THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Opinions
FROM MADHUR IN INDIA:
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Am planning for a trip to Lithuania very soon... The pictures which you have uploaded haunts me....they are so beaaaaaaautiful.. I fully agree it is Europe's best kept secret!
I am forwarding it to all my friends and acquaintances to promote Lithuania ... It's worth a venture... Honestly!
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FROM SANDRA IN THE US:
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I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this issue
and using the links provided. Four of us are travelling to Lithuania in May and are very much looking forward to visiting the land of our ancestors. Thank you for the information.
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FROM SHARON AND CHRIS IN THE US:
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Thanks so much for sharing. I'm going to forward to the rest of the family so they have a chance to see how beautiful a place Lithuania is and maybe visit there to see where their ancestors lived.
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FROM ALDONA IN SWEDEN:
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Fantastic. Keep up the good work. That is the way to present a positive view of Lithuania.
Linkiu sekmes, Aldona is Svedijos
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Palle Gravesen Jensen.
A Danish expat to Lithuania, owner of two manufacturing companies, Electronic House and Metalco Baltic. Member of the board of the Danish Chamber of Commerce (DCC) in Lithuania. His family was one of the three families founding the Vilnius International School.
There are a number of issues to discuss with regards to Lithuania of today, the country I made my own 16 years ago, moving from my homeland Denmark.
One particular question, however, comes to my mind again and again: What is this country going to live on 20 years from now. It is a big question. My concern is there will not be much at all if nothing is done immediately.
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Why dignity matters for Lithuania
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Jonas Basanavičius,
the "Patriarch of Lithuania".
On the 16th of February it was exactly 94 years since a group of brave men wrote the Lithuanian declaration of independence after the country had been under Tsarist Russia's iron heel through more than 100 years. These men represented a generation that certainly felt an overwhelming sense of pride at the dawn of renewed independence.
What these men presented from the balcony of a house in Pilies street here in Vilnius Old Town was not much more than a piece of paper. But it was a paper that symbolized a nation willing to throw off the yoke. A nation that had won back its self respect and dignity in spite of the injustice and oppression that had been going on since the Russian occupation started in 1795.
We salute these men for their courage and foresight. We salute them because they, in faith, hope and dignity clearly showed that Lithuania wanted to live up to its proud history as a nation of greatness.
Great nations are founded on self-belief!
Comments:
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BELOW: Reader comments
Richard Vitkauskas
Congratulations :) Awesome publication.
Richard Vitkauskas,
New York
Lars Persen
Congratulations to Aage Myhre and Vilnews for 1 year online and great contributions to understanding the fragmented history of Lithuania.
Lars Persen,
Norway
Boris Bakunas
Rarely do I find publications whose major goals match my own as closely as VilNews, an e-magazine that strives to encourage understanding and mutual cooperation among people around the globe while preserving what is best in a country's national identity. VilNews is such a publication.
Boris Bakunas,
Chicago
Cheryle Prakop-Good
Yes gorgeous pic....my Grandmother now 88 was born in Vilnius I'd love to visit some day from Australia :D
Anthea Poskus
Jenifer C. Dillis
Barbara Rapaport
I have been reading some of the most interesting articles since the VilNews launch.
What has impressed me the most is the fact that you have been able to pull extraordinary ‘minds & brains’ together from all over the world for the purpose of ‘rescuing’ Lithuania as a nation, and fundamentally improve its current practices with respect to economic and political justice, business practices, educational sustainability and resilience and much, much more.
Just wanted to say one more time THANK YOU!!!
Barbara Rapaport
Adelaide, Australia
- originally from Vilnius.
Giedrė Jotautaitė
I read your e-magazine every morning and I think it’s great
I was born in Vilnius, studied at Vilnius University, but moved to Milan to work. Now I’m saving money to buy a beautiful flat in the centre of Vilnius, because one day I will surely come back home!
>From my point of view Lithuania is doing quite good, if to compare with Italy where one now can feel the crisis more.
Best wishes and kiss,
Giedrė Jotautaitė
Milan, Italy
- originally from Vilnius.
The woman I spoke with at the national day celebration at the Norwegian Embassy in Vilnius on 17 May had much good to say about our VilNews e-magazine, and I do not deny that it felt good to hear such words – confirming that what we have tried to describe and gain an understanding of, in and about the 'Lithuanian', has been so well received, perceived and understood by one of our readers. This is what she said:
Then VilNews appears and suddenly we have access to a unique publication that explains Lithuania to the world in a completely different, clever way that makes the country sound and look very interesting again. Even those times when you criticize various aspects it is understood that the criticism is based on well-founded ideas, fairness and a balanced approach.
