The last time I visited Latvia

[tavernier]

it was during a remembrance of Latvia’s Independence of Russia. Although Latvia was a free country, most of the military in Latvia were of Russian Heritage. The night before the celebration at the Freedom Statue in Riga, the guards placed wire around the statue. In the morning, when Latvians came to celebrate the day, the statue was wrapped in wire and scaffolding. They were told that there would be work done, and that was the reason that they could not lay the flowers at the statue in remembrance of their day.

My American self went nuts, ready to kick ass and take names. My aunt gently reminded me that this is what they live with constantly, despite their independence from Russia. She took me around to cemeteries where Russians had shot out the names and pictures of Latvian war heroes on their gravestones.

I wish I could somehow let my country know what they are in for if they decide that Putin and Trump should take over our country.

[elleng]

1. Elina Garanca; "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"

[DFW]

2. When it was a Soviet colony

Latvia, like Estonia, was inundated with ethnic Russian settlers from the east (i.e. Russians). Estonians and Latvians are, even today, as far as I know, ethnic minorities in their own countries.

[tavernier]

5. The last time I was there

the rule in the schools was that all classes would be only in the Latvian language. I no longer have family there as all were elderly and have passed, so I no longer know if that is still true.

[WarGamer]

3. When the veterans were younger...

WW2 Estonian SS Volunteers were honored in a parade every year... true story.

[tavernier]

4. In Latvia most of the young men of fighting age

were loaded into trains and shipped away to Siberia, the educated first. My uncle was a high school principle. They broke into my grandmother’s home and pulled him out of her arms. He survived Siberia but she never saw him again.

[lark]

6. Slovenians are scared and worried about Russia too, from what I saw in 2015.

They did deface the big Russian statue in the middle of the central platz and now use that as a point of national solidarity. When they previously tried to take it down, Russia threatened to come into the country and stop it at gunpoint. Russia is run by fascist pigs and is a threat to the entire world.

[scipan]

8. Gaismas Pils

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Read the story in the video. Pretty moving.

Here's the 1985 video ( I think the spotlight is kinda creepy given the circumstances):

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[tavernier]

9. I participated in several Latvian song festivals

(Although in the USA, not Latvia)
Thanks!