Opinions

Thank you - I feel like I had a stroll through Vilnius (and also made me homesick) some beautiful photos...
Virginija Shimkute,
New Zealand

Excellent and interesting publication you have! I have been receiving copies of your publication through friends, and I would like to be added to your email list. I am an architect also, in Michigan, and do travel back to Vilnius every year and have an apartment on Ausros Vartu Street, where I experience a totally different rhythm of life than in the USA. Your perceptions about Vilnius and Lithuania, and architecture are insightful and accurate. Keep going! I would like to meet you next time I am in town, if possible.
Algimantas Bublys,
Michigan, USA

Thank you for this splendid tour. Here from Tashkent, Vilnius looks even more charming.
Anne Bauty,
Ambassador of Switzerland to Uzbekistan

In my very-limited knowledge of Ciurlionis, I remember reading something about that after his premature death, his friends/ associates supported his widow…
And, most importantly: that these friends/associates actively sought and purchased whatever graphics of Ciurlionis that they could find … and then put ALL such works in a bank vault …and, due to a flooding of the vault, some works were destroyed…
Perhaps someone may help to correct / amplify my minimal understanding???
* * *
But, what has intrigued me is: WHY would any group of friends/associates try to remove his graphic-works from the public???
What was their "motivation"???
Ken-Russel Slade

According to a new report from STATISTICS LITHUANIA there are now officially 3.24 million people resident in this country. That is about 100,000 fewer than a year ago.

If emigration continues at the same pace over the coming years, Lithuania will, in other words, be completely empty of people in 2043. And these are only the official statistics. Reality is probably even worse.

It is no longer a question of emigration but of evacuation...

FACEBOOK COMMENTS
(Ieva Vozbutaite's comment in bold chosen 'best comment of the day'):

Grant Gochin When this is the public face of LT, why would civilized people stay? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/
people/profiles/women-of-courage-rachel-margolis-2236081.html

Grant Gochin and when this is the conduct of the Government, why would anyone want any association with LT?
http://www.lrytas.lt/-12995610621297582122-auk%C4%85-vaizduojantis-valdininkas-ir-u%C5%BE-jo-ky%C5%A1an%C4%8Dios-m-murzos-retorikos-ausys.htm

Bo B. Randulff I guess that makes property investment a bad idea...

Sergey Kanovich sad

Irma Ramaskaite The smartest will still stay here, do not worry... :)

Thomas Sloan Wilbur You can watch a recent film on LT emigration here, "Shall I?" by Igor Drozdov, http://www.zebra.lt/lt/video/ar-verta-shall-i-dokumentinis-emigrantu-filmas.html

Aage Myhre My private prediction is that in 10 years there will be around 5 million people living here. Just make sure that your real estate agent speaks Russian :)

Sergey Kanovich Aage, then make it double:)

Thomas Danielsen What about all us expats that gave up and left also... The total number of people left the last years must be enormous! 
I will assume Irma is being ironic, or else I would comment quite differently...

Karenkay Ketcheson Sharp what is going on there/????

Knut Eirik Sletbakk where do they all go?

Ieva Vozbutaite
First of all, dramatic headlines attract attention, but very often are far from reality... First of all, just because people, especially young ones leave that does not mean that they leave forever. I think it is a very normal and even desirable thing to go, explore, learn, live in different cultures, societies, etc. Many, however, at least young people, have the plans to come back... And many have come back already... I am one of them and I know a few that have similar stories - came back with education, ph degrees and further develop very successful carriers here... Migration is a normal process... Of course, I am not saying that government does not need to pay attention to obvious facts, but... I would not make drama out of it... :)

Aage Myhre I wish you were right, Ieva. But in terms of emigration / evacuation from Lithuania, I am afraid we still see only the tip of the iceberg. Worst of all, it seems that many young people are so deeply angry and disappointed about the way their home country is managed that it will be very difficult to convince them to move back home again...