You've just changed the image and perception of Lithuania. I am also very impressed with the unusual combination you present the news, blogs, comments, debates and a vast background material - not least that of historical character.
It is also very good to see so many of your readers actually write and communicate actively through the channel you offer them through VilNews. I've actually never seen anything like it anywhere in the world. I recommend now VilNews to all my contacts around the world. I wish fervently that the nation's leaders would study the publication very carefully, and follow up much of what you write and propose."
appreciate this publication.
Aciu dar karta!
Irene Petkaitis
Please continue with the delightful photos and thank you for them.
Congratulations also on Anniversary of VilNews...
We of Lithuanian descent
truly appreciate this publication. Aciu dar karta!
Irene Petkaitis.
USA
Felicia Dalia Prekeris Brown
Loved your trip with the family and all the great photos.
Felicia Dalia Prekeris Brown,
California, USA.
National Lithuanian American
Hall of Fame
Chicago, USA.
I’ve heard that Aage Myhre, the Editor-in-Chief, is terrific guy. He goes out of his way to publish both comments and articles from new contributors.
Also, never hesitate to post on my Wall. For many years, I felt like I was living in an intellectual and spiritual vacuum, but now I find new interests, thoughts, and opportunities coming my way like never before.
Boris Bakunas
Chicago, USA.
Wyman Brent
Congratulations on one year of amazing growth and success!
Wyman Brent,
Vilnius Jewish Library
Boris Bakunas
Two hundred years of oppression have scattered Lithuanians among all parts of the world. You will find Lithuanian communities in North and South America, in South Africa, in Australia, and Asia. VilNews is the best online publication I've seen about Lithuania's history, culture, geography, and its resurgence on the world stage. VilNews seeks to bring Lithuanians, their descendants, and people interested in Lithuania together in a cooperative manner, fostering good relations among Lithuania, its neighbors in the European community as well as the rest of the world.
Boris Bakunas
Chicago, USA.
(Dr) Al Taškūnas, OAM
Dear Aage and all workers at VilNews,
Congratulations on your first Anniversary.
And by the way: By not resorting to 6, 000 pages, you have certainly saved many lovely trees.
Keep up the good work and all the best.
(Dr) Al Taškūnas, OAM
Honorary Research Professor, School of Government, University of Tasmania
and Editor, Lithuanian Papers.
Neringa Zamani
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! Great reporting, interesting topics, and knowledgeable human resources. May it continue to flourish and expand. Thank you VilNews!
Neringa Zamani,
Washington D.C., USA.
Amos Eiran
Warm congratulations for the anniversary of VilNews On-Line. I always enjoy reading your publication and learn a lot from them and always look forward for the new publications.
Amos Eiran,
Tel Aviv, Israel.
Jurate Kutkus Burns
A great achievement! All it took was a vision and lots of hard work...thank you for both.
Jurate Kutkus Burns,
Florida, USA.
William Adan Pahl
Great job! Press freedom!
William Adan Pahl,
Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s former leader who successfully fought communism but not the bottle. Are Lithuanian bureaucrats following his example?
Several employees of a Lithuanian authority were caught partying wildly in a drunken state during working hours on Thursday. Lithuanian journalist reflects on the alcohol issues of his country’s bureaucrats in an article published on February 6.
Alcoholism is widespread among bureaucrats and is eating away at the state, the daily Vilniaus Diena writes: “One may well be surprised at the combination of drinking and democracy, but not in the case of bureaucrats with their butts stuck to their seats… Institutional alcohol consumption is a glaring problem here in Lithuania but for decades there have been efforts to hide the fact.
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Just to confirm that she does get her challenging work done, check out Barbara's popular online magazine Indulged Traveler at http://www.indulgedtraveler.com and find the best destinations, jewellery, hotels, food and fashion, wine regions and cooking lessons. Her email address is barbara3@rogers.com
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Barbra Kingstone finds Lithuania increasingly cosmopolitan – but not easy to read and walk…
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BARBARA KINGSTONE: Charming as the Vilnius cobblestone streets are, if you're walking, these uneven surfaces are a hazard so sensible shoes. As I traversed the ancient streets, it boggled my mind to see svelte young women in sky-high stilettos rush by without a wobble.
Photo: Aage Myhre.
An article by BARBARA KINGSTONE,
Special to QMI Agency
Some countries can be read like a manageable road map. It's easy to figure out where you are, learn about the history and politics, and navigate from one dot to another. Lithuania is not one of these.
With its history of political twists and turns, domination by various countries, shifting borders, and imposed ideologies, connecting the dots in Lithuania is complex. When likened to reading a map, even the most directionally adept person would beg for aspirin.
