Inflammatory language and accountability

                                  With Jaak Rakfeldt and Andrus Saar in Connecticut, 1989.

On the afternoon of August 11, a naturalized Estonian citizen walked into the Estonian Defense Ministry building.  According to the authorities, the man had with him a pistol and explosives, he made no demands and took no hostages, and after more than two hours in the building, in which the employees had been evacuated, the man was fatally shot while one law enforcement officer had received a slight bruise and another had been spared by a bullet-proof vest.  In the following days, the handling of the incident was criticized considerably in the media.

August 23, a daily newspaper reported that Defense Minister Mart Laar had stated in his fraternity’s (Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts) list that assailants against the state of Estonia will be shot and he guarantees that also in the future.  To date the only reaction to that inflammatory language has been a brief statement by President Ilves in which he said that whenever an armed person assails a governmental office, takes hostages and shoots at the police, the action constitutes an attack against the state of Estonia.  Parliamentarian Mailis Reps in the weekly Kesknädal warns that inciting violence is dangerous, more so when it comes from a governmental official and especially at a time when the nation is combating violence in school. 

Minister Laar’s inflammatory language has not been followed by calls for his resignation.  Why?  This veil of silence was preceded by the one last month when journalist Priit Hõbemägi asked for full disclosure of the kidnapping of the seven bicyclists.  He expressed his astonishment over the media’s position that the public will probably never know the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and release of the bicyclists.

A very serious international incident, the hijacking of the Arctic Sea, was associated with Eerik-Niiles Kross about a year ago, but again the public is not told what effect this has had on Estonia’s interests.  Incidentally, at the time of the events at the Ministry, Mart Laar was in the cathedral attending Eerik-Niiles Kross' wedding.

Not holding the country’s leaders accountable for their risky behavior, for stealing from the public till, for mismanaging their offices, or for threatening citizens has become common practice.  Whenever questions are raised about such behavior and demands are made for accountability, a wall of silence and secrecy descends.  The consequence is increased corruption, ineptitude, and a predictable setting in of decay in society.  Before the disclosure of Laar’s statement, we read in March the current Education (and previous Defense) Minister Jaak Aaviksoo’s article in which he justified lying in the name of national interest.  Same month it was disclosed that the International Ski Federation (FIS) suspected Estonia’s two-time Olympic gold medalist, the skier Andrus Veerpalu, of doping use.  In their quick response to the allegations, Veerpalu’s handlers resorted to the Aaviksoo doctrine, but FIS Doping Panel ruled on August 23 that Veerpalu had violated an anti-doping rule.

Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts (EÜS) has been practically from the beginning of the restored independence period a good ole’ boys club in which belong President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Mart Laar, Eerik-Niiles Kross, the brothers Kaarel and Indrek Tarand, and others, which in practice means they and their allies sit in positions of power and others are excluded. This explains to a great extent why the country has not seen the inclusion of women in the state’s decision-making offices and institutions which in essence means the arrest of democratic development. That is also why it has not been possible to work out a national developmental plan, according to the pollster and sociologist Andrus Saar, because it would interfere with the business interests of those in the power structure.  And that is also why the debates between the two presidential candidates, Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Indrek Tarand, were a disappointment to most commentators - both men are in the same fraternity and do not hold opposing views. In addition, both have wives in the same sorority, Filiae Patriae.  Although those 19^th century institutions have pretty much died out in other places, they and their outdated rules of corporate fidelity still have a hold in Estonian society. 

The Woman's Bible

                                        My granddaughters in a Christmas pageant, 2008.

An unprecedented activity for Estonia took place in the spring when the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre (ENUT) organized the seminar “Three religions from a gender perspective” at Tallinn University. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were analyzed.

I opened the seminar with the following text:

The intention of today’s seminar is to move along with the times and to contribute to the national dialogue on religion. Starting in the fall, Estonia’s school system will introduce, in the interest of promoting ethics and tolerance, the study of religion as an elective in the curriculum.  We believe that tolerance and ethics can be taught successfully when stereotypes and myths are subjected to critical analysis.  That’s one of the aims of today’s seminar.

It is in the above spirit that I introduce „The Woman’s Bible“ which can be regarded as a book belonging among Bibles that have appeared throughout history, such as John Wycliffe’s translation into English in 1382, Martin Luther’s translation for the Germans in 1534, and the appearance of the Bible for Estonians in our native tongue in 1739.  We have reached the point in history where feminist theology embraces many religions and „The Woman’s Bible“ has played a significant role in this.

In 2010 a writer-friend in New York sent me a biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  While studying history in the US, I had learned about the women’s movement, but it was not my topic of interest and, consequently, I was not very familiar with Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s story.  Reading the book, I learned that Elizabeth and other women who were called collectively „The Revising Committee“, which included  Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg in Finland, compiled „The Woman’s Bible“ at the end of the 19th century.

I bought the book and learned that it is unknown in Estonia.  We added it to ENUT’s library.  We’ve noticed at ENUT that since Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, the number of books borrowed in the religion category has increased.  Last fall I spoke with Raili Maling, a fellow member of ENUT Board and a member of Tartu University’s faculty, about The Woman’s Bible and since she was also interested in the topic of religion, we decided to organize a seminar that looks at three major religions from a gender perspective.

