It’s said that Estonians by temperament are prudent, rational and restrained in showing emotions. We’re recognized as calm and reserved, typically reluctant to draw attention to ourselves.
While not known as extroverts, we’re still perceived as hospitable, friendly and benevolent – but not always to each other, it seems.
The public discourse about the likelihood of St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran Church in Toronto being sold has raised concerns about the possibility of unethical procedures used that are rarely practised in the community. It’s sometimes noted that, “eesmärk pühitseb abinõu” – ends justify the means. But ends and means are related, not separate actions. If the goal is morally justified, the means to get there should be ethical. Mutual acrimony, through raised voices, harsh language and personal attacks need not be a harbinger of unethical conduct. Practitioners of unethical methods usually have a smug contempt for the ‘ill-informed’. (Yes, I’m sanctimoniously judgmental. No apologies.)
Estonian traits have been starkly displayed among online comments regarding the St. Peter’s Church controversy. Can this hostility and name-calling be part of our Estonian heritage? (Kaks eestlast, kolm vaidlust.) But at the risk of sounding xenophobic, Estonians are not ‘hot-blooded’ as some other ethnic groups have been branded.
(Pikemalt saab lugeda Eesti Elu 9. juuni 2023 paber- ja digilehest)
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
La Dame Blanche11 Jun 2023 17:56
“to manipulate opinion and suppress dissent” Whoa...let’s mull one that shall we. What year am I in historically speaking? Oh Laas, it is worse than you can even imagine. Mon Dieu! The evening was run by Harpies, one shouting from the balcony that it was TIME TO VOTE (vote on what e-x-a-c-t-l-y…hence the dissent) and from the Altar a declaration: "The Columbarium was the worst thing to ever happen to this Church” (more dissent from the attendees) Ai-jai-jai…All could hear the Pastor rattling about in his urn. Seems to be a lot at stake these days in Toronto’s Eesti selts and it is not about something so common as money, it is the Estonian hing. What have we become and where are we going. As for ‘Yes-man’ or ‘Duh’? try out DOH! toujours gai- La Dame Blanche
?11 Jun 2023 15:15
This article is soundly in the interest of the community. It's a shame it's paywalled.
Yes10 Jun 2023 10:56
If I read Leivat's comments correctly, he encourages dissent, but he calls nastiness and cruelty in arguments as non-Estonian and unproductive.
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