Laas Leivat
People of Estonian heritage living abroad are mostly descendants of WWII refugees. Thus the current highly charged public debate raging in Estonia about the European Union-imposed requirement to take in some of the millions of refugees fleeing middle eastern conflicts is bewildering at the very least.
About eight refugees are scheduled to arrive in Estonia at the beginning of 2016 rising to a possible total of some 500-700 (depending on the source of this information) in two years. Those who express outrage at the audacity of the EU urging all member countries to help alleviate the burden assumed by Italy, Germany and others are accused of being wildly unreasonable. The anti-refugee group’s intentionally exaggerated arguments have been labeled as demagoguery. “Accepting refugees will destroy Estonia,” is used as an example of the anti-refugee slogans.
One can reject outright the position of the anti-refugee group, but one must also consider the near history of Estonia and what a large, imposed influx of foreigners means to a small nation.
Fear is fueling the passions of those opposing refugees it’s said. It highlights the possible loss of language, the loss of culture based on language, the loss of a national identity. The “opposition” knows it can happen, reminding one of the Soviet experience, of outsiders forcing a nation to abandon its indigenous cultural essence. Many insist that with the Soviet occupation of 1944 to 1991, thousands of Estonians were displaced and perished in Siberian labour camps. They were replaced by workers from Russia and other Soviet satellite states thus profoundly changing the country’s ethnic face. Those opposing refugees point out that Estonia was forced to take in an abundance of foreigners, why should they be forced to take in more? (Pikemalt Eesti Elu 29.01.2016 paberlehes)
Refugees to Estonia fuels pro and contra debate imbued with deep passions Estonian Life (6)
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
I'd just expect someone who smugly dismisses someone else's opinions as "hogwash" and labels them a "freak" could provide something of substance to back up his stance.
Sounds like "re-Sad" has all the answers. I was just hoping to see how he got so "rational" and "informed"? What journalists/sources would "re-Sad" recommend reading?
Sounds like "re-Sad" has all the answers. I was just hoping to see how he got so "rational" and "informed"? What journalists/sources would "re-Sad" recommend reading?
It's impossible to prove a negative: that Zionists are not destroying Europe, that UFO's have not visited earth & etc.
Refuting his theories would be a stronger response than anonymous namecalling. You seem no less obsessed with "Maxim" as the previous poster is with his theories.
What are you views? Do you just accept everything the mainstream media and government tell you without thought? Wouldn't that be a simple existence!
What are you views? Do you just accept everything the mainstream media and government tell you without thought? Wouldn't that be a simple existence!
Arvamus
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