Inna Ivanova Hello Aage! that is sad!!!!!!!! 
but we are thinking about coming back to Vilnius - I will serve for Lithuania's wellbeing :)

Ieva Vozbutaite
Yes, very many people are angry... But on the other hand so many of us refuse to make that extra step or even simply start making Lithuania better by changing yourself... Lithuania is us... Are there many problems? - yes... who are going to solve them? hmmmm... guess what... us...:) we elect governments, but so many of us don't even show up to vote... we hate corruption, but so many take the easier way out and bribe the policeman... Change does not happen if don't make it happen... and to me the most disappointing thing is that people who could lead by example - expats, people in higher positions and better financials standing - they so often tend to take the easier way... I know so many foreigners - from Scandinavia, US, Germany - who allow themselves to act in Lithuania very differently then in their home countries... I ask them "why? you know better?"... and the answer is "because it is easier that way"... What have I done to change this country? Hm

Aage Myhre Very, very good, Ieva!! I believe your attitudes are 100% correct and I wish your understanding will start spreading rapidly! Also among foreigners living or visiting...

Thomas Danielsen
Nothing will change the next 30-50 years until those today 35+ die out... Ieva says that she knows many who is planning to come back. Well, I know equally many who says "I will never come back". 
The statistics speaks its case - the dark numbers are surely higher. 
Surely many expats are acting according to the local norm. Why should we not? We are called stupid if we do not... With attitudes like "if I manage to screw you, its your fault that you got screwed". Or like one Lithuanian who is presently in a Norwegian jail said: "All Norwegians can afford to be robbed for at least 100 000 kr" (about 40 000 Litas). You got a long, long way to go Lietuva...
Wake up, look at the facts, smell the reality! Lithuanians call us "stupid and naive". I say, have a look around yourself and shut up!
Ieva do certainly have a point, the country needs to be changed by the people themselves! And it will have to be the people with international experience that does it. However, they will not come back and try to change something which does not want to be changed.

Ieva Vozbutaite Thomas, Lithuania is a land of opportunity!... Is it easy? No; Is it convenient? No... Does it pay as much as US or Sweden? No... But there is no greater excitement and pleasure when you get to do things that you would only dream about in US and Sweden!!!

Thomas Danielsen Sure its a land of opportunity. But what you got to realize is that there are bigger opportunities elsewhere. Surely Lithuania is an entrepreneurial country - as long as you play by her rules (including the corruption and cheaters and all that goes with it). Its a rotten country - from inside to outside. Especially from inside.

Ieva Vozbutaite I am inside, and let me tell you - it is not that rotten... and many things at the end of the day depend on you and principles... I would use the word raw and not rotten... Raw in the sense of everything being very much in the open... From my experience in the US, thing are much better covered, and the core is not that exposed, but it does not mean it is not rotten :)... Also opportunity - of course bigger and better and there are no limits of learning more... I just want to point out that there are many possible different things here as well... I am glad I have the luxury to be able to compare... and learn and go forward...

A few days ago our Associate Editor, Vin Karnila, wrote a well-tasting article about 'kugelis'. In addition to presenting his favourite recipe, he also claimed that this is a national Lithuanian dish. Here are a few of his phrases that got several reactions from readers over the latest days:

"Once again I have been elected to share a traditional Lithuanian recipe with you..."

"I think that 'kugelis' has more variations for recipes than any other Lithuanian dish..."

"In spite of what you may have read about "traditional Lithuanian breakfasts" in books, I can tell you that in Lithuania very often what you had for dinner last night is what you have for breakfast (and lunch) the next day."

To read more, go to our
Section 21 – FOOD, WINE AND MORE

This not a Lithuanian dish.

Sorry, but this is yet another example of the erroneous assumptions made about things that are nothing to do with Lithuania and yet, generally because a couple of letters have been on the end of a word (in this case the addition of the letters i and s at the end of the Yiddish/German word kugel), people assume that they're Lithuania. This not a Lithuanian dish.
Richard Schofield

Indeed a cherished Lithuanian dish

In response to Richard Schofield – Potato Kugelis is indeed a cherished Lithuanian dish. It is also called "Bulviu Plokstainis" (flat potato dish). It often contains pork products (like bacon) as that is what was in abundance in Lithuania and still is, although you can find Plokstainis with chicken as well.
I'll bet that there is not one Lithuanian family, regardless of their religious beliefs, that does not have a Potato Kugelis/Plokstainis recipe that is passed from generation to generation.
Rima Raulinaitis

Kugel (or Kigel) is eaten by Jews all over around

I was really interested to read that kugel (or Kigel) which is eaten by Jews all over around, may be a Lithuanian dish, I'd be interested in more information on the source of Kugel(is).
If you are already doing a research on that, could you tell me if Tshulent does sound familiar to Lithuanians?
Gershon Lehrer, Antwerp, Belgium