Who was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, what was her role in America’s history, and why did she author the book „The Woman’s Bible“?  She was born in 1815 and died in 1902.  Her father was an esteemed lawyer and judge in the State of New York.  Into the family were born five girls and six boys of whom five died in childhood.  The only surviving son came home to die in 1826 after graduating from college.  Elizabeth entered her brother’s room where her „pale and immovable“ father sat by his dying son’s bed.  She climbed into her father’s lap and at length he said, „Oh, my daughter, I wish you were a boy!“ She threw her arms around his neck and replied, „I will try to be all my brother was.“ She took her promise seriously: she studied Latin and Greek, mathematics, horseback riding and other subjects meant for boys. She was a superb student. She applied for admission to the same college her brother had attended, but was rejected because she was a female.  She went to Troy Female Seminary and obtained as great an education as was possible for a young woman at that time.

The Abolitionist Movement was strong in the northeastern part of the US and Elizabeth’s great interest in justice and legal systems (after graduating from the Seminary, she read her father’s legal literature for several years and wanted to become a lawyer, but New York statutes did not allow a woman to practice law in the State) brought her into contact with people fighting against slavery, including the young man she married.  The marriage lasted almost half century and the couple had seven children. 

Elizabeth had been raised in a Calvinist family and throughout her life she believed in God and an afterlife, but as an adult she began to look critically at the Bible.  In the Introduction to „The Woman’s Bible“ she wrote: „The canon and civil law; church and state; priests and legislators; all political parties and religious denominations have alike taught that woman was made after man, of man, and for man, an inferior being, subject to man.  Creeds, codes, Scriptures and statutes, are all based on this idea.  The fashions, forms, ceremonies and customs of society, church ordinances and discipline all grow out of this idea.“

Not agreeing with the text of the Revised Bible issued by the Anglican Church, she began to have the idea in 1886 to establish a committee for critical analysis of the Bible.  She succeeded in assembling 26 women who were not biblical scholars, but highly educated and deeply interested in the interpretation of the Bible’s texts.  The aim of the committee was to bring attention to that small section of the Bible that includes women and to correct slanted interpretation.  The work took some time, but the first part of the book appeared already in 1895. It was a „best seller“, resulting in six reprints in six months, but it was also widely criticized in editorials and pulpits.  The second part of "The Woman's Bible" was published in 1898.

The committee analyzed the Creation story. In the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 27, woman and man area created: „God created man in his own image ... male and female.“

In the Book of Genesis, Chapter 2, verses 21-23: „And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh thereof. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.“

The two versions contradict each other and, therefore, both cannot be true.  How to explain the contradiction?  The compilers of „The Woman’s Bible“ assert that the first version is closer to truth than the second. They suggest that in this instance one should follow St. Paul’s opinion that it is beneficial to verify everything and to accept that which is good.

And why is the simultaneous creation of the two sexes in the image of God good?  Stanton argues that “masculine and feminine elements, exactly equal and balancing each other, are as essential to the maintenance of the equilibrium of the universe as positive and negative electricity, the centripetal and centrifugal forces, the laws of attraction which bind together all we know of this planet whereon we dwell and of the system in which we revolve.”

And to those who believe that a woman is inferior to man, because she was created after man, the book compilers say that they, therefore, must also accept that man is inferior to crawling creatures, because according to the Scriptures man was created after them. 

The third chapter contains the allegory of Adam and Eve on which is based the doctrine of original sin. According to Stanton, it describes mankind’s fall into sin and characterizes the woman as the author of all ills.  But Stanton thinks that „the unprejudiced reader must be impressed with the courage, the dignity, and the lofty ambition of the woman.  The tempter evidently had a profound knowledge of human nature, and saw at a glance the high character of the person he met by chance in his walks in the garden.  He did not try to tempt her from the path of duty by brilliant jewels, rich dresses, worldly luxuries or pleasures, but with the promise of knowledge, with the wisdom of the Gods. /.../... and he roused in the woman that intense thirst for knowledge, that the simple pleasures of picking flowers and talking with Adam did not satisfy.  Compared with Adam she appears to great advantage through the entire drama.“

Regarding the Old Testament, Stanton and her committee members found praiseworthy passages, especially concerning women. But on the whole, they concurred that Mosaic code and customs need to be censured as denigrating of women, and because they have been taught as the word of God women’s position in the society is difficult.  As mentioned above, these opinions were criticized, sometimes even severely.  Stanton replied to her critics; „To criticize the peccadilloes of Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel does not shadow the virtues of Deborah, Huldah and Vashti; when I condemn Jewish laws and customs in the first Book of Genesis, the power of the 10 commandments and the Golden Rule are not destroyed. Parts of the Bible are so true, so bright and so beautiful that it is a shame they are in the same volume with very coarse and immoral feelings and descriptions.“

Turning to the committee’s scrutiny of the New Testament, we learn that Jesus never said “that woman should be subject to man…. He spoke to the individual soul, not recognizing sex as a quality of spiritual life, or as determining the sphere of action of either man or woman.”  

There are many passages which show Jesus’ impartiality, among them, for example, Chapter 10 in the Book of Luke, verses 38-42:  “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a certain village and woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary who moreover was listening to the Lord's word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things. But only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her.'”

That passage is, also, interpreted as Jesus’ teaching to women to seek knowledge above household tasks.  In Stanton’s book a woman’s self-development and education, seeking of truth and knowledge are an all-pervasive theme, starting with Eve in Paradise as we have seen already.

