Dr. Vike Freiberga is a class act. My experience as a Lithuanian Canadian resonates very much with what she says. Thank you Dr. Freiberga for thinking through the complex issue of identity and in so doing helping us to do so as well.
@@georgeross6304 I think you are having a trouble understanding what a president does for a country in the case of Latvia - it’s a representative role. A role that our beloved President Freiberga succeeded in 100%. But trolling probably is you favourite activity, not trying to understand other viewpoints :)
Same.. my grandparents were as well. My father was born in Latvia when WW2 was wrapping up, they then moved to America. Whenever I start missing them a lot, I go on RU-vid and watch videos with Latvian speakers.. it makes me feel closer to them.
Me as a half Latvian half German, living in Germany, Bavaria identify myself as both Latvian and German/Bavarian. Sadly my mother stopped speaking Latvian with me when I got into school actively, which I am trying to catch up currently. I can clearly recognize myself in what Freiberga said about Latvian identity. Although noone would ever see me as a foreigner here in Germany, I am trying to live my Latvian identity in every days life (clothes, traditional jewelry, music, speaking latvian with my mother as often I can etc). I also noticed about myself that I really want to show others that I am not only a german, but also being partly Latvian, and wanting to share our culture with those.
@@JITKanno0 because it was easier for us all to speak german in that time since I had to learn writing and everything in school was in german so it became easier to speak it
@@duesen00 mm, thats interesting! How did your family get to the Germany? I think there were no obstacles to speak latvian at home and german everywere else, so why stopping doing that? Well, unless your mother deliberately decided to get germanized. Im just guessing.
@@JITKanno0 my mom went to munich after independence to study there and then met my father, I grew up speaking both languages but since my father is german and everyone except my mother around me spoke german too I began to prioritize German as a child
With big respect to Vike Freiberga. I was living in Latvia when you was a president. Unfortunately, Latvia focus a lot on PAST not on the NOW to help people live happily now. Not enough opportunities to create their career in the country. Not enough new developments, all go down. Independence is illusion. I love my native country wish Latvia big change what led to the prosperity of the nation.
The funniest thing about Vaira is that her parents happily lived in Latvia under Nazi occupation but as soon as Soviets started to win the war her family moved to the Nazi Germany refugee camp in a hope that Germany would eventually win the war. Unlucky for her the Nazis lost so she had to move to the WEST. To me it is quite obvious that her parents were Nazi supporters and perhaps even participated in Nazi crimes. ------------------------------------------------------ Quite interesting conclusion. Maybe how about the fact that they all understood that Soviets will win, so they left, not wanting to live under Soviets?? It's a known fact that what nazis did to Jews in Latvia was a terrible crime, but what is also known that Latvians had it much easier under Nazi, than Soviet occupation. Maybe it was due to Latvian dislike for Russians, so nazis left us alone mostly (unless you were resistance and/or communist, or eligible for war), but anyways facts are facts. If Russia invaded Latvia today, I would also leave, not because I am a supporter of anything, and not even because of patriotism. I would leave because I don't value Russian politics, way of thinking, proletariat-culture etc. at all. I'm not against Russia, in an ideal world there should be no border between Latvia and Russia, you should be able to go visa free from Vladivostok to Lisbon, live and work where you want and fuck who you want, go on gay prides etc. whichever way you like, but unfortunately it's not possible with today's Russia where among other things president's protegee is a Chechen ape who tortures people and embodies the worst aspects of gopnik culture.... I have a dislike for K. Ulmanis too, however you can't really compare him with Stalin who directly or indirectly killed tens of millions... And regarding the fact that people were not rich in Latvia before Ulmanis or Soviets... Where were they rich exactly at that time? There was also a thing called Great Depression, perhaps you have heard about it? Were people rich even in Germany at that time with war reparations and inflation?? Or other West European countries? ''Rich'' is a relatively recent terms when we speak about the masses. United States perhaps reached relatively good level already before 1929 Depression, in other countries you can't really talk about that until well into 60s- beginning of 70s....
According to Hitler's Nazi ideology Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians were also subhuman. You're probably one of those people who can't wait for another war to break out, eh?
+Genadijs Znotins As much as I hate even paying attention to your comments - the Soviets weren't stupid. They made it look like Latvia was "incorporated" into the USSR and you know that. They gave no real option to the country or to Ulmanis. The Soviet army was already near the borders at the time when Ulmanis signed the document. Records even say that some Soviet generals were present at the time when Ulmanis gave his speech via radio, so that he couldn't warn the people about what was about to happen - the annexation of Latvia. When you look at the facts - it was a voluntary act of Latvia to join the USSR, but that is because they (USSR) wanted it to look that way. I believe you know this, as you have knowledge of this historical period in Latvia, so the question remains - why are you ignoring it?
