Comments on: Modern-day Imperialism http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/299/modern-day-imperialism/ Serpentine Percipience Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:12:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Aleks http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/299/modern-day-imperialism/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Aleks Mon, 09 Jan 2006 06:19:43 +0000 http://allaboutlatvia.com/?p=299#comment-437 <p>The fact that there are some third-generation Latvian Americans who speak perfect Latvian even though they have never been to Latvia still amazes me. I had struggled to find a similar situation among any Russians in the West. Most of often than not, they assimilated and took pn themselves a host country’s culture. </p> <p>I spoke of this in a recent conversation with my Russian-speaking friend who now lives in Ireland. His response: well, they (the ethnic Latvians) are afraid to lose their culture and language, whereas the Russians don’t have that fear.</p> The fact that there are some third-generation Latvian Americans who speak perfect Latvian even though they have never been to Latvia still amazes me. I had struggled to find a similar situation among any Russians in the West. Most of often than not, they assimilated and took pn themselves a host country’s culture.

I spoke of this in a recent conversation with my Russian-speaking friend who now lives in Ireland. His response: well, they (the ethnic Latvians) are afraid to lose their culture and language, whereas the Russians don’t have that fear.

]]> By: Aleksis K. http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/299/modern-day-imperialism/comment-page-1/#comment-434 Aleksis K. Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:18:04 +0000 http://allaboutlatvia.com/?p=299#comment-434 <p>Boy, it really is hard to get off of this topic- from the gas pipeline to Latvian- Russian tensions!</p> <p>I had a very interesting New Year’s eve. I spent it with one ethnic Latvian from Latvia and an ethnic Russian who was born and raised in Latvia but now lives in NYC. Even on New Year’s eve the three of us couldn’t resist discussing the ethnic tension issue. I will say, though, that despite some differing views, we all got along very well (which, of course, there should be no reason not to get along just because of some differing intellectual views). The strangest thing was that the ethnic Russian (despite having lived in Latvia her whole life but for the past few years) had little emotional connection with Latvia and no desire to return, whereas, I (someone who has never lived there) have a strong connection to my “Latvianess” and (at times) a desire to move there. I guess it really shows that because of the ethnic differences in Latvia, many Russian-Latvians do not feel that Latvia is their country and that the parents and grandparents of American-Latvians really did a good job in instilling (brainwashing?) a sense of pride and duty in their children.</p> Boy, it really is hard to get off of this topic- from the gas pipeline to Latvian- Russian tensions!

I had a very interesting New Year’s eve. I spent it with one ethnic Latvian from Latvia and an ethnic Russian who was born and raised in Latvia but now lives in NYC. Even on New Year’s eve the three of us couldn’t resist discussing the ethnic tension issue. I will say, though, that despite some differing views, we all got along very well (which, of course, there should be no reason not to get along just because of some differing intellectual views). The strangest thing was that the ethnic Russian (despite having lived in Latvia her whole life but for the past few years) had little emotional connection with Latvia and no desire to return, whereas, I (someone who has never lived there) have a strong connection to my “Latvianess” and (at times) a desire to move there. I guess it really shows that because of the ethnic differences in Latvia, many Russian-Latvians do not feel that Latvia is their country and that the parents and grandparents of American-Latvians really did a good job in instilling (brainwashing?) a sense of pride and duty in their children.

]]> By: Giustino http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/299/modern-day-imperialism/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Giustino Fri, 06 Jan 2006 12:52:48 +0000 http://allaboutlatvia.com/?p=299#comment-433 <p>I don’t see how you can claim citizenship of one nation as a “right,” yet be loyal to another country and identify as a member of another country, especially when that country has acted historically antagonistic towards your adopted homeland. </p> <p>Can you imagine a Brit settling down in Galway and flying the union Jack, reminiscing about the “good old days” when we were “one big country.” </p> <p>Somebody is going to have to get off the fence.</p> I don’t see how you can claim citizenship of one nation as a “right,” yet be loyal to another country and identify as a member of another country, especially when that country has acted historically antagonistic towards your adopted homeland.

Can you imagine a Brit settling down in Galway and flying the union Jack, reminiscing about the “good old days” when we were “one big country.”

Somebody is going to have to get off the fence.

]]> By: Makss http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/299/modern-day-imperialism/comment-page-1/#comment-432 Makss Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:43:39 +0000 http://allaboutlatvia.com/?p=299#comment-432 <p>It may be of interest to Dmitry that of the 14 ‘Latvians’ who come to me for private lessons only three have Latvian as their first language – the other 11 are Russian speakers. I did not intend that my mention of English lessons for Latvians would be taken as meaning only for Latvian speakers. Surely every one with a Latvian passport, living in Latvia is Latvian – or am I being too simple?</p> It may be of interest to Dmitry that of the 14 ‘Latvians’ who come to me for private lessons only three have Latvian as their first language – the other 11 are Russian speakers. I did not intend that my mention of English lessons for Latvians would be taken as meaning only for Latvian speakers. Surely every one with a Latvian passport, living in Latvia is Latvian – or am I being too simple?

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