According to many theologians, Paul was the founder of Christianity; thus Paul’s references to women have great significance.  His letters to the different congregations in which he gives instructions and counsel form the basis for the Christian Church. The committee members find that there is no doubt about the prominent role women played in the early church and they cite Paul’s letters to the Romans, Chapter 16, verses 1-5: „I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, that he receive her in the Lord as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you, for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.  Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who have for my life laid down their own necks, unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.“

Stanton wrote, „Paul not only virtually pronounces Priscilla a fellow-Apostle and fellow-bishop, but specially commends Phebe, a Greek woman, as a minister (diakonos), which as we have seen, may be legitimately interpreted either presbyter, bishop, or Apostle.“

Since Paul’s teachings have been decisive in matters concerning the status of women, the committee finds it necessary to take a closer look at the sources and reasons for these teachings.  They find that many of the teachings contain old Hebrew legends, for example, the one about women having to cover their heads.

The most often cited passage pertaining to the status of women is in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 14, verses 34-35: „Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church.“

Why such a message to the Corinthians and not the Romans? Stanton explains: „The church at Corinth was peculiarly given to diversion and to disputation; and women were apt to join in and to ask many troublesome questions; hence they were advised to consult their husbands at home. The Apostle took it for granted that all men were wise enough to give to women the necessary information on all subjects.  Others, again, advise wives never to discuss knotty points with their husbands; for if they should chance to differ from each other, that fact might give rise to much domestic infelicity.  There is such a wide difference of opinion on this point among wise men, that perhaps it would be as safe to leave women to be guided by their own unassisted common sense.“

Indeed, also in other passages Paul has sent instructions offensive to women, but he also taught 

principles of equality.  In his letter to the Galatians, Chapter 3, verse 28 he wrote: „There is neither Jew 

nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

 

The above gives some examples from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s book „The Woman’s Bible“.  The book could be considered as a step in the development of Christianity.  In the early years, Latin which only few knew to read was the language of the Church.  We’ve seen that in the late 14th century the Bible appeared for the first time in a language other than Latin.  After Luther’s time, the translation of the Scriptures into the vernacular spread and the Bible became accessible to many.  In the 20th century, we began to understand the Bible also in women’s language and, in conclusion, I would, therefore, submit that the Bible has had a role in the democratic development of societies. 

What became of our hopes?

                         During the freedom movement with Hando Runnel in Tartu

On May 3, 2011, the daily Päevaleht had an article about the identical features in the rhetoric of Estonian Prime Minister Ansip and his counterpart Putin in Russia.  Having read it, I remembered my reaction couple weeks ago when I happened to see on Kanal 2 a rerun of the April 2007 riots in Tallinn. I wondered why it was being served to us, because it does not fit into the anniversary mode, but then remembered that the channel is owned by Eesti Meedia, CEO’d by Reform propagandists circle member Mart Kadastik, and the company also owns Postimees.  The broadcast included snippets of an interview with Ansip and watching his face, especially his eyes, it struck me that in manner and content he resembles Putin.  Not a muscle on his face moved and his eyes pierced the air with cold indifference as he commented on the activities in town in classic Soviet terms.  Analyzing the picture objectively and considering Ansip’s background and age, I had to conclude that the two were cut from the same cloth and that the Jesuit maxim “give me a boy for the first seven years……” applies in this case also. 

Ansip’s most recent pronouncements continue in the Soviet style.  As Jaan Männik, Eesti Pank’s Chairman of the Board, tries to clean house by removing vice-presidents Ross and Minka who have occupied their posts for more than 10 years each with Reform’s blessings, Ansip did not like the decision and berated the Board „nii ei käituta“!  For a long time I’ve been of the opinion that the bank’s president, Andres Lipstok – a fellow Reform Party member – is overpaid (monthly salary of 98 000 EEK; 6263.34 EUR) and should be replaced.  Hopefully, Männik and colleagues can complete the house cleaning. 

Then, a few days ago in an interview, Ansip said in his characteristic fashion that the government need not always listen to public opinion, as if he had been anointed by the Almighty to rule over us. 

But to get back to the salaries issue, about a week ago we learned that Social Affairs Minister Pevkur, also of Reform, is going to give a bonus to the Unemployment Office director Meelis Paavel for work well done last year.  This decision challenges one’s understanding of what constitutes good work, because last year Paavel was penalized for granting a large state contract to his relative.  Paavel’s salary last year was 44 800 EEK (2863.24 EUR) per month, which is about four times the average.

Such large salaries to favorites in public office contrasts drastically with salaries paid to teachers.  Estonian teachers’ average wage is less than 1,000 EUR per month while a cleaning woman’s average wage in the European Union is about 2,000 EUR per month.  The teachers have asked for wage increase next year, but Finance Minister Ligi, again of Reform, has said „not possible“.  A closer scrutiny of salaries – and bonuses - paid to favorites in high office and a reduction to bring them in line with salaries paid out of the state budget to professionals in education and health care would do if nothing else than at least engender a sense of fairness in our society. 

And Reform’s coalition partner in government, IRL, also made news recently. The party headquarters building that was purchased when the organization was named Isamaaliit (Pro Patria) was bought by a Russian businessman.  Aside from my concern that Russian interests are buying real estate and establishing businesses in Estonia, this transaction would have no more significance.  However, Isamaaliit as a political party was synonymous with nationalism, conservatism and fierce anti-Russianism.  Hence this event is heavy with symbolism, I regret to say.  But in addition to that, it also speaks of the political party’s capacity to manage finances; the building had to be sold in order to pay debts.

Given the above mentioned attitudes and financial decisions by those in power, it is with considerable concern that I look forward to four years of this government.  The concern is even greater when it’s apparent that political opposition in the country has been decimated, that people are tired - as pollster Andrus Saar recently told me - and that general apprehension about the future and job security are palpable.