Hovinell Hello Sir! It was a really good try until you wrote this "Records even say that some Soviet generals were present at the time when Ulmanis gave his speech via radio". This is a pure piece of propaganda! You just want to think (or believe) it happened that way. Otherwise it would be harder for you (and most Latvians) to play a victim all the time. I'll give you some more genuine facts. Did you know that Stalin had a really strong influence on Latvian politicians? Did you know that the majority of people in Latvia actually disliked Ulmanis in 1939-1940? In the end of 1939 Latvia was in the deepest ever economic trouble and Latvians blamed Ulmanis for that. Stalin knew that and used this situation to his favor. He had lots of pro-Soviet people in Saeima and also quite a lot of support from locals. He did of course lose a lot of support after he ordered repressions but that doesn't deny the fact that Latvia was incorporated into USSR and not occupied or annexed.
Kristīne Pētersone Wow, another one latvian trying to twist facts:) Why is it so hard for you to accept the truth? Finland was also a small country yet thay had the guts to say a big NO to USSR (yes USSR and not Russia). Latvia was a one big village that sold quite a lot of bacon to different countries. And that's it. By the end of 1939 the unemployment rate was almost 40%! Is this what you call one of the best economies in Europe? I mean, really? And you have the nerve telling everyone here to read Latvian books of "truth"? No thanks. The majority of communists in Latvia were actually Latvian. It was Latvian communists who made decisions in the parliament. It was Latvian communists who organized repressions and deportations. It was Latvian communists who were the most cruel NKVD officers. I have a lot of respect for Latvia as a country and zero respect for Latvian interpretation of history. It is just all lies from start to the beginning. I feel really sorry for people who read Latvian books. They are being brainwashed and manipulated. You are a clear example of a brainwashed person. Or maybe you are just a troll?
Latvian identity?! Nopietni, Vairas kundze?! About what identity she is talkinf about, if because of her actions a lot of families was divided, because men left for Europe to support family, a lot of families moved to Europe, to not live in poverty, and children, who were born abroad will NOT speak latvian, and they will not have grandparents, because they were left here, in Latvia. She is wery vitty, it was so simple to leave and came back for her family. The song festival she is talking about- a lot of people CAN NOT AFFORD going to, even if they want to, because people live in poverty!!!
lolikususs es strādāju. Kā daudzi. Bet 20% Latvijas iedzīvotāju dzīvo zem iztikas minimuma. Toties prezidentei dzīvoklis klusajā centrā un luksusa autiņš, kamēr cilvēki cieš, jo nevar atļauties ārta apmeklējumu, vai normālu pārtiku
Poor old Vaira is twisting facts as usual. Latvia was incorporated into the USSR and not occupied! Like it or not, but it was Karlis Ulmanis and a pro-Soviet Latvian parliament who allowed this "occupation" to happen. You also cannot deny the fact that so many Latvians were actually happy to try communism-socialism. The unemployment rate in 1939 for about 40% so it explains why so many people were disappointed with capitalism and wanted a change.
Ilze Grasmane Is telling me to "to get my facts straight" the best you can do? Don't you have better arguments to make? I have provided historical facts. You may not like those facts but that's your problem. History is history.
Genadijs Znotins Where are your facts? I haven't read any? I just read some idiots statements without any real proof, but the saddest part is that the idiot still calls himself a Latvian.
Kalvis Jānis Kalvis, didn't your parents teach you good manners? It is not nice to insult people and especially people you don't know. You want more facts? Ok. In October 1939 Latvia signed a treaty of mutual assistance by which the U.S.S.R. obtained military, naval, and air bases on Latvian territory. On June 17, 1940, in accordance with a treaty of mutual assistance the Red Army entered in Latvia. On July 21 the Saeima voted for the incorporation of Latvia into the U.S.S.R., and on August 5 the U.S.S.R. accepted this incorporation. These are very inconvenient historical facts so our current government prefers not to talk about it. In regards to the unemployment rate, my Latvian grand grand mother was in her 20's in 1939 so remembers those times very well. Latvian economy was very dependent on Germany. When Hitler started a war in the Western Europe Latvian economy went straight downhill. In the end 1939 the unemployment rate was almost 40%. The Latvian government even had to cut the working week to four days. These are all historical facts. How can you not know about it? The funniest thing is that Latvia never lived well under democracy. It was only after Karlis Ulmanis had established a dictatorship in 1934 and nationalized 80% of private companies that Latvia started to flourish economically. Ulmanis created a mini USSR and it worked perfectly for him. He even managed to build a few houses in Riga. Before him it was only Russians, Jews and Germans who were building houses, roads, bridges, ports and castles in Latvia. In my opinion, Latvia needs another Ulmanis but not Nazi or communist.
Nope, but she did taught me not to read 40 lines of bullshit from a person who does't know squat. Write around 150 and I might consider looking at them.
