Opinions

Vyto Be You can't just change a few faces in the elections, and expect results. The problems are systemic and they will take a generation to fix, that is, if there is constant pressure on the government from the people. If there isn't, it will take much longer, maybe forever...

Peter Treska There has been so much corruption since gaining independence. LT should have banned anyone who had affiliation with the communist regime. Now it is so bad that something needs to be done.

 
Martynas Karys Lithuania is no longer my home, who would want to come back to a country that strives on discrimination, racism, injustice and corruption? A country that has comedians in power positions ( literarily ) and thugs "acting" police. A country that refuses to allow double citizenship status and demands loyalty while it gives nothing back. Don't get me wrong, I love my country ( Lithuania ) but I do not like the situation that is currently there, if there will be no major changes any time soon, there will be no more Lithuania in a couple of decades.

 
Vincent Degeorge so come back here stand and fight for the beauty of this country instead to run away

 
Monika Valkauskaite My country does not love me...it does not respect me nor does it care for human rights...i am very proud to be born in a beautiful country with strong traditions and ancient language...and i will make sure my kids speak Lithuanian...however, i am not proud of what has become of it....immigration is the best that has happened to Lithuanian people since the independence...Martynas Karys is absolutely right! It is scandalous in so many aspects!

Rokas Balbo until there is a war or some kind of big conflict i don't see any change in Lithuania anytime soon because the government like everywhere is corrupt the people hate on each other just to much to list...

 
Carol Zupkas My husband's grandparents immigrated to America 100 years ago. In 2009 we moved to Lithuania and it is where we live most of the time now. I think about the story where there were 1000s of star fish on the sea shore. A man walked by a little girl as she picked one up and threw it back into the ocean. He stoped and asked her, "Do you think what you are doing will make a difference?" As she threw another star fish into the water she replied, "To this one it will." The problems in Lithuania are many and complex, but we think it is worth trying to make a difference, if we can, even in one Lithuanian's life.

Antanas Smetona (1874 – 1944) served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of interwar Lithuania from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before the Soviet occupation. He was also one of the famous ideologists of nationalism in Lithuania.

Frank Passic

Ohio crypt holds remains of first Lithuanian President, yet he has been forgotten here in a Mausoleum tucked away in a Catholic Cemetery east of Cleveland, USA.

There are no flowers at his crypt, although the Mausoleum is filled with them on the vaults of others nearby. He was the President, yet you would not know that by reading the simple inscription found upon his nameplate. His image was on a coin, a banknote, various stamps and medals. Yet he has been forgotten here in a Mausoleum tucked away in a Catholic Cemetery east of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Frank Passic
Albion, Michigan

To read the article CLICK HERE

Below: Comments to the article

You were to negative. It may have been the family's wishes to keep his body here in Cleveland, since they are still here. However, we do not ever see any of the members of the Smetona family at any Lithuanian functions.

Lith Klubas,
Cleveland, Ohio

 
Andris Jonas Dunduras

Firstly- Everyone needs to understand the facts about why things are the way they are with the crypt before making baseless statements. Here are the basics:

#1 The crypt remains the property of the Smetona family, and they are very conservative. The decision to repatriate the remains of President Smetona and Sofija Smetoniene are theirs, and nobody else's. From what I've heard, they have declined all offers of such a transfer, and probably aren't even open to dialogue about it. Read on for the reasons..

#2 We must understand that the Smetona regime was a nationalistic (Lithuania first) one, which would be VEHEMENTLY opposed to: A) All elements of communism still present in the Lithuanian government today. These people would have been public enemy #1 during Smetona's rule. B) Lithuania's membership of the European Union is completely contrary to the ideals of Smetona's movement also. C) This is just the tip of the iceberg... we also have terrible poverty, graft, corruption, racketeering by the soviet style nomenclature that still exist in all levels of government (even if in name only), mass exodus and brain-drain by those whose dreams have been shattered by those bloodsuckers, the list goes on... Until the last one of these traitors are gone from power, I think there is ZERO chance the remains will be repatriated, nor would it be appropriate. Take this as a quiet sign that Lithuania still has a long way to go until it achieves the same level of independence and self-determination it had under Smetona.

#3 The crypt is indeed very much visited. You see no flowers on the wall because the family always wanted to avoid it becoming a pilgrimage site, however those wishing to pay quiet respects and a moment of reflection on Lithuania are encouraged to do so. It is that way for a reason. My grandparents and thousands of others who died in exile are buried nearby. No visit is complete without stopping at the mausoleum afterward- I do it, and so do many others.

Most of us in Cleveland's Lithuanian community are aware of these matters relating to the Smetona family crypt, and now you are too. If somebody doesn't know the facts, they should ask, or do a little research instead of proceeding to post meaningless blatherings on their blog.

Thanks for reading, and share with others!

Andris Jonas Dunduras
Cleveland, Ohio, USA