THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Selected reports from the press in central Europe
WARSAW
Gazeta Wyborcza:
Poland-Lithuania relations reach new low
Relations between EU members Poland and Lithuania have been soured by legislation in Lithuania that, according to Poland, will worsen public education opportunities for the Polish ethnic minority there.
Rzeczpospolita:
World Jewish Congress calls for Poland boycott
Until Poland adopts property restitution laws allowing its former Jewish citizens to regain their real estate lost during and after World War II, the Jewish community should stop buying Polish products or visiting the country as tourists, said Menachem Rosensaft, chief lawyer of the World Jewish Congress. The Polish government said the country’s former citizens can use existing legal possibilities, petitioning courts and the public administration to regain any property they lost.
Read more at:
http://blogs.wsj.com/new-europe/2011/03/31/from-the-headlines-march-31-2011/
It’s again set for party and celebration of the independent Republic of Užupis in Vilnius. Fourteen years have passed since this centrally located city district declared secession and independence from the Republic of Lithuania, and 1 April 1997 is now celebrated every year as the very Constitutional Date of this genuine, fascinating bohemian republic right on the other side of the river Vilnia. It takes no more than five minutes to walk there from the old town of Vilnius, so on Friday afternoon this week, all of you, dear VilNews readers, are warmly welcome to participate in the spring’s biggest and most colourful festival here in Vilnius!
The name Užupis means simply ‘the other side of the river’. There are several bridges over the river, but I recommend you to use the Užupis Bridge. This almost 20-meter long bridge, built in 1901, is a piece of art in itself, also characterized by the many padlocks attached to the wrought iron rails, hung there by hundreds of newly married couples confirming their wedlock promises. Use the left sidewalk when you cross the river, and when you are well up on the bridge, you should stop and look down and left. For there she sits, the little bronze mermaid guarding the entrance to Užupis. She sits there in a niche in the brick wall, only a few feet above the river that runs rough and powerful now in these times of spring, studying the many guests at the outdoor deck of the Užupis Cafe already well underway with springtime foaming beer mugs filled to the brim with amber-golden beverages imported from the neighbouring Republic of Lithuania.
It is not unlikely that you must be equipped with a visa to enter Užupis on this very special day. But both passport and customs control tend to go quickly, so no reason to despair. Even the 12-man army seems to be more concerned with getting people inside the borders than to defend the Republic against intruders. Well within the Republic’s external border, you soon realize that you’ve come to the land of smiles. During the walk up to the angel square that forms the centrepiece of the Republic you have to expect crowds of happy people who are here to celebrate this extraordinary national day, and if you’re lucky, you will meet at least one person wearing a long red gown . This outfit is reserved for the Republic’s leaders, be it the President or one of its ministers, and it may even be that one of them will be willing to accept sharing a small glass of something with you in one of the many bars and restaurants surrounding the Republic’s main routes.
But, by all means, stay not only in the main streets, for it is in the courtyards and back streets you’ll find many of the galleries, the special ‘decorations’, the music, scents, mystery and human life that makes Užupis to such a special place on earth.
As dusk slowly comes this Maundy Thursday early evening, I am convinced that you will have already made new acquaintances among the crowds of happy, hugging and colourful individuals from many countries and the Republic itself that all are here now to celebrate the Independence Day. You are probably already a part of the almost southern rhythms that characterize Užupis today, and when you together with your new friends finally reach the angel who stands firmly on its high pedestal in the centre of the main square, you realise that today he is far from the only one who blows the horn. Today he is surrounded by vibrant singers and musicians of many kinds, and when darkness finally falls it is right here tonight’s big show takes place in powerful expression of exceptional talent and swinging rhythms.
Užupis is still an urban area characterized by dilapidated buildings, but when the music reverberates over the cobbles this late spring evening, I am convinced that you will have fallen in love – with this unique part of Vilnius city, with the Republic, with the atmosphere and with all the happy people around you. When you at late night again cross the river Vilnia I think you’re going to do it with a big smile and renewed appreciation of the exceptionally exciting adventures and stories Lithuania has to offer…
Aage Myhre
VilNews Editor
Ambassador of the Republic of Užupis
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The Republic of Užupis
Užupis is one of the oldest districts of Vilnius, mentioned in historical sources as far back as the 16th century. Once it was called the “salt road” to Polock. In olden times it was the suburb where the poor and mainly craftsmen, lived. There were many mills and at one time it was even known as a brothel district.