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The fairy tale forests of the Gauja Valley in Latvia, the beauty of Saaremaa Island in Estonia and the 170-foot-high Parnidis Dune in Lithuania were waiting for author Patricia Schultz to discover them
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Patricia Schultz’s world bestselling travel book is back in a more informative, more experiential, more budget-friendly full-color edition. A #1 "New York Times" bestseller, "1,000 Places" reinvented the idea of travel book as both wish list and practical guide. As Newsweek wrote, it "tells you what's beautiful, what's fun, and what's just unforgettable-- everywhere on earth." And now the best is better. There are 600 full-color photographs. Over 200 entirely new entries, including visits to 28 countries like Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, that were not in the original edition.
On top of the Parnidis Dune,
Neringa, Lithuania.
Photo: Aage Myhre.
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Re. Polish-Lithuanian War 1919-1920:
Thank you for the very interesting post. The demographics in 1897 is provided here
Interestingly in the areas around Vilnius, excluding the city ("Vilenskij ujezd bez goroda") Belarusians constituted around 87 000, Poles 25 000, Lithuanians 73 000, and Jews 15 000. So it was a very mixed area, and I wonder if "Belarusians" became "Poles" in later censuses.
Tautietis
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OP-ED COLUMNIST
‘The Suffering Olympics’
By ROGER COHEN
Published: January 30, 2012
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA — The “double genocide” wars that pit Stalin’s crimes against Hitler’s are raging in wide swathes of Europe and every now and again along comes a gust from the past to stoke them. The 70th anniversary this month of the Nazi adoption at Wannsee of annihilation plans for the Jews provided one such squall.
Yes, the past is still treacherous beneath Europe’s calm surface. Memory swirls untamed in the parts of the Continent that the American historian Timothy Snyder calls “Bloodlands,” the slaughterhouses from Lithuania to Ukraine that Hitler and Stalin subjected to their murderous whim.
To mark the Wannsee anniversary, over 70 European Parliament members, including 8 Lithuanians, signed a declaration objecting to “attempts to obfuscate the Holocaust by diminishing its uniqueness and deeming it to be equal, similar or equivalent to Communism.” It also rejected efforts to rewrite European school history books “to reflect the notion of ‘double genocide.”’
All of this was too much for the Lithuanian foreign minister, Audronius Azubalis, a conservative, who blasted the Lithuanian social democrat signatories as “pathetic.” His spokeswoman declared that the only difference between Hitler and Stalin was the length of their mustaches. She said legal qualifications of the crimes they committed were “absolutely the same”: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Roger Cohen
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Ruta Brazis-Velasco
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Thank You-Aciu!!!!!
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Meiloute Marquez
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I love reading your posts and articles, but most of all I love looking at your photographs! You should publish a catalogue of the photographs…I think that I may even void any royalties concerning the ones that I am in ;-)
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OPINIONS
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
Ph. D., Chicago
A wave of unity sweeps the international Lithuanian community on March 11th every year as Lithuanians celebrated the anniversary of the Lithuanian Parliament's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. However, the sense of national unity engendered by the celebration could be short-lived.
Human beings have a strong tendency to overgeneralize and succumb to stereotypical us-them distinctions that can shatter even the strongest bonds. We need only search the internet to find examples of divisive thinking at work:
- "Those who fled Lithuania during World II were cowards -- and now they come back, flaunt their wealth, and tell us 'true Lithuanians' how to live."
- "Lithuanians who work abroad have abandoned their homeland and should be deprived of their Lithuanian citizenship."
In Lithuania Christmas Eve is a family event and the New Year's Eve a great party with friends!
Lithuanian say "Kaip sutiksi naujus metus, taip juos ir praleisi" (the way you'll meet the new year is the way you will spend it). So everyone is trying to spend New Year's Eve with friend and have as much fun as possible.
Lithuanian New Year's traditions are very similar to those in other countries, and actually were similar since many years ago. Also, the traditional Lithuanian New Years Eve party was very similar to other big celebrations throughout the year.
The New Year's Eve table is quite similar to the Christmas Eve table, but without straws under the tablecloth, and now including meat dishes. A tradition that definitely hasn't changes is that everybody is trying not to fell asleep before midnight. It was said that if you oversleep the midnight point you will be lazy all the upcoming year. People were also trying to get up early on the first day of the new year, because waking up late also meant a very lazy and unfortunate year.
During the New Year celebration people were dancing, singing, playing games and doing magic to guess the future. People didn't drink much of alcohol, especially was that the case for women.
