My leader brought a thought-provoking, insightful e-mail response from a reader. The reader, as someone belonging - like me - to the generation not born in Estonia, felt that some of my comments were overstated. Guilty as charged. The anger that I felt should not have made it into print so strongly, or should have been couched in better comparisons. Profaning a cenotaph - a memorial for someone/somebodies buried elsewhere, as is the case with the Vaivara memorial wall - might indeed receive due attention in North Bay. My dismay was with the silence of the Estonian media.
Further, it is true that there is a “certain discrete monument” in Ontario that honours the memory of 4 recipients of the Knight’s Cross, awarded to Estonian soldiers fighting in German uniforms against the Red Army. Were that to be vandalized, asks the reader - how would the media react here? What light would be cast on those Estonian-Canadians who erected the memorial?
All solid points. The reader notes the importance of the degree of behaviour between the Red Army’s actions, and that of Hitler’s legions on the Eastern front, noting as well that perspective would be coloured if one were of Jewish ancestry. My own personal perspective is coloured as well. While there is no love for the Nazis there is a much stronger emotion against communists: utter loathing. The communist occupation of Estonia, proved that the regime of terror did its utmost to eradicate a proud people’s culture, identity and language. They failed, thank God. And thank all the Estonians, who held the fires of freedom burning within, during those long dark years.
Since that leader was written, new facts have come to light. In the course of their investigation the Estonian police arrested two underage youths - 12 and 14 years old, - identified only by their (Russian) first names. The Narva Police Prefect indicated that the boys would escape with a slap on the wrist - because of their ages. Were they adults, the Estonian criminal code would have punished those found guilty in a court of law with (probably) a fine - at the most extreme a year’s incarceration.
The Vaivara incident was the most serious acts of vandalism of the recent past - but it does not stand alone. And therein lies a large part of my personal disgust.
Desecration means to pervert from a sacred purpose, to profane. A monument gets its name from the Latin monere - to remind, warn -, and is erected to perpetuate and preserve a sacred memory of a person or people, events. A monument, especially, is a memorial erected over a grave.
Countless Estonian men are buried in foreign soil - many in graves without crosses. No monuments for them - except at places like Vaivara, commemorating with respect all who lost their lives for their country.
All that one could hope for is a level playing field. Russians seem to act with impunity - but should an Estonian name be even remotely associated with the Nazi occupation period, and all kinds of accusations fly. The reader noted that some of his kin were forced to serve in the Soviet Estonian Rifle Corps. Curiously, when Estonian soldiers, who fough on both sides - the German and Red Armies - have organized re-unions for all combatants who wore foreign power uniforms in WW II, the outcry against has been loudest from the Russian camps. Estonians - Fascists, once more. Commies? - not any longer....
Consider as well the type of propaganda that the Russians employ. A fine example of Russian attitudes is found in this issue, with a re-print from Pravda’s on-line English web site. KGB officers and Russians claiming that their rights in Estonia are being denied? While the article expresses admittedly jumbled views, it could be called representative.
The Soviets, especially the KGB, have left an indelible heavy bootprint on the Estonian nation - and the Estonians who proudly wish to remember their fallen heroes are constantly reminded of different rules for differnet nations.
The Vandals conquered and looted Rome, later Byzantium. Vandalism means destroying cultural values - the mindless destruction of priceless Roman artifacts by Vandals gained them eternal notoriety.
Now vandalism’s mantle seems to have been inherited by disenchanted, disaffected Russian kids, who show disdain through desecration. They have no historic precedent of national pride, of a moral and ethical code. But suggest removing the Tõnismäe Bronze Solider - and the Russians are abuzz with protest. Always something to do with not respecting the past.
WW II legacies remain, but as the reader pointed out, nobody, no-one should condone such acts of vandalism. All emotion and personal opinion aside, that is the point that I most emphatically want, and wanted to make.