It has been over 20 years since Lithuania declared its independence from the USSR, and nearly 20 years since the world recognized that status, so that genuine freedom was restored to Lithuania. Few Americans today understand how awful the Russian occupation of Lithuania was, how toxic communism truly was (and is).
With independence restored, Lithuania needed a "never again" plan. Economic, political and military infrastructure was put into place to make a Russian reoccupation of Lithuania an impossibility. The crowning achievement in that effort was Lithuania's admission to NATO.
Do you worry that the Obama administration might sacrifice the Baltic States in order to improve relations with Russia? I do. It's not that far-fetched. Need evidence? Read Enlarging NATO, Expanding Confusion in today's New York Times. No, the article doesn't call for abandonment of the Baltic States, that wouldn't be the first step anyway. Rather, the article is a defense of Russia's "legitimate grievances" over NATO expansion.
That's how it starts.
Lithuanian-Americans should fight back against such nonsense, beginning today.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Where amber comes from
Early in our marriage, in 1978 I believe, Vaiva began teaching Lithuanian History and Culture at Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, CT. This was an evening course, and as such many of the students were middle-aged adults of Lithuanian heritage, looking to reconnect to their roots.
Down the hall, I was a student, taking a night class in the Lithuanian language from Professor Zukauskas. We had about 20 students, and we studied with him for two years. I picked up a bit of vocabulary, but I never became fluent. I never got to be Vaiva's student.
Through these classes we became well-acquainted with Bridgeport's Lithuanian-American community.
Interesting footnote. The President of Sacred Heart held a fundraiser for George H. W. Bush, then running for President against Ronald Reagan, at the University. We were invited to his press event, which was fascinating for me. That's when Bush senior was excoriating Reagan's "voo-doo" economics, and I heard him say it in person. History shows the so-called "voo-doo" brought the longest-running peacetime expansion of the U.S. economy ever.
These memories were brought to mind this morning because Pat Illingworth sent the poem "Jurate and Kastytis," by Maironis. This work was in Vaiva's curriculum, and she was an avid student of Lithuanian literature and poetry. In the poem, Jurate is a sea goddess who lives in an undersea amber castle. She falls in love with a mortal, Kastytis. The father-god, Perkunas, is outraged, and destroys the castle with a thunderbolt.
As a consequence, bits of the castle wash ashore all along Lithuania's coastline. Here is the poem (click on "more" to read all of it).
Poems by Maironis
(1862 – 1932)
JŪRATĖ AND KASTYTIS
The sun is sinking in the west,
Turn back, Kastytis, in a hurry!
Your dear old mother finds no rest,
She will be wearing down with worry
Until she sees your flapping sails
Approaching on the foaming waves.
But Kastytis
Will not listen!
He's astounded by sea treasures.
Though the blushing sun is setting,
Playful fish he keeps on netting,
Musing over youthful pleasures.
The stars on high serenely shine.
The waters slowly surge and splatter.
But – lo! – emerging from the brine
Appears the beautiful Jūratė:
As white as foam, lit up with gleam,
Below her waist all clad in green.
Down the hall, I was a student, taking a night class in the Lithuanian language from Professor Zukauskas. We had about 20 students, and we studied with him for two years. I picked up a bit of vocabulary, but I never became fluent. I never got to be Vaiva's student.
Through these classes we became well-acquainted with Bridgeport's Lithuanian-American community.
Interesting footnote. The President of Sacred Heart held a fundraiser for George H. W. Bush, then running for President against Ronald Reagan, at the University. We were invited to his press event, which was fascinating for me. That's when Bush senior was excoriating Reagan's "voo-doo" economics, and I heard him say it in person. History shows the so-called "voo-doo" brought the longest-running peacetime expansion of the U.S. economy ever.
These memories were brought to mind this morning because Pat Illingworth sent the poem "Jurate and Kastytis," by Maironis. This work was in Vaiva's curriculum, and she was an avid student of Lithuanian literature and poetry. In the poem, Jurate is a sea goddess who lives in an undersea amber castle. She falls in love with a mortal, Kastytis. The father-god, Perkunas, is outraged, and destroys the castle with a thunderbolt.
As a consequence, bits of the castle wash ashore all along Lithuania's coastline. Here is the poem (click on "more" to read all of it).
Poems by Maironis
(1862 – 1932)
JŪRATĖ AND KASTYTIS
The sun is sinking in the west,
Turn back, Kastytis, in a hurry!
Your dear old mother finds no rest,
She will be wearing down with worry
Until she sees your flapping sails
Approaching on the foaming waves.
But Kastytis
Will not listen!
He's astounded by sea treasures.
Though the blushing sun is setting,
Playful fish he keeps on netting,
Musing over youthful pleasures.
