tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post1680346644312269827..comments2023-11-05T09:55:13.077+02:00Comments on Itching for Eestimaa: meri veriGiustinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-88775279099465004322009-04-04T21:04:00.000+02:002009-04-04T21:04:00.000+02:00It is an interesting family. And imho things are n...It is an interesting family. <BR/><BR/>And imho things are not as black and white as our media tends to present them (with the exception of http://www.ekspress.ee/2009/04/02/eesti-uudised/40671-arnold-meri-georg-pidi-osalema-hitleri-tapmises - here is a bit different angle). <BR/><BR/>This family story by itself is like something we tend to read about in books or see in the movies (e.g. think about the Forsythes of Galsworthy or something like that). <BR/><BR/>I am not certain what was the exact story between the paternal grandfather and grandmother of both Lennart and Arnold, however, it is known there was much passionate hatred involved. <BR/><BR/>It has been said about Julie (who I vaguely recall was said to be from high social status St. Petersburg family, not sure of what ethnicity - perhaps someone knows?) that she was a woman with a very strong will and very powerful and somewhat unmerciful. That she was the real matriarch of that family and called all the shots. <BR/><BR/>She denied one of her sons (Konstantin, father of Arnold) - not sure what was the reason - one version says that disapproved the wife he married, another says that Konstantin was a true communist (and Arnold inherited his beliefs, although he called it socialism later on) and Julie could not take it. Or perhaps some mothers just love one of their son more than another and cannot help it. Who knows...<BR/><BR/>What is known is that one son (Georg, father of Lennart) got her affection and support (both spiritual and financial) and was nurtured and another one was rejected and practically cast out of the family, so her sons had very different social status even. <BR/><BR/>So Konstantin relocated to Yugoslavia where he and his wife did simple jobs (for example something like being a driver and housekeeper/cook for foreign embassies/ambassadors - cannot recall exactly; it was said they went there due to not being able to find employment in Estonia, however, if Konstantin was part of the international communist movement, then there could have been other reasons and a whole new dimension to the story). Arnold went to school over there (in Yugoslavia) and was educated in Russian indeed (his schoolmates where of different nationalities).<BR/><BR/>The education of Lennart Meri and places he lived when growing up are more widely known. So both Lennart and Arnold grew up to be cosmopolitan to some extent and both families moved in diplomatic circles (although on very different level). So Lennart and Arnold grew up with very different Weltanschauung. :)<BR/><BR/>When Arnold returned to Estonia his world view was pretty much set and he was a communist. So he was not really one of these guys who choose the side in 1940 as being more useful or whatever reasons. And he never changed colours when Estonia regained independence (many communists did and are still in the good books in the eyes of the wider audience - Isamaaliit even had members who used to be members of communist party.)and remained who he was. <BR/><BR/>As for his life post-1940ties, it was also as interesting as his childhood. Allegedly he is the man we would have to thank nowadays that we had a chance to grow up in Soviet era and have our education in Estonian. Being sent to Hiiumaa to oversee the deportations by party (or what exactly happened) was just one thing among other things he did during his colourful life and yet right now it seems to be the only thing he is known for.<BR/><BR/>As for Lennart, everything he did during his life was also not perfect. The media just does not talk about these things. <BR/><BR/>However, right now one of the cousins has been almost declared as a saint and another is made out to be the devil. Whereas they both were just two cousins with different destinies and beliefs with ties to Estonia who both had an impact on Estonia. <BR/><BR/>So (unlike many others it seems sadly) I try not to be judgmental and deem one to be the good guy and another one bad. I see it more as an interesting family story (and so many families in Estonia have such stories).<BR/><BR/>So both Lennart and Arnold: may you rest in peace. :)Katherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10177342761851729735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-55739464701052164492009-03-31T13:52:00.000+02:002009-03-31T13:52:00.000+02:00"If there is one Estonian that the state would lik..."If there is one Estonian that the state would like you to grow up to be, it is the whimsical, swashbuckling polyglot Lennart, followed distantly by Estonia's plethora of Olympic champions."