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Summer 2003 cycling
Latvia
Agelasto2004-05-18 20:03:39
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For most outsiders the three Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- are completely fungible, if they are distinguished at all. In the same vein one might say that all 50 US states are the same. Though there is a vast common denominator, there are also differences. For Europe, in general, I think the common denominator is less. There is no single language, defining culture or shared history, and dissimilarities are greater. The Baltics do form a nicely describable unit -- separate and distinguishable from the various powers (Russia to the east, Germany to the west and south, and Scandinavia to the north) who have invaded, occupied or influenced them for centuries. The Republic of Latvia, for example, has been a free republic for less time than it has been occupied, most recently by the USSR (say Soviets, think Russians). The three Baltics seem to me about as similar or dissimilar as any of the 50 US states.
That said, I still don't like nation-states. I don't like the concept; I really don't like the results. I much prefer multi-culturalism -- that's my American and European bias. I especially liked the "idea" of the Soviet Union; the flaws, immense flaws at that, were in the implementation. Nationalities, usually with a strong, single religious influence, are either aggressors or, in the case of the Baltics, aggressees. Maybe China will prove the exception -- 95% one nation, Han China, not a state-supported religious polity, has not evidenced the evangelistic attitude of other powers: "We're right; the rest of the planet should be like us." To China, the rest of the world just isn't very important -- not worth fighting over.
That I don't like nation-states, the concept, doesn't preclude my liking those that exist. Estonia and Latvia, the two Baltics I have visited so far are quite nice places. The type of places that provide good values for raising kids -- a social consciences, little
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