Crisis of confidence

 

 Keynote speaker Paul Goble at the 5th anniversary of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Alliance of Connecticut which I chaired at that time.

Gradually it's sinking in that Estonia is becoming a country in which a freedom-loving person would find difficult to live.  Several developments lately, starting with the election campaign last December, have made me think about the breakfast I had with Paul Goble in January 2009 when I was in Washington DC.  Referring to Estonia, he thought that freedom was slipping away.  In the interim, I've mentioned Paul Goble’s concern to some people in Estonia, but to no avail.  Paul Goble is a political analyst who formerly served as Special Advisor on Soviet Nationality Problems and Baltic Affairs at the State Department during the tense days when the Soviet Union was collapsing.  Condoleezza Rice, a member of President H.W. Bush’s National Security Council at the time, said to Paul Goble, a strong supporter of the Baltic freedom movement, “You control your Balts”.  Paul Goble said to her, “You have to understand that these people are willing to die for their freedom.  Do you want their blood on your hands?”

In addition to political opposition parties in Estonia being destroyed (a development that reminds me of Martin Niemöller's "First they came for the....), state agencies being used by the powers that be for their political ends, and last month - the month of March – three significant events took place.  We had elections whose results are suspected of having been stolen thanks to electronic voting pushed by the powers that be, the president signed into law a bill liberalizing the use of surveillance over citizens, and in a governmental monthly, Diplomaatia, appeared an article by Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo in which he justifies the use of deceit and lies in the name of self-defense and survival: "Likewise we have to accept the understanding that God or Darwin (interesting is that he capitalizes Darwin, but not God which is the standard - my comment) - depending on your worldview - did not give us consciousness and erudition in order to serve truth, which is what some people fooled by the Reformation and Enlightenment think to this day, but for the purpose of staying alive." (my translation) 

Aaviksoo does introduce his thesis with reference to cyber wars, but it is reasonable to assert that his deeply held worldview becomes applicable in his decision-making on national issues.

The problems surrounding e-voting are considerable.  As a former Registrar of Voters in my Connecticut town for over 15 years, I'm sensitive to the electoral procedures that protect the citizen's right to a secret ballot, a fundamental requirement in a democracy, and I see many violations.  Several years ago I familiarized myself with Estonia's election law and volunteered to observe at the town-center polling places.  I submitted to the political party of which I was a member a report on the violations I observed and hoped for a follow-up which never came. 

Regarding Jaak Aaviksoo’s manifesto in Diplomaatia, Tallinn University Rector Rein Raud (however, he identified himself as a citizen-author of the article), rang an alarm bell in the daily Eesti Päevaleht (24.03.11), saying that in western countries such ideology would be understood only among holocaust-deniers, a viewpoint criminalized in democratic countries.  That such a position is embraced by a minister serving in the government is cause for him to ask the coalition partners, Reform Party and IRL, whether such understanding of history, truth and identity is going to be incorporated in the future government. 

In his view, Aaviksoo has to resign. But what decision did Aaviksoo’s party, IRL, make?  Aaviksoo was appointed the Education Minister, thus saying to the citizens fy! 

Thirdly, Justice Ministry had submitted a bill to the parliament which would give prosecutors expanded rights to spy on people.  According to the Constitution, court’s permission is required for snooping on a citizen, but the legislation allows the prosecutor to do that for 24 hours and then turn to the court.  The bill went to President Ilves for his signature and although it is in conflict with the Constitution, he signed it into law. According to the newspaper (Eesti Ekspress, 24.03.11), he sent the law to the Justice Ministry for revision. What kind of revision, the newspaper does not say.  It appears Ilves does not want to be in conflict with the powers that be, because he wants to be re-elected this summer by the parliament.

 

Additional disturbing information about surveillance of citizens was given by the former head of Central Criminal Police, Andres Anvelt, who said that 888 requests were made last year to listen in on telephone conversations of which 98% were granted, but he thinks actually 30,000 to 40,000 was the total number of people whose telephone conversations were tapped.

And this month the nation was shaken by news that Olümpic gold medalist Andrus Veerpalu is suspected of having used performance-enhancing drugs and that the nation’s ski association has been applying the Aaviksoo doctrine – lying, covering up, and possibly also causing the athlete to dissemble – with regard to this situation.   What would be the consequences when such practices are used on the government’s level? Can we be sure that they are not being used?

Contrary to the argument advanced by Aaviksoo and the practices pursued by decision-makers in high places, it is my belief that the chances for survival of a small country like Estonia are greater if she has the respect and support of the international community.  Lies and unethical activities do not translate into such support.  Being a country where democratic institutions are still in adolescence and citizens unaccustomed to democratic practices, it would behoove the nation to learn what others have learned in history: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and that freedom is still a worthy goal.  It is not enough to just vote when the date appears on the calendar. 

Independence Day Interview

When restored independence was dawning: at the editorial offices of Kultuur ja Elu in 1990. The magazine was strongly pro-Estonia, uniting Estonians at home and abroad, dissidents and Popular Front members. From left: Paul Lüdig, Ilvi Jõe-Cannon, and her son Benjamin Cannon on the extreme right. The man and woman between them could not be identified; if anyone can provide their names, it would be appreciated.


Dear Ilvi Jõe-Cannon, you wrote an article that appeared in Delfi on January 21 in which you asked, ”Why the furor around Savisaar and not around Sildam and Kross?”. It received many comments. In the article you write, “.... the result of the neo-liberal policies has been a plutocracy, and if the politics in the country do not change, we cannot expect good news from Estonia for some time.“ What kind of change should have priority? Can elections change anything? What bothers you the most in Estonia?

