Heading off the clueless

Although the issue of Lithuanian freedom seemed obvious to all of us at the time, and especially now so in retrospect, I was startled at how clueless so very many politicians were on the subject. It was not a left-right, Republican-Democrat thing, rather it was informed, uninformed.

Bob Dole got it, Jack Kemp had perhaps the best understanding—I always suspected he must have known some Lithuanian-Americans personally. Ronald Reagan, obviously, was our hero. Bush I was a jerk, as was his National Security Advisor Condi Rice. On the other hand, the Republican Representative for the Bridgeport area came to our February 16 commemoration completely unprepared. Totally clueless. He compared Lithuanian independence to the idea of Alaska seceding! At a time when no one in Alaska had even raised the idea. He asked, he thought rhetorically, whether we thought it would be ok for Alaska to secede. Although I was nearly speechless at his stupidity, I said very loudly from the side of the state, where the Vetra folk dancers were gathered, "Absolutely, yes" in a belligerent tone. Loud enough so the otherwise respectful audience nodded and started murmuring in agreement.

In the course of the afternoon, this guy did become edjamakated a bit, and he was apologizing to the group for his failure to appreciate their position before he came.

Another dunderhead was Senator Alan Cranston. Vaiva sent him this letter:

20 August 1990

Senator Alan Cranston
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Cranston,

While I appreciate your recent expression of concern for the situation and people in Lithuania, your letter demonstrates a disappointing lack of understanding of the issues at stake.

I refer especially to your notion that the World Court has any useful role to play in resolving questions attendant to restoration of Lithuania’s independence. Please remember that the United States and most other Western nations have never recognized the incorporation of Lithuania into the Soviet Union; indeed, the Supreme Soviet itself has recently acknowledged the annexation was illegal. There is simply nothing for the World Court to adjudicate. Your resolution regarding the World Court and the situation in Lithuania is unnecessary and unhelpful. This idea has no support among Lithuanian-Americans or the current, democratically elected government of Lithuania.

I recently had the privilege of discussing the political future of Lithuania with Senators Mitchell and Byrd of your party and with Minority Leader Senator Dole. Each of these gentlemen has an excellent understanding of the situation.

Please abandon your resolution regarding Lithuania and the World Court. Your concern for Lithuania would find better expression if you encouraged the President to honor his commitment to democratic principles and recognize the freely elected government of Lithuania.

Sincerely,



Vaiva R. Vebra
Americans for a Free Lithuania