Kugelis is a favorite with all our family

My cousin from Stakiai grates the raw onion into the potato mixture….she said it keeps the potatoes whiter. I've tried it and it seems to keep them from turning gray. Kugelis is a favorite with all our family and I've made both bacon and vegetarian options – all are consumed pretty quickly!
Sandy Abramovich

We should not confuse the Lithuanian Kugelis with the Jewish Kugel

We should not confuse the Lithuanian Kugelis with the Jewish Kugel. I think the only similarity here is the name. The Lithuanian Kugelis is made with potatoes, while the Jewish kugelis is made mostly with noodles. The Lithuanian Kugelis requires bacon bits (and perhaps bacon fat). So try serving Lithuanian Kugelis to a religious Jew (after you tell him what's in it), and see what reaction you get.
Val Ramonis

Violence is a natural byproduct of a society where brown is red, justice is ideological, the Prosecutors office is a haven of thugs, and people with PhD's in history can't read or write.
A society that values swastika's and acquits Stankeras is a society of hate and violence. Where is any misunderstanding?
Grant Gochin

Dear Grant, a man allowing himself such statements, should base them on facts. Otherwise - it is merely splashes of ignorance on your part. I am a member of this society and with full responsibility I tell you that we dont value swastica or anything of the sort. As in any democratic nation, freedoms of speech and religion are allowed, which I admit, sometimes end in individual acts that are condemned by many. Your generalizations are inaccurate to say the least and I would hope you would know better.
Ieva Vozbutaite

To read more, go to Section 3 – CHAT AND DISCUSS!

It's very unfortunate that ladies are so maltreated. I was thinking that in our country due to lack of education ladies are mal treated but it sorry to know that educated people are also treating as illiterate ,please stop it ,in our country it is said "god lives there ,where people worship ladies"

Udhir Sajwan

I have been reading some of the most interesting articles sine the Vilnews launch. There was one, in particular, that touched and impressed me deeply, it was an Oxford's view on Lithuania's education. However, 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, Australia

Professor Vic Pakalnis

I had a wonderful trip to Vilnius this past summer and I came away with a view of Lithuania that was full of admiration and hope. It filled me with pride that my parents were born there and that my DNA is tied to that corner of the world. I have made a few observations while I was there that I feel need to be addressed and discussed. While I may not be an expert on everything, I do know mining, nuclear power, and the public administration , so this is what I will share with you. Lithuania does not seem to have any natural resources; this is amazing to me, for all around Lithuania are countries with oil, minerals and industrial materials. Despite all of this, there is nothing major within Lithuanian borders. Either Lithuania is truly a barren place or you need some expertise in geological and mineral exploration.
We can help with this!
To read more and comment, go to Section 3 – CHAT AND DICUSS!

I think telling as you see it should be a good example to Lithuanian news media and political commentators. The Chronicle you wrote is excellent. You have done a great job and should be proud of it.
Jonas Kronkaitis, former Commander in Chief of Lithuania's Armed Forces

Gintautas Kaminskas,
Australia.

I have given a lot of thought to Lithuania's problems and have tried to figure out if there is on major root cause of most of Lithuania's problems. The word/thought that keeps ocurring to me is CORRUPTION. I think that an anti-corruption campaign, if effective, would not only start to ensure that more litai or euros are spent the way they were supposed to be (and that more people start paying as much tax as they're supposed to be!) buit it would have a unifying effect, fostering a sense of national spirit. Lithuanians have rallied together in the past in the face of external threats. Now they have to rally against the threat from within – corruption.

Read more at our
Section 3 – CHAT AND DISCUSS!

What a masterpiece of presentation and so rich in content! I feel privileged to be part of this historic first edition. I hope my words may provoke some interest, if only philosophically.
Mervyn Benford, Oxford, UK.

Ref Section 18 – EDUCATION, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

I have been forwarding your magazine around the U.S. Jewish communities and all are very impressed with how good it is.
Regards and Shalom,
Stephanie Comfort

Incredibly fascinating to read about our beloved Lithuanian Jews! Thank you for publishing this story. I am so sad to hear that 95% of them got murdered by the Horrible, Horrific & Dishonorable Hitler..God BLESS & HEAL the hearts of those that survived.
Violeta Weisfield

As a descendant of Lithuanian Jewry I find these articles extremely interesting Adrian Freedman