years ago national movement Citizens’ congress was in a complete isolation, it had no access to mass means of communication, their activities were infiltrated and blocked by KGB. When reading Article 6 of Independence declaration of May 4 (on “transition period for communistic party”) and observing that it has been signed by “ideological secretary of communistic party” we should not wonder about the current direction of the state.

            But I still believe that sooner or later we can renew Latvia of November 18, 1918 and the current vision and development of Latvia I see exactly in the model of the third way. It can be viewed from different aspects. Yet the main essence of it is in “coordinated chain”; a model of a society, which functions without “interruption” and any mystical party advertising shortly before elections when one can clearly feel that it has been financed by some foreign intelligence service. (Such a feeling I had in June of 1993 when watching advertising campaign of political party “Latvian Way”).

            The main task of the parties is to form such model of society that would ensure for Latvian nation the most optimum opportunities for development. Parties and their politicians have to work so that the smallest cell of the society – “family” would feel well in own country: “ by understanding families, their structures, and way of living we will be able to discuss larger problems” (Kreslins, 2000). To make inquiries about problems one needs information source and basis on which to make conclusions thus “the main issue is favorable dialogue that opens the way” (Kursite, 2000).

            I have tried to sum up information and facts on the real situation– the actual moment of ours. The third way is the way of welfare therefore one needs to understand clearly the political conjuncture of respective time. Within the global view it is:

1)      without a definite participation of the EU and our participation there – in the most variety of forms, being alone we will not be able to fundamentally improve our life up to that level on which we would like to live – close to that level on which people live in the EU;

2)      in all activities and thoughts we should be in firm belief that the Eastern neighbor will not interfere;

3)      it will not be so that the living standard would increase with equal speed – condition is that such should be for the majority of the nation; the generation that is about 25 years old that is still plus 20 years and I hope and believe that we will reach the level for which we had hoped (Godmanis, 2000).

Politician I.Godmanis during his ruling time in Latvia was rather passive implementator of de-russification and also now he has joined the so-called hidden communist party – “Latvian way”, which explains his unstable bearing when solving Latvian matters. I cited his point of view because it is important for us to know also what very liberal people think.

One more global point of view – the position of Latvian national patriots:

1)      we should cooperate even more active with democratic powers of the world and specially with democrats of Russia that protect us, support and suffer from communists and national bolshevics;

2)      we should be strong in our self-assurance; we should not be afraid of threats, demagogy and lies of communists;

3)      our braveness to sue those that have made offences against humanity proves that we have passed from wailing and complaining to action;

4)      the loud uncontrollable rhetoric of communists by calling others fascists today is not effective any more because the world sees who a fascist is – red or brown or in any other color;

5)      we should go towards the EU and NATO with all over powers (Skalbergs, 2000).

The third way – it is not leveling out the norms of moral, esthetics, ethics and religion – it is both summarizing of all this and also socio – economic political synthesis. The fight of an individual against evil in modern days is fought with civilized democratic methods, by excluding choice “ everything or nothing”. It is a fight with oneself, teaching the persons who hold the same views by organizing different groups and aiming at target that you really wish to reach – this way can be either of liberal or conservative trend. The larger political spectrum is in the Saeima, the more democratic the state. For it to function successfully the cooperation of politicians of the whole parliament is needed.

      The basis of the state is a family. What is the actual moment of this issue? The most critical, to my mind, is the demographic issue – the issue of the live power of the nation. The natural increase of population in 1998 in Latvia was 0.8% (UNDP Publications. Latvia. Human Development Report, 1999). For instance, in Valka in 1999 “51 children were born, 132 people died thus the human development is minus 81” (Laganovska). “Totally in Latvia in 1999 there were born 1,000 children more than last year. It is a small sun star that gives hope that maybe we will survive” (Dimants, LAZA data, 2000). The total number of abortions still is larger than the number of newly-borns – on 1,000 infants 1,170 abortions are made (Orlean, 2000; data provided by Association of contraceptalogy, 1999). J.Maulins in his book “Publicists un laiks” (Publisher and his time) states: “Turning to issues of demography and moral is looking for that link of the chain lifting by which it is possible to lift the whole chain, the chain of problems of our nation” (page 11).