The stars on high serenely shine.
The waters slowly surge and splatter.
But – lo! – emerging from the brine
Appears the beautiful Jūratė:
As white as foam, lit up with gleam,
Below her waist all clad in green.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving
The November roses, pictured two posts below, are still in bloom, still lovely.
I've been going through the family photo albums, haven't had time to post, haven't had much new to say. The approaching one-year anniversary weighs heavily upon me.
One year ago, Vaiva was still lucid, recovering from her mastectomy, participating in Thanksgiving. If you use Skype for your instant messaging, as we did, you have an archive of those "conversations." I've been reading mine with Vaiva from a year ago. They are mundane, inconsequential, heart-breakingly ordinary.
They have no hint that death is imminent.
Below is a page from mid-November. Vaiva's final garden—she was a prodigious gardener—was perhaps her most abundant ever. She planted brussels sprouts in 2008, and was successful beyond all expectations. I was tasked with giving away "excess" produce at the office, and that's the subject of the IM. I think you can click on it to make it big enough to read.
I've been going through the family photo albums, haven't had time to post, haven't had much new to say. The approaching one-year anniversary weighs heavily upon me.
One year ago, Vaiva was still lucid, recovering from her mastectomy, participating in Thanksgiving. If you use Skype for your instant messaging, as we did, you have an archive of those "conversations." I've been reading mine with Vaiva from a year ago. They are mundane, inconsequential, heart-breakingly ordinary.
They have no hint that death is imminent.
Below is a page from mid-November. Vaiva's final garden—she was a prodigious gardener—was perhaps her most abundant ever. She planted brussels sprouts in 2008, and was successful beyond all expectations. I was tasked with giving away "excess" produce at the office, and that's the subject of the IM. I think you can click on it to make it big enough to read.
In Vaiva's Memory
Dear Jim and Family,
Almost a year has passed since Vaiva was called to Eternity. Although her stay in this world wasn't long, her accomplishments surpass most of those who have lived to the ripe age of one hundred...And they will never fade or diminish. We miss her very much...
Thanking our Heavenly Father for the gift of Vaiva's life, a Holy Mass will be celebrated on December 13th, 2009, 8:00 a.m. at the Blessed George Matulaitis Mission Church (Lithuanian World Center) in Lemont, IL.
We'll be joining other A.P.P.L.E. members in a special prayer.
With Best Wishes and Continued Sympathy,
Ritone and Theodore Rudaitis
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Eleven months
My beloved wife, Vaiva, died eleven months ago today.
Blogging has been light this month, because I am preparing a DVD photo montage for the December 6 memorial mass. Essentially setting this blog to music. I'm finding it to be an emotionally wrenching task.
Blogging has been light this month, because I am preparing a DVD photo montage for the December 6 memorial mass. Essentially setting this blog to music. I'm finding it to be an emotionally wrenching task.
Monday, November 9, 2009
It was twenty years ago today . . .
. . .that the Berlin wall came down. We were shocked. Yes, we believed that the wall would come down some day, but had not dared hope it would be in our lifetime.
Once the East Germans were free, could the Lithuanians be far behind?
The next phase was the argument by the Baltic states that they had been incorporated into the U.S.S.R. against their will, which was obviously true. Already Vaiva was thinking about how she could participate in these momentous developments.
Ronald Reagan played a crucial role in bringing the wall down. The peoples of eastern Europe understood this long before I did. Here's an account from Reagan's speechwriter about how furious the State Department was that Reagan asked Gorbachev to tear down the wall. Here's a photo montage in the NYTimes of the wall, then and now.
The Wall Street Journal weighs in here. Note how strenuously "liberals" objected to Reagan's efforts:
Those were great days. Some of Althouse's commenters draw the comparison to today.
Once the East Germans were free, could the Lithuanians be far behind?
The next phase was the argument by the Baltic states that they had been incorporated into the U.S.S.R. against their will, which was obviously true. Already Vaiva was thinking about how she could participate in these momentous developments.
Ronald Reagan played a crucial role in bringing the wall down. The peoples of eastern Europe understood this long before I did. Here's an account from Reagan's speechwriter about how furious the State Department was that Reagan asked Gorbachev to tear down the wall. Here's a photo montage in the NYTimes of the wall, then and now.
The Wall Street Journal weighs in here. Note how strenuously "liberals" objected to Reagan's efforts:
Yet it bears recalling that even these obvious political facts were obscure to many people who lived in freedom and should have known better. "Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy," said CBS's Dan Rather just two years before the Wall fell. And when Reagan delivered his historic speech in Berlin calling on Mr. Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," he did so after being warned by some of his senior advisers that the language was "unpresidential," and after thousands of protesters had marched through West Berlin in opposition.Ann Althouse has posted the video of Reagan's speech, and JFK's.