The district contains the Bernadine Cemetery, one of the oldest in Vilnius. Most of the district’s Jewish population vanished during the Holocaust, and later even the old Jewish Cemetery would be destroyed by the Soviets. The houses left empty by the Holocaust were occupied by marginal elements of society, the homeless, and prostitutes.
Until Lithuania’s declaration of independence in 1990, it was one of the most neglected areas in the city, containing many run-down houses, many without utilities.
Today the district houses art galleries, artists’ workshops, and popular cafés. On April Fools Day in 1997, the district declared itself an independent republic (The Republic of Užupis), replete with an army of 12 personnel.
Užupis is a unique republic. A colourful and alive island, separated from the city by the Vilnia River that once gave name to the city itself. Užupis is a recognised district for artists and has won the name of the most mysterious and romantic district of Vilnius. Užupis is the artists’ republic, which has its own constitution (see below), national anthem, calendar and map. The district is often compared to Montmartre in Paris due to its bohemian atmosphere.
Užupis has its own President, Prime Minister, Ambassadors from many countries of the world, military force (consisting of 12 people), a bishop, two churches, the Bernardino cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Vilnius, seven bridges and a wonderful patron saint– the bronze Užupis Angel erected in its main square…
Užupis has its honorary citizens. They are such famous people as his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, former President of the Republic of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, artist Jonas Mekas and many others. Užupis has its own holidays – the Day of Užupio Independence, the Day of the Fish, the Day of Traps, the Day of White Tablecloths, etc., as well as its own traditional way of celebrating these holidays.
If you walk along the banks of the Vilnia River, you will be sure to come across artists working there. Passers-by are invited to have a try at the various kinds of art, like photography and painting, or to take part in an evening of summer cinema or exhibitions.
Everyone can find interesting places and corners in Užupis. One of them is the Užupis Bridge where lovers hang padlocks with their names engraved on them. The padlock is believed to tie and strengthen the hearts of two young people in love.
Some works of art have become symbols of Užupis:
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The Užupis Angel This is a sculpture placed on an 8.5-meter high column, which was unveiled in the Užupis Square in 2001. The Angel, created by sculptor Romas Vilčiauskas and architect Algirdas Umbrasas, is made of brass and bronze. |
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The Užupis Mermaid This is a bronze sculpture by Romas Vilčiauskas that can be seen on the bank of the Vilnia River at the Užupis Bridge near the Užupis café. In 2004, the mermaid was swept away by the rising water of the river. However, the sculpture was recovered and returned to its place. |
The Užupis Constitution
by KR Slade
Village Chief’s house
{Responding to two (2) E-mails, received on the same day of spring 2006. One from a former classmate from my university graduate-school (Boston, Massachusetts), whom I’ve not seen in 35 years . . . who probably has no idea where is or what is Lithuania . . . The second from an old political protégé (Ottawa, Canada), from my days working with Canada’s Official Languages groups, whom I’ve not seen in 6 years . . . who probably has no idea where is or what is Lithuania . . . }
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Subject: How did you get over there?
I joined our Alumni network and pulled up a list of graduates from the 70’s years. Boy, was I surprised to see your email address and even more surprised to see your location. What are you doing in Lithuania, there?
. . .
Take care. It is good to know what Alumni are up-to these days !!
How did you get to way over there to Lithuania ??
Dianne
Rhode Island (USA)
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Subject: How did you make your journey to Lithuania?
Dear Ken,
It has been a very long time since we have communicated ! I found your coordinates on a Canadian government website.
Here in Canada, we . . .
I thought of you the other day. I read that Lithuania has become a member of the European Union. But I thought that European Union was for only countries in Europe.
. . .
So please tell me about your trip to Lithuania.
Yours truly,
John
Ontario (Canada)
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Dear Dianne and John,
I write to both of you because I received your e-mails on the same day . . . although you do not know each other, I think that you are both asking me the same question: about ‘where is Lithuania’, and ‘how did I get here’.