I think we need a change that reins in unbridled economic policies.  We see the results of these policies not only in Estonia, but in the rest of the western world and it’s clear that socio-economic stratification has deepened during the last 20 years. Such a situation is called a plutocracy.  Although almost 10 years ago social scientists pointed to the dangerous splitting of Estonian society (two Estonias), no steps were taken to arrest disparity.

Elections by themselves would not change anything if the political parties do not offer policies that change direction.  The present political campaign shows that the parties lack vision and courage to present constructive plans which would develop our economy and culture. In my opinion, it would be natural for us to belong in the Nordic cultural room due to our geographical location, history and traditions. But in order to reach the Nordic cultural room we need change.

I am certain that the more we internalize values which place the Nordic states consistently among countries with the best quality of life and with least corruption we would have answers to many of our problems.


What bothers me most in Estonia? Every day I am happy that Estonia is again independent after a long, dark night.  It bothers me, however, that an elite stratum has developed which denies access for the emerging others.  TTÜ Professor Kuno Janson addresses this phenomenon quite thoroughly in the last issue of Sirp (18.02.11) and I recommend his article to everybody.

I recall that you came to Estonia at the height of the Singing Revolution. You were very active, but apparently more with the Estonian Congress than the Popular Front. Does it seem to you that in contemporary Estonia discontentment exists in both flanks – Popular Front supporters say that this is not the Estonia they wanted, and the Estonian Congress supporters are not happy with what is going on. Do you think these two wings– the nationalists and the centrists – that split when independence was restored could collaborate in the interest of Estonia’s future or is the split beyond repair? Can Estonians reach consensus ever again?

Yes, I was in Estonia from the spring to fall in 1990 and active in the freedom movement.  However, I had no political favorites.  Beginning in 1971, I came to Estonia quite frequently and during these visits I met writers, artists and other people active in Estonian society.  After the events at Hirve Park in 1987 and the organization of the Popular Front the following spring, I contacted Latvians and Lithuanians in my home state of Connecticut and we organized in order to support the movement in the Baltic states. The name of our organization was Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Alliance (ELLA) of Connecticut.


We invited Mati Hint, one of the leaders of the Popular Front, to be the keynote speaker at our demonstration on the 50^th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. When I was in Estonia in 1990, I did participate in the activities of the Estonian Congress. Most of the time I was at the editorial offices of Kultuur ja Elu where many visitors from the West dropped in and my function basically was that of an interpreter. Also, I did much translation of articles and documents into English.

Regarding consensus in the interest of the country’s future, I think such a wish is utopian. Difference of opinion is found in all countries and in democracies it is tolerated. Working together, however, is a different matter.  Our country has a Constitution that lays out the rules for structure and activities. The political parties have to function within the framework of the Constitution and should they be elected to office they have to agree on policies. There are always people in society whose opinions differ from those in the government.

Your good friend Mati Hint has said in an interview quite pointedly that Estonians’ religion is greed. Do you agree with him? You have traveled a lot in the world and would you say that such undisguised greed exists elsewhere, especially among the elite?

I have high regard for Mati and his opinion, but I cannot agree with his comment, because I don’t think it applies to all Estonians. We have some people – maybe not many! – whose religion is other than greed. Here again, I would recommend Professor Kuno Janson’s article in which he analyses the reasons behind our culture of greed.

Of course, the culture of greed can lead to excesses. Not long ago Indrek Tarand suggested that Toomas Hendrik Ilves should continue to be the president, because Estonia is too poor to pay both a president’s salary and an ex-president’s benefits. Indrek, that need not be a reason for an unpopular president to remain in office. Pick me to be the president and I will pay myself Mr. Ilves the benefits due him as the ex-president.

From an Estonian-abroad you’ve become an Estonian-at-home. Your move is in strong contrast to the exodus from the country now, which is a very disturbing development. What attracted you here and why did you find the path not taken by thousands who shared your fate?

It’s tempting to reply: ”Estonian’s stubbornness.” I think the decision to return is made on a personal level. When the fleeing occurred in 1944, my contemporaries and I were children. When Estonia’s independence was restored approximately 50 years later, many of us were grand-parents approaching pension status. When deep roots have developed in a society, it is not easy to start anew, especially if one did not have contact with the land of birth during the occupation. My particular situation allowed me to return to Estonia in 1997 and, thanks to good health, to participate in the building of a civil society.

Do you think Estonia participates in global politics? Does Estonia have an independent foreign policy at all?

It depends on how one defines ”participation”. As a small country we lack sufficient resources for a global reach. Estonia is a member of numerous international organizations and our role in each is set by the organization’s goals. One might ask whether there is any country with an independent foreign policy. The governments of all countries are under constant pressure and in order to defend one’s national interests, which is the priority in foreign policy, one needs partners.

Having lived as an American, how do you think Americans feel now that China is catching up and, according to predictions, will soon replace her as the leading power. Obama has not turned the tide.  

There are many people in the US concerned about the future.  Not only in the US, but also in many other countries. It seems that the concern is not so much economic as about the political consequences of US losing her leading power position. The challenges faced by President Obama are a legacy from previous administrations: an economic crisis not seen since 1929, war at two locations, threat of terrorism within the country, conflicts in the Near East – to name only the larger ones. Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009 and I submit that it is not possible to find solutions in such a short time to the problems I’ve cited.