Here are some advices from elders:
- During the New Year, be very nice and listen to relatives - what you are during New Year Eve, you will be throughout the year.
- During to the New Year Eve, try not to fall, because if this happens, next year you will be unhappy.
- If in the start of the New Year, the first news are good - then the year will be successful. If not - the year will be problematic.
* If New Year's night is cold and starry - look forward to a good summer!
* If the during New Year Eve trees are covered with frost - then it will be a good year. If it is wet weather on New Year's Eve, one can expect a year where many will die and dangerous epidemics occur.
* If the first day of the new year is snowy - the upcoming year will see many young people die. If the night is snowy - mostly old people will die.
* If the New Year time is cold - then Easter will be warm.
* If during New Year there are a lot of birds in your homestead - then all year around there will be many guests and the year will be fun.
Christmas greetings
from Vilnius
and epic battle for the
future
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
want to learn about the
new, scary propaganda
war between Russia,
The West and the
Baltic States!
believe their government
is corrupt
students say no to
bribes for doctors
During Soviet times, government was administered for the people in control, not for the local population, court decisions were decreed, they were not the administration of justice, and academia was the domain of ideologues. 25 years of freedom and openness should have put those bad experiences behind Lithuania, but that is not so.
Today, it is a matter of expectation that court pronouncements will be governed by ideological dictates. Few, if any Lithuanians expect real justice to be effected. For foreign companies, doing business in Lithuania is almost impossible in a situation where business people do not expect rule of law, so, surely Government would be a refuge of competence?
Lithuanian Government has not emerged from Soviet styles. In an attempt to devolve power, Lithuania has created a myriad of fiefdoms of power, each speaking in the name of the Government, each its own centralized power base of ideology.
Chepstow, Wales
Doesn't that sound suspiciously like Lithuania? Ah, but I didn't mention the mountains of Snowdonia, which would give the game away.
I'm talking about Wales, that part of the UK which Lithuanians used to call "Valija", but later named "Velsas" (why?). Wales, the nation which has welcomed two Lithuanian heads of state to its shores - firstly Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, who has paid several visits and, more recently, President Dalia Grybauskaitė who attended the 2014 NATO summit which was held in Newport, South Wales.
ENGLISH VERSION OF THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.
Although Lithuanian activities have thinned over the decades as that postwar generation died out, the Lithuanian Martyrs' parish hall is crowded with many, many hundreds of visitors who come to the Lithuanian cemetery for All Souls' Day. Similarly, the Franciscan parish has standing room only for Christmas Eve mass.
Although I am firmly embedded in the literary culture of Canada, my themes are usually Lithuanian, and I'll be in Kaunas and Vilnius in mid-November 2015 to give talks about the Lithuanian translations of my novels and short stories, which I write in English.
If you have the Lithuanian language, come by to one of the talks listed in the links below. And if you don't, you can read more about my work at
www.anatanassileika.com
http://www.vdu.lt/lt/rasytojas-antanas-sileika-pristatys-savo-kuryba/ https://leu.lt/lt/lf/lf_naujienos/kvieciame-i-rasytojo-59hc.html
"My love and best wishes to all. As long as VilNews exists, there is hope for the future,"" she writes.
Irena Veisaite means very much for our publication, and we do hereby thank her for the support and wise commitment she always shows.
You can read our interview with her
Facing a new reality
Dear readers of VilNews,
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
The likelihood of Putin
invading Lithuania
.jpg "lithuania today")
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
Are all Lithuanian energy
problems now resolved?
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania's needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia's oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Have Lithuanian ties across
the Baltic Sea become
stronger in recent years?
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania's independence can be described as a "building boom". From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a "Nordic-Baltic community" - I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Since the restoration of Lithuania's independence 25 years ago, we have continuously felt a strong support from Nordic countries. Nordics in particular were among the countries supporting Lithuania's and Baltic States' striving towards independence. Take example of Iceland, country which recognized Lithuania in February of 1991, well in advance of other countries. Yet another example - Swedish Ambassador was the first ambassador accredited to Lithuania in 1991. The other countries followed suit. When we restored our statehood, Nordic Countries became champions in promoting Baltic integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. To large degree thanks Nordic Countries, massive transformations occurred in Lithuania since then, Lithuania became fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO, and we joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015.
Have you heard about the
South African "Pencil Test"?
But that is exactly what happened to me when I came back from South Africa. I will tell you how.
VilNews e-magazine is published in Vilnius, Lithuania. Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Aage Myhre. Inquires to the editors: editor@VilNews.com.
Code of Ethics: See Section 2 – about VilNews. VilNews is not responsible for content on external links/web pages.
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