John — what a nice surprise to hear form you ! I think that it must be some half-dozen years since we have last met, with our work for the government of Canada, in Ottawa, when we both preferred the French restaurants in Hull; eh?
Dianne — what a nice surprise to hear from you ! And after all these years — more than 35 !!! Your town, there, in RI . . . is 4-miles-south from where I was born and grew up; and 20-miles-north of where I lived and practiced law for 15 years, before I moved to Québec City, Canada. Two-and-a-half years ago I came to Lithuania. I be writer [J)], and I ‘re-teach’ English-language to some people who think that they can speak/write/teach English . . .
You both ask: “how did I get all the way over to LT ?” Well, I remember my trip, as if it were yesterday; it was quite the voyage . . .
There was the 11-hour plane ride, to cross the Atlantic Ocean. But once on this ‘new’ side, because LT is so far from any ‘other place’ (there are still no direct flights to here, from anywhere !) — it took at least another 11 days (I stopped counting then), going to smaller and smaller cities . . . then towns . . . then villages. But, of course, some of these smaller landing strips, in farmer’s fields, do not have daily, or even ‘regular’, airplane service; so, we had to wait a day-or-two between stopovers, to try to convince some small-plane pilot to fly in this direction.
Unfortunately, the stress of travel and deprivations caused some family problems. The wife and kid had been constantly complaining for more than a week. Nag, nag, nag; and cry, cry, cry. Finally, I could not stand it any longer. I went to the local market place to find some peace and alcohol. There I met a very friendly and accommodating chap, who was knowledgeable in all kinds of affairs.
A friendly local
I told him about my problem and he promised a quick and mutually profitable resolution. A few days later when I woke up in his cousin’s marketplace vegetable wagon, my new friend told me that he had solved the problem. We went to his other cousin’s barn. I do admit that I was somewhat surprised at first. The wife and kid had been bronzed. At least this solution was more civilized than having to sell them to the headhunters. It was such a good job technically, since they seem so life-like, that we were able to sell the statue-set to a distant tourist resort, at a tidy profit. Apparently, this is common in these parts, where history precedes the Bronze Age.
When I landed at the final outpost of civilization, I needed to rest for a few days . . . because of the changes in altitude, food, and water, and my total travel-fatigue. The second night, in my room — in what they called ‘a hotel’, I could not read the very foreign-language sign on the window; so I opened it for the night, not knowing that this was a very dangerous thing to do.
The next morning I was very sick. A doctor came, after a few days, and he said that I may have suffered an historical ‘ethnic-déjà-vu’ attack: by a Livonian, or Prussios, or Svedas, or Rus invasion. He did not know precisely which illness, so he gave me the Native’s Samagonas medicine for all-four afflictions. I had a delirious ‘fever’ for many days (I never did learn actually how long), but then one day I woke up and I was completely well. So, I continued my journey towards Lithuania.
In the village, I managed to find a man from the perceived-extinct Curonian tribe, who could guide me across the Juozapines Mountains, through the Paksas Pass – which is especially difficult at that particular time of year. The local Natives had said that he had reliably done this transit many times, and that he had two good, but rather old, elephants to make the journey. I had never actually seen a real elephant before, and sitting up there on top was rather disturbing; but he knew that it would be a problem for me. When I complained about the height of sitting up there so high, he laughed ! He told me that this was the SMALL elephant ! (It was a female.)
While I was perched, there in the carriage-basket seat, becoming to my new situation, he brought the other elephant: the male. It was very scary: sitting on top of an elephant, and then looking UP, at another elephant ! My guide loaded all of my baggage and equipment onto the male elephant. We began what was to be our 18-hour journey over the mountains. What was very providential was the fact that since this time of year was the elephant-mating season, it was appropriate to have the female go first, and not necessary to tie a cord to the other/trailing elephant . . . and our pace was quick.
In the early morning hours, as we were descending the mountain into the Zauskaus Plateau below, there was a terrible accident. Our (smaller) elephant had no problem negotiating a sharp turn on a particularly steep mountain slope. But, the larger male, somewhat more blinded perhaps in his old age, slipped. It was a horrible sight. Worse for us, was the female thereupon galloping down the mountain … to find . . . and to be with . . . her long-time mate . . .