Please tell us briefly about yourself, your parents, how you got to the US, your own family life.
And, finally, for Estonian youth, perhaps, some recommendations, reminders, or things to pay attention to.

I was born in Viljanidi on October 11, 1937, as the second child to a farming family. Mother fled with four children to the West in 1944 and father went to the eastern front. We were in refugee camps (American zone) until 1950 when we had the opportunity to immigrate to the US. The first two years we were in a church orphanage. We moved to Connecticut when mother found there work with a sufficient income to set up housekeeping.

I started school in Geislingen Displaced Persons Camp and continued my education in the US. As a good student I received stipends which enabled me to secure higher education: University of Connecticut, B.A. in History, 1961, and Indiana University, M.A. in Political Science (Russian and East European Institute) 1965.

While studying at Indiana, I met my husband; we were married in 1964 and made our home in South Carolina where his family had been since the American Revolution. His was a prominent family of industrialists, but there were also educators and lawyers in its ranks. We had two children.

I divorced in 1971 and returned to Connecticut, where I raised my children and became active in public life. Above I’ve already mentioned my involvement with the Baltic freedom movement. My son is a builder in Florida and my daughter’s family moved from the US to Singapore last summer when her husband was hired as the Head of Corporate Relations by VISA International.

What to recommend to Estonia’s young people? Education, education and more education! Guard your health, be honest, remember proverbs and to love.

Interviewer: URMI REINDE, Kesknädal 23.02.11

Gendered activities

American Chamber of Commerce Estonia Board members Stefano Grace and Ilvi Cannon present a check to Piet Boerefijn, Director of the Estonian Foodbank.

My activities and writings have attached a „feminist“ (considered despicable) sign to me despite always taking care to explain that my worldview is democratic which includes gender equality.

No doubt Estonia is patriarchal, but I have seen development over the years of my residence here.  I’ll give some examples.

The year was 2000 and I had already volunteered couple years at the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre (ENUT).  One day I asked Julia Laffranque who lectured at the Tallinn branch of Tartu University’s Law School while also working at the Justice Ministry bringing Estonian laws into harmony with European Union’s whether she could assign a student to analyze Estonia’s legislation for gender discrimination aspects.  About half year later I asked Julia about this request.  She said that she had suggested this research to several students, but all were scared to address the issue. „Scared“ was the word that resonated. 

About the same time I had applied to the Tallinn Rotary Club for membership, after having attended the meetings a while.  I decided to take this step upon the recommendation of a friend in the US whose Rotary Club had involved me with several projects and he thought that my membership would be an asset to Rotary International.  Indeed, his club had sponsored exchange students from Estonia at my recommendation and the club recruited me as a consultant for its medical assistance project in Estonia in 1993. As a result of these activities, I was given honorary Rotary membership and named a Paul Harris Fellow. 

My application for membership was rejected by Tallinn Rotary Club.  Then, Tallinn International Rotary Club was organized in 2004 and I was asked to join it.  A Tallinn Rotary Club member officiated at the pinning ceremony and at the end of the ceremony I said to him that I had applied for membership to his club several years ago and was rejected.  He replied „We don’t want women.“

Estonia became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004, which forced the parliament to pass a gender equality law.  Political leadership did not want such a law, but without it the country could not be accepted into the Union and the law was passed virtually on the 11th hour. 

Years passed.  Chatting with a young woman at an event, I invited her to visit ENUT. She said that were she to associate with such an organization, she could not get a job in Estonia.  That scare was still present.

Now we have reached a stage where the European Union plans to adopt a law establishing gender quotas in large business enterprises.  Details are expected to be released by the Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier in April.

I addressed the topic of gender quotas in businesses at a seminar last year after learning about such a law in Norway and the background to its adoption. My presentation was titled „Gender balanced business“ and, subsequently, I submitted it to the business oriented newspaper Äripäev for publication.  It was not published. 

I’m including the article here:

Gender balanced business

Economic development is a part of history and one can say, in simplified terms, that technology is its integral component and a force for change.  At one time it took several strong men to cut down a tree and to remove it.  Today a machine under the controls of one man who does not need to flex a muscle can cut down a whole forest in a day (depending on the size of the forest, of course).

If a man can handle such a machine, why not a woman.  No physical strength was needed, only skill in handling the equipment.  It would be superfluous to point out the part of a person in charge of learning skills.

The point is that economic activity is no longer what it used to be years ago, not even 50 years ago.  Regarding women’s and men’s roles in economic activity, a large break with traditions occurred after World War II. 

During the war men were conscripted into military service, but industry needed workers – the war effort had to be supplied – and women were recruited into factories to do men’s jobs.  That certainly was the situation in the United States and Great Britain.  Nazi ideology, however, assigned child-bearing and hausfrau roles to women and workers in German industries were brought from occupied territories, often as forced labor. 

After the war had ended, the women were told more-or-less, „Thank you ma’am.  Now you can go back to housekeeping.“  But women had learned to operate the labor market and, furthermore, the experience had empowered them psychologically. Two significant events occurred after the war: rapid economic growth which concentrated on the manufacture of consumer products and the enrollment by young women in institutions of higher learning in unprecedented numbers.  Considering these developments, the women’s movement in the 1970s is completely understandable: home appliances eliminated the need for physical labor and the resulting free time combined with developed brains looked for activity.

In Estonia stereotypes have begun to crumbled since the restoration of independence.  If earlier the tradition was for girls to study a certain subject and the boys another (for example, girls learning to be hairdressers and boys, carpenters) in vocational schools, then today 35% of the students in the classes are of the opposite sex. Young women have also entered the field of Information Technology which earlier was men’s domain.  Product demands by clients have brought about this change.  