In broader vision we see that: ”family life on none of the shores of the Baltic Sea has been very lucky since there have been both – wars, epidemics with high death rate. Besides in the second part of 20^th century the so-called modern family was spread more and more - in Latvia in one farm together lived several generations. It has not be so characteristic in Scandinavian countries”. (Plakans, 2000; G.Liepina)

We need in Latvia strong families. Latvian philosopher P.Dale has said that: for Latvians to be mentally strong, mentally strong should be each family, basis of the nation. Exactly in the family a person gets feeling of belonging that is basis for identity, as well as feeling of unity. By growing up and leaving family person takes with him the spirit of family, supplementing it later with new trends. Thus family traditions and habits are maintained. Thus develops the state” (Dale). Where from are our politicians? Also they come from families: “The same daughters and sons of the nation and people with whom they cooperate – also daughters and sons of our nation, mothers and fathers have grown up – how they have done it, according to which standards and what values – so these people act” (Vike-Freiberga, 2000) d).

Is the third way our New way? The necessity to ruin the old, non-democratic and to strive for the completeness - is this the mission of those to wake up New way? Already for more than 100 years ago Latvian writer V.Pludons was writing about the direction of New way: “ The final target of my life is: to establish the status of Latvian nation within other nations to be so strong as a granite cliff that stands in a sea and does not move even when all depths circle around it; to show the new way to the nation, give its pace a new direction” (Vilis Pludonis, 1894, page 99). Also now we have to go New way since

“We still feel consequences of occupation– both occupations –the black and the red – in every sphere of life – they both denied the importance of independence, they falsified history of Latvia, suppressed national conscience and national strivings” (Pludonis Varimants, 2000).

      Is the model of third way acceptable for us? What will we in future understand with the word “Latvian democracy”? “ Will we use it as we have used to since ancient Greece times or will allocate to it a new meaning as explained by communists?” (Runge 1978, page 416) It is clear that we cannot be blind walks-on, standing still – Pirandello in his play Each in his own way states: ”Today’s clarity is not yesterday’s clarity and it will not be tomorrow’s clarity”. We will not stand like walks-on in one position! It is proved by my vision of the third way            with repeated trials to improve and supplement this model.

The essence of totalitarian systems is not to allow alternatives- while in the vision of the third way is to allow several alternatives for solving  an issue, by evaluating and balancing them at the given moment – in the way acceptable for the nation. ”The totalitarian systems of the 20^th century opposite to the monarchies of previous centuries have a tendency not to accept person’s neutrality towards these systems. It is characteristic for them to claim: if one is not with us, one is against us. There is no alternative provided. Everybody which is suspected of not holding with the system should be isolated” (Runge, 1969, page 350).

      One of our today’s problems is to the existence of relatively many politically passive persons who have no conscience that: ”power and politics can be exercised by every person. Power is many-sided or at least double-sided relations. In case it is not so, power supremacy appears – one-sided relations towards which institutions are directed” (Suvajevs, 2000). Political passiveness is consequence from the times when we had authoritarian communistic government, when there was not a real chance to change anything. Now we should overcome this political passiveness!

Task of politicians is: to rouse positive national patriotic inspiration and self -assurance in the nation. Valija Runge as a sample mentions the words of Karlis Ulmanis (Raksti un Maksla, 1940 – 2): “Nation that has no sparkle about the mighty of its future is deemed to destruction” (Runge, 1986, page 106). Might be that compromise makes life possible yet people need ideas, ideals, that forward their lives” (Runge, 1978).

“Let us throw our syndrome of fear in front of big powers! The state is as large as large in spirit and determination are its citizens” (Freibergs, 2000). Therefore let us not overestimate in the politics the importance of one person since also a group of people is important – it can support strivings of an individual, for instance: “Let us remember the King of Sparta Leonid and his 300 Spartans who in 480 B.C. in Termopiles gully were killed in the fight against Persian superiority but their physical death outlived by their brave action - because of them the whole nation survived.” (Runge).

The loud and full of bravado shouting of statesmen will disappear if they will not have a coverage – flourishing of their country. There are two extremes – one, represented once by French Louis XIV who claimed “L’etat, c’est moi!” – “State- that’s me!” This thought says that the state is as if workers themselves. Yet during his reign workers got nothing since the state was as deus ex machina to punish when something has got wrong. Another extreme is when politicians have an idea that the governing of the state is the same as to work in one’s private enterprise. Philosopher Immanuel Kant at the end of 18^th century claimed: “State is not a private enterprise, it is a community of people that cannot be ordered by anyone, just themselves”.