I learned why, when riding an elephant in the mountains, that passengers are tied to the carriage (riding basket, called ‘a coalition’). . . An excited elephant . . . is going to do . . . what an excited elephant wants to do . . .
Once at the bottom of the mountains, at the poor now-dead beast, we finally were able to manage to dismount. It was good to be once-again on firm ground. We unloaded our baggage from the dead male. Although I could not understand the ancient language of my guide, it was obvious that the female was going to remain with her mate; and therefore, it was evident that we were stranded.
The next day, a gypsy caravan passed by, and they accepted us, and all of my baggage, to travel across the Neringa Desert, towards Lithuania. It was a very long, but more exceedingly calm journey. They were nice people, but now I know why it is better to travel by elephant, rather than by camel. Although the perceived interminably long journey through the desert, and then following the long River Will-Not, was uneventful, I came to the politically incorrect opinion that camels are disgusting.
Finally, we came to The Great River Ignominious. There, I was able to obtain the services of a river guide who would take my baggage and me down the river to Lithuania. It was a slow, but very peaceful and lovely trip. The crocodiles were not really a problem, because they are actually very shy – if they are slapped with an oar, they will swim away. But, on the second day, there was the terrible incident of our somewhat-careless raft-helper who fell into the waters. Even before we could throw a rope to him, he was eaten by the swarms of little fishes that devour any living being that enters their watery world. Perhaps you have heard something of this; yes, it is all true; even the movies cannot reflect a real representation of this horrendous event . . .
I finally arrived in the land of Lithuania, then made my way onward, first to Cowness Village, and then further to the capital-village, called Will-Not. I soon settled into a somewhat normal life, relatively speaking. I decided not to live in the capital-village mud-hut houses that surround the Parliament (preposterously called ‘The Same-Us’). I soon found quite suitable lodging in a relatively more-improved dwelling in a mountainside, called Antakalnis, an ancient cave-carved habitat area that was formerly occupied by other writers. From here, I have a very nice view of the tranquil capital-village below, and the presumed-tranquil Ignalina Volcano in the distant beyond.
The people of Lithuania are nice; well, all of the 3.5 million people – except for the Oligarchs Tribe, which has never been more than 5 percent of the population. Lithuania is a peaceful country; well, all of Lithuanian – except for the on-going daily riots in ‘The Same-Us’, but that is only some fourteen-score of persons (and a few thousand of their so-well dispersed comrades), whom will perhaps soon be transferred to a more secure facility, close by, where their scandals will no longer have a monopoly on the news. Crime is low, by north American standards; but, as everywhere, you never know . . . there could be a Mafiosi zany zilch bellicouseness across the street from ‘The Same-Us’, or a related rapacious apprentice/junior-Mafiosi-Wanna-Be on the other side of your wall . . . But, all-in-all, I love the Lithuanians; although, I know that I am genealogically/ethnically prejudiced !
My only luxury is a satellite Internet antenna dish and an electric generator. I’m so lucky that they both work; notably after they had fallen off the elephant, and thereafter also had descended into The Great River Ignominious, where with the help of the Natives, all of the equipment was salvaged, and was able to be repaired, after some months of work.
So, I have e-mail !!!
Please write again soon,
And I hope that you will visit . . .
Bye for now,
K
Dinner at the Village Chief’s house
“It seems that some of the country's leaders simply are not ready to or interested in implementing urgently needed reforms. I am saddened to see the public’s perception that rule of law is still not working effectively in Lithuania.”
US-Lithuanian attorney Regina Narusiene in a recent interview with VilNews
To read the interview, go to
Section 11 – LITHUANIA IN THE WORLD
Judge Zenonas Birstonas
The president signed today a decree removing Kaunas District Court Judge Arvydas Stankas and Vilnius District Court Judge Zenonas Birstonas from office. Both were accused of discrediting the legal system - Stankus for falsifying documents and Birstonas after he was arrested for public drunkenness. He later wrote a letter of apology to the press and the public, without impressing the president to make her change her opinion about him.
President Grybauskaite removed four other judges from office last year. According to Lithuanian law, a presidential decree is the only way to remove a judge from office.
Let’s hope rule of law soon will start functioning in Lithuania...
That individuals, persons and government shall submit to, obey and be regulated by law, and not arbitrary action by an individual or a group of individuals.
