Still: Latvian is as good a language as any other, and there are many treasures in Latvian culture. Please become acquainted with the Latvian people; I am sure you will see they are just as good as the Russians. They have only had to face more ethnic/linguistic oppression than the Russians have, and are still recovering from the trauma.

The French tend to be very concerned with their own language. I remember when I once made a presentation about endangered language in Cayenne during the La Science en Fête festival, the first question I got from the public was: And what about the French language? Because, you know, it’s endangered too! It’s going to disappear soon!

Imagine if this were true. Imagine if in France — or in Québec — suddenly there were 40-45% of people who didn’t speak French, but, say, English instead. Imagine if these people had previously been the political elite. Imagine if French-speaking Canadians and/or French had often been shamed as ‘useless’ (just as you are now doing to the Latvians…). How would you react?

Your native language is a part of yourself. Don’t offend other people if you don’t want to be offended. Would you like to be told that your native French is a “stupid useless language” in today’s world, where only English counts?

Latvia is THE ONLY state in the world where Latvian is spoken; if there is a place where it should be protected, it’s there. Just as Russian is protected in Russia, French in France, etc. Just as you need to prove you speak French before applying for French citizenship, you need the same for Latvian citizenship. Those who want to learn the language of the land where they live can become citizens. There is no discrimination here.

Fascism? Please… Don’t offend the people who actually suffered because of fascist states. Fascism is a very, very different thing from what’s happening in Latvia.