The Estonian Business School has been dominated by men due to its field of study.  In order to obtain most recent data on its student population I contacted the School.  The official apologized that such statistics are not compiled, but if I would call back in a few days, she would have them for me.  When I made the return call, I was informed that the total population breaks down to 55% women and 45% men.  On the undergraduate level it is 50% women and 50% men, but what surprised the officials themselves were the statistics on the Master and Doctorate levels:  64% of the students are women. 

The above is significant.  Why is gender balanced development – policy – positive, if not altogether necessary?

The reason is that our economy is part of an international one which requires each sector to be competitive in order to be successful.  The enterprise that survives is innovative, transparent, and implements good practices.  The inclusion of women at decision-making level makes it possible to achieve those qualities.

Norway passed a law in 2003 which requires corporations to appoint women to their boards of directors.  The number depends on the size of the board’s membership.  Thus, if a board has nine members, 40% has to be of the opposite sex. There was a lot of opposition to such legislation –harmful results to the economy were predicted and it was alleged that a sufficient number of qualified women does not exist – but the government was convinced that such legislation would strengthen the health of Norway’s economy.

The corporations were given three years to implement the directives from the date, 2004, when the law went into effect.  By 2007, 37 per cent of the board members of the corporations listed on the Oslo stock exchange were women and the companies were successful.

There are plenty of enterprises run by women, but here I would like to cite one headed by the American Candace Fleming who has degrees in engineering, English language and business administration.  She worked previously as a manager of a large firm and now runs her own software company.  She is also the mother of two children.  While nursing the second child, she drafted a business plan and hired two engineers for her company.

I don’t want to leave the impression that it is easy to have a family and run a business at the same time. Competition in the business world is intense and in order to survive, not to mention being profitable, many hours – often stolen from one’s private life - have to be devoted to business.  Despite that, the general trend is to include women in top positions in business, because experience has shown that the result are greater returns to investment, growth in capitalization, and increase in sales.

Neither do I want to suggest that every woman is like Candace Fleming, although there are others like her. However, not every man is like Bill Gates, either, and that is my point. Women are not all alike nor are men all alike – differences are found within each sex.

P.S. Äripäev published on Feb.15 the above text in the following edited form:

Technology has been an integral part of economic activity and a force for change.  At one time it took several strong men to cut down a tree and to remove it.  Today a machine under the controls of one man who does not need to flex a muscle can cut down a whole forest in a day.

If a man can handle such a machine, why not a woman.  No physical strength was needed, only skill in handling the equipment. 

The point is that economic activity is no longer what it used to be years ago, not even 50 years ago.  Regarding women’s and men’s roles in economic activity, a large break with traditions occurred after World War II. 

During the war men were conscripted into military service, but industry needed workers – the war effort had to be supplied – and women were recruited into factories to do men’s jobs.  After the war had ended, the women were told more-or-less, „Thank you ma’am.  Now you can go back to housekeeping.“  But women had learned to operate on the labor market and, furthermore, the experience had empowered them psychologically. Two significant events occurred after the war: rapid economic growth which concentrated on the manufacture of consumer products and the enrollment by young women in institutions of higher learning in unprecedented numbers.  Considering these developments, the women’s movement in the 1970s is completely understandable: home appliances eliminated the need for physical labor and the resulting free time combined with developed brains looked for activity.

Stereotypes have begun to crumble in Estonia since the restoration of independence.  If earlier the tradition was for girls to study a certain subject and the boys another (for example, girls learning to be hairdressers and boys, carpenters) in vocational schools, then today 35% of the students in the classes are of the opposite sex. Young women have also entered the field of Information Technology which earlier was men’s domain.  Product demands by clients have brought about this change. 

The reason is that our economy is part of an international one which requires each sector to be competitive in order to be successful.  The enterprise that survives is innovative, transparent, and implements good practices.  The inclusion of women at decision-making level makes it possible to achieve those qualities.

Stereotyping obstructs economic development and successful enterprising. For those who doubt a woman’s capacity to head a business I would like to cite the American Candace Fleming who has degrees in engineering, English language and business administration.  She worked previously as a manager of a large firm and now runs her own software company.  She is also the mother of two children.  I am not suggesting that every woman is like Candace Fleming, although there are others like her. I am saying, however, that not every man is like Bill Gates, either, and that is my point. Women are not all alike nor are men all alike – differences are found within each sex.

On trafficking and prostitution

                                                         Danish anti-trafficking poster




Creeps


Stand-up comedian Eric Seufert, recently wrote in ERR News (Jan. 18, 2011) that one good reason to learn Estonian is to prove you’re not a Creep. What did he mean?  He was talking about the English speaking men that come to Tallinn for unbridled partying and sex. “’Creep’ people think”, says Seufert, “This walking hormone flew into Tallinn on a RyanAir jet and is living a roving, three-day frat party in Old Town./…/Tallinn is a playground for the fat and middle-aged. The locals should cater to me. And why aren’t the steps of that beautiful church coated in vomit yet? My services are in need!”

Unfortunately, that is the reality.  Before RyanAir decided to put Tallinn on its route, easyJet had been here already for years bringing stag parties and a variety of free-wheeling males. 