<BR/><BR/>That's a great line, among others.Kristopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01394211030848077681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-25601621114294325742009-03-31T13:40:00.000+02:002009-03-31T13:40:00.000+02:00"Wasn't Lennart's mother an Estonian Swede?"Yes, L..."Wasn't Lennart's mother an Estonian Swede?"<BR/>Yes, Lennart Meri himself has written in an article, that his mother was Estonian Swede. But there are also other information. Virkko Lepassalu has written controversial book under the title "Süümepiinadeta : Georg ja Lennart Meri sidemetest eriteenistustega ja selle tagajärgedest" ("Without remorse : about liaisons of Georg and Lennart Meri with secret services and its consequences"). In this book Lepassalu writes about possible Jewish (or at least half-Jewish) descent of Alice Meri. I don't know, is it true or not.Meelishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624197502208867055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-68318890401298082992009-03-31T11:14:00.000+02:002009-03-31T11:14:00.000+02:00I think it always boils down to 'how could we do i...I think it always boils down to 'how could we do it to ourselves', because there always are collaborators, both venial people who scurry to serve the new masters and people who believe this is the best way to ensure some sort of future--all alternatives would have been far worse. (Would Meri's refusal to sign the deportations prevent them? No--he probably would have been deported together with all the others, the Soviet authorities would have found someone else to sign the documents, and we would be talking about this person instead of Meri.)<BR/><BR/>In the end, it is always about 'why weren't we more heroic than that?' when thinking about the past. The Estonians may be more aware of that than other people, but the other people -- from Poles to Romanians -- can ask themselves the same questions.Lingüistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327147408198046253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-22864215035269572692009-03-31T09:51:00.000+02:002009-03-31T09:51:00.000+02:00No. Arnold Meri's mother was ethnic Russian. Arnol...<I>No. Arnold Meri's mother was ethnic Russian. Arnold Meri was native Russian-speaker. He lived 1926-1939 in Yuguslavia and received education there in Russian language.</I><BR/><BR/>Now that is an interesting fact. Wasn't Lennart's mother an Estonian Swede?<BR/><BR/>Sort of puts to rest the idea of the 'pure Estonian' doesn't it?Giustinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-82422372657244800402009-03-31T09:01:00.000+02:002009-03-31T09:01:00.000+02:00"One was just as Estonian as the other"No. Arnold ..."One was just as Estonian as the other"<BR/>No. Arnold Meri's mother was ethnic Russian. Arnold Meri was native Russian-speaker. He lived 1926-1939 in Yuguslavia and received education there in Russian language.Meelishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624197502208867055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-44400402879267262052009-03-31T06:36:00.000+02:002009-03-31T06:36:00.000+02:00It is one thing to believe choosing the Soviet sid...It is one thing to believe choosing the Soviet side on the eve of WW2 in 1940 was the "lesser of two evils", most people can understand and even admire this as courageous.<BR/><BR/>But when faced with the prospect of deporting women and children to Arctic Siberia in 1949, was this a choice between "the lesser of two evils", or just moral cowardice?<BR/><BR/>Had Arnold said "no I didn't sign up for this, deport me instead", there could well have been an airport named after him in Kuuresaare today, but instead he ended up being indicted for the crime of genocide.martintghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16840407742014556024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-13586775672582692662009-03-30T21:35:00.000+02:002009-03-30T21:35:00.000+02:00The poll really needs a "Viktor Kingissepp" option...The poll really needs a "Viktor Kingissepp" option.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17076822279861048442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-33406896471785038722009-03-30T18:07:00.000+02:002009-03-30T18:07:00.000+02:00Eesti mehed läksid sõtta ei tea mille eestHoolimat...Eesti mehed läksid sõtta ei tea mille eest<BR/>Hoolimata emade ja laste silmaveest<BR/>Võõras oli rahvas võõras oli keel<BR/>Mille eest nad elu jätsid võõral sõjateel<BR/>Küsimuse ees nüüd seisis eesti talumats<BR/>Ole mees ja vali oled punane või nats<BR/>Mõnigi mees sihtis seal oma lihast venda<BR/>Kui läks mööda maha nottis väikevend ta enda<BR/>R: Eesti mehed eesti mehed suures ilmasõjas<BR/>Näitasid et neid ei häiri surm ja vereojad<BR/>Teineteist seal maha tapsid vennad isad pojad<BR/><BR/>j.m.k.eMikkShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08258339981957684355noreply@blogger.com