Distinguished from the 'rule of man' where, for example, in a monarchy, tyrannical or theocratic form of government, governance and rules of conduct is set and altered at the discretion of a single person, or a select group of persons.
In a political system which adheres to the paramountcy of the rule of law, the law is supreme over the acts of the government and the people.
Vilnius captured my soul on my first visit in 1998. In an ideal world, I would own an apartment in old town and fly back and forth several times a year.
The emotion I felt when I first saw the Lithuanian flag flying over Gedimino Pylis was overwhelming. Lithuania is free and can grow and develop like never before. Thank you vilNews for keeping us informed and in touch!
Jurate Kutkus Burns, Florida
Photo: www.kastu.lt
Dear Aage, this is just to compliment you with VilNews new style. It's a great pleasure reading this e-magazine every time and I think you can be really proud of your achievement!
Ambassador Joep Wijnands
Royal Netherlands Embassy, Vilnius
What bothers me is the intolerance it exhibits towards Lithuanian born citizens who no longer live in Lithuania because of wars and other extenuating circumstances.
Aleksas
Text: Vin Karnila
When in Lithuania you would do well to take a short drive from Kaunas or Vilnius to the city of Ukmergė. Here you will not only find an absolutely charming community but you will also be in one of the oldest communities still in existence in Lithuania.
To begin we should take a look at the name. The city took its original name Vilkmergė from the Vilkmergėlė River which was initially called Vilkmergė and assumed a diminutive form after the growth of the settlement. It is commonly thought that the name may be translated as "she-wolf", from the combination of Vilkas (wolf) and Merga (maiden). According to local legend, Vilkmergė was a girl raised by wolves, who bridged the divide between animals and humans, in the same way as Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli. "Ukmergė", by contrast, is "farm girl" (Lith. ūkis = farm). The original name has been adopted by the local soccer team, "Vilkmergė" as well as the popular HBH Vilkmergė beer.
Ukmergė girl and wolf
To put Ukmergės historical significance in the proper perspective I would like to share with you this comparison of three other locations that represent historical Lithuania
Ukmergė was first mentioned as a settlement in 1333.
Kernavė, the "ancient capital" of Lithuania, was first mentioned in 1279.
Vilnius was first mentioned in written sources in 1323
The name of Trakai was first mentioned in Teutonic Knights chronicles in 1337
In the 1300s Ukmergė was essentially a wooden fortress that stood on a hill, near the confluence of the Vilkmergė River and the Šventoji River. Ukmergė was repeatedly attacked by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Order in 1333, 1365, 1378, 1386. Finally during the last attack in 1391 Ukmergė was burned to the ground and had to be completely rebuilt.
A hill fort in Ukmergė's old town
The region began to adopt Christianity, along with the rest of Lithuania, in 1386. In the following year, 1387, its first Catholic church, St. Peter and St. Paul, was built. It should be emphasized that this was one of the first Roman Catholic churches established in Lithuania.
St. Peter and St. Paul Church
1 September 1435 the Battle of Pabaiskas was fought near Ukmergė. This was a very significant battle in Lithuanian history in that it reduced the power of the Livonian Order as its army was defeated, Grand Master killed, and many senior officers taken prisoners. The damage to the Livonian Order caused by the battle is often compared to the consequences that the Battle of Grunwald (1410) had on the Teutonic Knights. Some time after the battle the town was granted municipal rights and written sources dating from 1486 referred to it as a city. King Sigismund the Old confirmed these rights. During the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the city had been the center of "powiat" (county government) in the Vilnius Voivodeship (province/state).
In 1655, the Swedish and Russian armies plundered the city. Because of these incessant wars, the growth of Ukmergė suffered many setbacks. In the years 1711–1712, the bubonic plague swept through the town and wreaked havoc upon its population. In 1792, by the initiative of the city's representative in the Great Sejm, Jozef Dominik Kossakowski and King Stanisław August Poniatowski renewed the town's municipal rights and gave it its current coat of arms.
Coat of Arms of Ukmergė
In the 1700s and 1800s the town and the area once again was effected by outside sources. In 1795, Ukmergė along, with most of Lithuania, was annexed by Russia, becoming a part of the Vilna Governorate (created after the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795).