Thus it is necessary to find some medium between these two extremes - some third way. The essence of the third way is also self-criticism of politicians, by choosing the direction: “people that always and everywhere claim to have the only absolute truth and claim to find the only solution, can fall in non-critical ideology” (Runge, 1987, page 125).

Everybody should strive to implement own political assurance and to show to others who he is – also for a scientist – theoretician, which “should approve the discovered truth without thinking of consequences” (Biezais, 1986, page 285). “What we do shows what we are” (Rungis, 1967, page 156).

Aren’t there too many people in our nation that used to say –my Fatherland is where I feel good? Every nation has some renegades. To avoid this, the most essential is to strengthen Latvian self-conscience and the future belief in own country. How to reach this? To my mind one of the largest mental education factors for a nation is to publish new patriotic Latvian books and also issue daily national patriotic press. The mass communication means are the fourth power of the politics.

      What I expect from the current Latvian newspapers and new Latvian books is awakening of national self-conscience through belief in mighty of own nation. The main source of information for majority of people is TV and there are many interesting programs. For all tastes and interests – one should just switch on the respective channel. The conscience of youth is mostly formed by commercial FM radio programs that are full with music and “advertising information” and less provide spiritual – intellectual and national content. Seems that the main task for them is to entertain.

It would be difficult to change something there since the financing body orders what and when should be broadcasted. Many FM broadcasting stations in Latvia retranslate radio “Voice of America” from Washington, which, of course, is a positive trend, but the broadcasting times are “moved” to early morning (6.45) and evening (17.30). Besides this broadcasting station reflect mainly the view of American government and the political comments are in the style of “melting pot” of this country.

The task of the mass media is to urge our shortcomings and praise the positive – democratic development of issues and events. Here they cannot skip the financing bodies. In Latvia this is the weakest link. “Opponents are fought “to death”, “own people” are praised too much.

One can claim that everything is in the hands of the editor. I would like to stress and invite editors not to forget, firstly, own country and estimate everything from our – Latvian position, which they represent and to reflect daily as if ordinary events, not to forget to show the future of Latvian nation and targets for its mental development. I do not think that the articles should be national and national patriotic – yet the main guidelines should be  - to wake up the self-conscience of the nation.

      National patriotic Latvian books should rouse discussions in the public, for instance about how we should evaluate the disaster brought to Latvian nation by communists when the killers and also commanders are dead? Is it so that memories of the nation – pain can be immortalized only in a shape of a monument? How and where will be expressed the remorse of the killers and their commanders? What does it mean to formally apologize about people killed by communists when many death certificates were falsified and it was written in them, for instance, weak heart?  When will that day come when we can put a full stop to it?

On December 16, 1945 in Hanava DP camp there was a thought dominating: “History shows that the existence of a nation and a country is determined mainly by brave self-assured politician, soldier and mother while literature, art and other high knowledge is only important gilding.” (Briva Latvija, No 651) Description of current politics in mass media will dominate always, but the issue of state safety is subordinated to political conjuncture of the government.

Especially we would need books on praising the smallest unit of our nation – family and its “leader” – mother since it is the very basis of the life of the nation. As a place where a sacred spring starts. Our task is to become better and better, and more enlightened in our lives, our families, in our ways of politicians and soldiers.  Faith for our nation is daily creating and fostering of everything human: praising of Latvian habits, self educating in Latvian virtues, by being active as much as possible, by putting in order Latvian things.

References

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SKALBERGS A.(2000) Ar A.Skalbergu tiekas R.Kalniņš. Latvijas radio l.programma.25.03.2000. a) "Galvenais sargāt Latvijas drošību.", Latvijas radio l.programma. 31.03.2000. b) Žumāla Treji Vārti (USA) 192.numura apskats. Latvijas radio l.programma., 07.04.2000.

ŠUVAJEVS I.(2000) Skandāls vai anekdote ?Diena.Nr.2680., 2.1pp.

VĪĶE-FREIBERGA V.(2000) 4.studija. LTV1., 02.03.2000. a) 16.03.2000. b) 06.04.2000. c) Latvija-ceļā uz Eiropas Savienību. Latvijas Inteliģences 34.konference. Latvijas radio l.programma.,15.04.2000. d) 4.studija. LTV I., 20.04.2000.

This article was writen in March and April, 2000.

Sandis Reinvalds
13 Beates Street, flat 33
Valmiera, LV 4201
Latvia
Telephone 00 371 42 25494
E-mail me at: sandisreinvalds@hotmail.com

Translated – May 29, 2001