Those were great days. Some of Althouse's commenters draw the comparison to today.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Memorial Mass—December 6
There will be a memorial Mass on December 6 at Holy Trinity Church in Hartford, the same church where Vaiva's funeral was held. The Mass will be at 9 am. Sigita Rosen is making the arrangements, which will include a brunch after the Mass and perhaps a program of some sort. I will try to create a DVD of photos and perhaps video, if I can find some.
Sigita chose December 6 rather than the one-year anniversary of December 13 because on December 6 the Mass will be in Lithuanian.
Sigita chose December 6 rather than the one-year anniversary of December 13 because on December 6 the Mass will be in Lithuanian.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
All Saints Day?
I have a hard time getting my head around this holiday, as do most of us here in Lithuania. Most of us found out a couple years ago, when it was announced, that the day we celebrate, Vėlinės, is not All Saints Day at all, but rather All Souls Day. How am I sure I wasn't the only one mixed up? Because All Souls Day is tomorrow, November 2nd, and very few people will be at the cemetery tomorrow; they were all there today, as evidenced by all the candles in these pictures.
According to the Internet, All Saints Day is the celebration of all saints in heaven, and All Souls Day is the celebration of everybody who died but is not in yet. Because Lithuanians do typically celebrate All Souls Day (on the wrong day), can it possibly be that they purposely "commemorate the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven." -Wikipedia
They think their loved ones haven't been let into Heaven yet? Weird! Before going on I should point out that I don't understand the purpose of decorating graves. We bury people so that they can get up for the resurrection. I'm with you so far. Then we turn the graves into big fancy show pieces. Why? I don't see it. From what I've gathered from my wife, the cemetery caretaker, and a few other people, the person buried there will no longer be respected if his grave doesn't meet certain standards. I call them beauty pageant standards. I don't buy that. "Irregardless," everybody else here does, so we have to play by their rules. I guess it makes sense in a place where your neighbors rate your success in life based on how many wreathes make it to your coffin.
Here's the view up the first hill in the evening.
Behind my daughter are the graves stones for the Polish soldiers found in a mass grave.
Normally for Vėlinės you tidy up the grave and plant some new flowers and put up some candles.
Then anybody else who wants to comes by and adds to that.
Someone even removed the leaves, which I'm not happy about: we decided it looks nice with the fallen October leaves. They were a nice gold color.
The other thing we did this year was to move the monument to the middle of the grave site and replace the existing epitaph (for Senelis) with one for both of them.
In case you can't make it out, it reads (I have to use periods to get the spacing close to right):
According to the Internet, All Saints Day is the celebration of all saints in heaven, and All Souls Day is the celebration of everybody who died but is not in yet. Because Lithuanians do typically celebrate All Souls Day (on the wrong day), can it possibly be that they purposely "commemorate the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven." -Wikipedia
They think their loved ones haven't been let into Heaven yet? Weird! Before going on I should point out that I don't understand the purpose of decorating graves. We bury people so that they can get up for the resurrection. I'm with you so far. Then we turn the graves into big fancy show pieces. Why? I don't see it. From what I've gathered from my wife, the cemetery caretaker, and a few other people, the person buried there will no longer be respected if his grave doesn't meet certain standards. I call them beauty pageant standards. I don't buy that. "Irregardless," everybody else here does, so we have to play by their rules. I guess it makes sense in a place where your neighbors rate your success in life based on how many wreathes make it to your coffin.
Here's the view up the first hill in the evening.
Behind my daughter are the graves stones for the Polish soldiers found in a mass grave.
Normally for Vėlinės you tidy up the grave and plant some new flowers and put up some candles.
Then anybody else who wants to comes by and adds to that.
Someone even removed the leaves, which I'm not happy about: we decided it looks nice with the fallen October leaves. They were a nice gold color.
The other thing we did this year was to move the monument to the middle of the grave site and replace the existing epitaph (for Senelis) with one for both of them.
In case you can't make it out, it reads (I have to use periods to get the spacing close to right):
LIETUVOS SAVANORIAI
....PULKININKAS........................... VADOVĖ
........PROFESORIUS.......................ŠVIETIMIETĖ
................GAMTININKAS ...............VISUOMENININKĖ
................JUOZAS ................VAIVA RADASTA
............VĖBRA.............................VĖBRAITĖ
...........1901-1994...........................1954-2008
All Saints Day
Lokys and I visited St. Lawrence Cemetery in New Haven today.
Vaiva's Aunt Lijole designed the tombstone, and she lies next to her sister, Vaiva's mother.
On the opposite side are Vaiva's maternal grandparents.
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