In 1812, the Battle of Deltuva, between the Russian and French armies, occurred not far from Ukmergė and Napoleon's army raided the town during the French invasion of Russia. During the November Uprising against the Russian Empire in 1831, the city remained in the hands of rebel elements for several months.
In 1843, by order of tsar Nicholas I, the town became a part of the newly established Kovno Governorate. In 1863, the city participated in the January Uprising against Russia. The uprising began as a spontaneous protest by young Lithuanians and Poles against conscription into the Imperial Russian Army, and was soon joined by high-ranking Polish-Lithuanian officers and various politicians.
Here are a few interesting events that happened in the late 1800s
In 1874 the future president of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona, was born in Užulėnis near Ukmergė, and was educated in the local school.
In 1876 a match factory was established in Ukmergė.
In 1877 a fire again ravaged the town – We can't find any documentation indicating the fire was caused by the match factory but it is a very strange coincidence don't you think?
In 1882 a printing-house was opened.
In 1899 thirteen people were punished for distributing books written in the Lithuanian language, which was prohibited at that time by Russia.
The 20th century brought a myriad of events
One very notable event occurred in 1918 after Lithuania declared its independence, the city's name was changed from Vilkmergė to Ukmergė.
In 1919 Bolshevik forces occupied the city during the Lithuanian–Soviet War, but it was soon liberated by the Lithuanian army led by Jonas Variakojis. Over five hundred Bolshevik prisoners were taken during the "Battle of Ukmergė".
Soviet POWs
In 1918 an iron foundry was established.
In 1920, the Lithuanian army stopped Polish incursions into the rest of the country, after a series of battles that were waged to establish borders between the two newly re-established countries.
Also in 1920 an electric plant, a printing house and 120 other small businesses were opened.
The city had five newspapers until 1939.
In 1930 a monument named "Lituania Restituta" was erected to commemorate the first decade of restored Lithuanian independence.
Ukmergė's monument to independence, "Lituania Restituta"
In 1940, after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, deportations of people from the town began. When the Germans attacked the Soviet Union and its occupied territories, on June 22, 1941, the retreating Soviets gave instructions to their operatives to kill some one hundred and twenty prisoners. Fortunately most of them escaped. Tragically eight of them were tortured to death.
During the German occupation, the Nazis rounded up and murdered about 10,000 members of the town's Jewish population. During World War II, the city center suffered from extensive bomb damage.
For many years after the return of the Soviets, the city's people organized and participated in resistance movements, the deportation of the city's population to Siberia continued and in 1950 the monument to Lithuania's Independence was destroyed. The city reconstructed it in 1990, even before the restoration of Lithuania's independence was declared.
Ukmergė became an unwilling factor in the Cold War when in 1964, two coupled Soviet nuclear missile bases were built in the woods near Ukmergė. Each had four surface launch pads, semi-underground hangars to store the missiles and several accessory buildings. The bases were mentioned in the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. Today while they both are in ruined state they are freely accessible to public.
As I said before, Ukmergė is a very charming community. A walk through the center of town will reward you with an opportunity to see many old buildings. While many have been restored there still are some that are in need of restoration. This is no problem though because with a slight squint of the eyes and a little imagination these buildings will appear in their original grandeur. If you visit during the summer months the town center is aglow with blooming flowers and a stroll down the streets on a warm summer's eve is quite enjoyable.
Town center at night
As you drive into the center of Ukmergė you get quite an interesting contrast. In one area you see a new shopping center, you drive by a hospital and a municiple building then you are driving through areas where many older homes are located. Atesting to their age, many of these homes are located only about one meter from the street.
To really get an idea of the history of this area you should make it a point to visit the Ukmergė Museum at 5 Kestucio Square in Ukmerge.
Displays of archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, textile, art, iconography telling the history of the land from the primitive communal system to our days are exhibited in three halls of the museum.
A big part of the archaeological exposition consists of finds from Obeliai burial-ground dated back to the 5-15th centuries.
Ethnographic displays acquaint visitors with the household of olden times in Ukmerge region.
A part of the exposition is devoted to the First Grand Duke Gediminas Infantry Regiment, which was distributed in Ukmerge in 1923-1939 and played a significant role in the public life of the city.
So if you are in Lithuania you would do well to visit this area of both ancient and recent history. It's a nice day trip from Kaunas or Vilnius. If you want to stay the night there are a few hotels and motels in the area or go to
http://www.atostogoskaime.lt/en/ and enjoy some Village Tourism.
Su pagarbe – Vin Karnila
Lithuania is doing just fine without perfume or a ‘look at me’ attitude. Lithuania is a quiet nation with strong, rich history taken and followed by all Lithuanian descendents in the U.S. I don’t need to be reminded that my country is there. I know it is and I am proud to call it mine.
Patricia Giedraitis, USA
Lithuania's identity presented with "a bottle of perfume"??? What a shame...
Since when has Lithuania anything related to perfumes?.. We are not French....
I am just wondering for what we, the tax payers, are paying to our state companies?.. Another example of the possible money washing....?
Irma Ramaskaite,
Vilnius
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius says that Lithuania is considering asking the European Union to impose restrictions on electricity trading by third parties that generate electric power without complying with nuclear safety requirements. Kubilius directly referenced Russia’s constructing a nuclear power plant in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as a planned Russian-Belarusian project to construct a plant in Belarus. Lithuania has vociferously spoken out against the latter project since a deal was signed March 16 between Russia and Belarus — a deal that would allow Moscow to provide roughly $9 billion in financing to construct the nuclear plant.
Read more at:
http://blogs.forbes.com/energysource/2011/03/24/lithuania-agitates-against-russian-nuclear-projects/
Eugene Rangayah
March 2, 2011
I am not sure about the source of the information entitled Jews in South Africa. Especially with regards to point 3, which clearly, in my opinion, is aimed at marginalising the involvement of Muslims in the anti-apartheid struggle. The comparison made is with regards to the Muslim population in the Cape region. One would have to understand which race group makes up that population in order to understand their perspective. That region’s Muslim population is made up of the “Coloured/Mixed Race” or “Cape Malay” race group. This race group has had an association with the Afrikaaners, which goes back centuries! In point of fact, most of the Coloured people who I have encountered, often associate themselves with their Afrikaaner heritage(from a race perspective) rather than their African heritage. At times referring to themselves as Akrikaaners, based on Afrikaans being the first language.
In order for one to gain a full perspective on the Muslim involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle you would need to consider other race groups as well. In the Indian community in South Africa, over 80% of the anti-apartheid activists were Muslims. Look up the following people: Ismail Kathrada, Ismail Meer, Fathima Meer, Ahmed Kathrada, Yusuf Dadoo, Yusuf Cachalia, I could go on listing names.
At the end of the day, what is more important, is that people regardless of religion or race, took the initiative to join the struggle to oppose Apartheid.
Eugene Rangayah
March 2, 2011
Further to my comment above, one also has to acknowledge that Jews were regarded as White in Apartheid South Africa and enjoyed the benefits afforded to them as White South Africans. Some chose to oppose it, who have been duly honoured, and some chose to ride the wave of these benefits.
Grant
March 3, 2011
Correct – Jews were regarded as white in South Africa and did enjoy all the privileges. What made their sacrifices even more remarkable was that they put themselves at risk and all the privileges at risk to fight a fight where they were not victims themselves.
The “Coloreds” and Indians were a disadvantaged community, so they were fighting for themselves with self interest at stake.
What made Jewish sacrifice so remarkable was that they had nothing to gain, and everything to lose, and still they participated at 25 times their proportion to the white community. Remarkable! If they had fought at a rate of twice their proportion to the population, that would have been remarkable by itself, but 25 times. Wow!
Eugene Rangayah
March 8, 2011
I appreciate that White South Africans, who chose to join the struggle had everything to lose. That is not what I dispute about the article. The article, in my opinion, does a direct comparison between Muslim and Jewish participation in the anti-apartheid movement, resulting in the Muslim involvement being marginalised. Why does it not measure Hindu, Buddhist or Christian involvement? I do not think that this forum, should be used as an instrument to spruce up anyone’s involvement in the anti-apartheid movement at the expense of others. If the intention was to highlight the contribution of the Jewish community, then that’s fine, as it is the Litvak forum, but definitely not at the expense of the Muslims or any other religious sect.
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