Albeit years of public awareness raising (I have been involved with it) about prostitution and human trafficking, collaborating with lobbying groups in the other Baltic States, the Nordic countries and Brussels, training people for the ministries and the police force, Riigikogu (parliament) ratifying in 2004 the Palermo Protocol which obliges the state to combat trafficking in women and children, the Estonian Council of Churches urging the government to adopt laws prohibiting the buying of sex and to combat trafficking, the government even adopting a 4-year (2006-2009) action plan for combating trafficking, and the US State Department reports placing Estonia among countries which do not pay enough attention to the problem of international trafficking in human beings, the country has not moved closer to removing this sordid blemish from her countenance.

The European Union (EU) whose member Estonia has been since 2004 has designated October 18 as Anti-trafficking Day in order to direct attention to this serious social problem. However, another October went by last year without the government having taken steps to pass a law against human trafficking.

The Justice Ministry does not see the necessity to include trafficking in the criminal code. For years, Minister Lang’s position has been that it is covered in Estonia’s criminal law under such crimes as torture and enslavement.  Last year the Justice Ministry started to work on a draft of a new law that would include the term “human trafficking” partly under pressure from the new European Commission directive which aims to be tougher on traffickers.  But still, there is a lot of foot-dragging.

As recently as last November, Ülle Madise, the legal council to the President of the Republic, wrote me that the problem is not that we don’t have laws to punish traffickers (she also maintains that the extant laws on torture and enslavement cover cases of trafficking); the problem is with enforcement.  According to her, failure to punish these offenders is due to the victim not filing a complaint, is helpless, or the matter is not a priority for the police.

The reality is more complicated. In the cases that have reached the court, the accused generally walks out a free man.  Even if found guilty, probation has been the maximum punishment. This happens not only in cases of trafficking, but also pimping. In the latter case, most pimps have returned to their former activity.

It used to be easier to catch trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation at the border, but border controls ended after joining the EU. No reliable statistics exist on trafficking and prostitution, and a lot that we know is pieced together from available information. Thus, it is estimated that in Tallinn alone operate anywhere from 50 to 100 brothels in which 37% of prostituted women offer their bodies for sale in the city.
Neither is the number of prostituted women in Estonia known exactly; recent estimates place it at 3000, but that seems high, considering that about five years ago the estimated number was half of that.

It should be noted that prostitution is not illegal in Estonia. Reform and IRL (initially Mart Laar of Pro Patria [now IRL] wanted to legalize prostitution in order to add revenues to the state coffers), which have been in power most of the time, have consistently defended prostitution as an individual’s right to choose.  It is illegal, however, to pimp and to rent rooms for the purpose of selling sex.


I have begun to wonder whether the inaction with respect to human trafficking for sexual exploitation by the powers that be is not due to the sway of money over politicians.  Recently the public heard that legislation can be bought for 32000 EEK (2045 euros).  Well, if you can buy a law, you can also pay to obstruct the adoption of a law.

Quisling legacy: Siim Kallas

                                 At my father's grave in Viljandi, Estonia, with my son in 1990.


On January 11, The Telegraph reported that Maarten Engwirda, a former Dutch member of European Court of Auditors for 15 years and who had retired 10 days earlier, has alleged that abuse of EU funds was swept under the carpet by an auditing body that was supposed to expose wrongdoing.

Mr Engwirda accuses Siim Kallas, the European Commission's vice-president who was responsible for anti-fraud measures from 2004 to 2010, of putting "heavy pressure" on investigators to tone down findings of abuse.

On the following day Estonia’s Päevaleht Online reported the news story out of UK and quoted Kallas’ representative: “The accusation against Siim Kallas is totally libelous. We are seriously considering turning to the courts.”

The likelihood of litigation emerging from this matter cannot be ruled out, except that Kallas’ activities as the Commissioner in charge of checking fraud in 2004-2010 are more likely to become the object of investigation than Mr. Engwirda.

The news in The Telegraph should not come as a surprise.  Siim Kallas’ name has a long association with fraudulent activities, the most conspicuous being the disappearance of USD 10 million when he headed the Bank of Estonia after the country’s independence was restored.  Although there are people in the country who have first-hand knowledge about that occurrence, the political atmosphere is such that attempts to hold Siim Kallas accountable fail.  Quite the contrary, his persona is promoted and his career advanced.  Currently, he is serving as an EU Commissioner and Vice-President a second time.

Domestically, I was personally offended several years ago when I heard the news that Estonia’s cathedral (Toomkirik) was going to give Siim Kallas the congregation’s highest recognition, Virgin Mary Award.  In protest, I sent the cathedral’s council the following letter:

Virgin Mary Cathedral Council                                                             

Kiriku plats

Tallinn
November 14, 2005

Honorable Cathedral Council members,

The concert to mark the opening of events celebrating Tallinn’s Cathedral Days took place on October 29 and the program included bestowing of the Virgin Mary Award on Siim Kallas. One can read on the program sheet that the award is given to Mr. Kallas in recognition of his activities, among them the protection of fundamental ethical values, the support of marriage and family.  The sheet includes also a short biography which mentions his term as the president of the Bank of Estonia 1991-1995.

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed on the door of the Wittenberg castle church his protest against the sale of indulgences by the Vatican, thus giving birth to the Lutheran Church.  Martin Luther has been a major historical figure to me since my school days and it is by the example he set that I send you this letter.

I ask you as Christians how you can overlook the alleged crimes of Siim Kallas and consider them as protection of fundamental ethical values. It is well known that Siim Kallas has been accused of stealing 10 million US dollars, and although the court did not find him guilty due to the statute of limitations that does not mean that he was not the culprit. Many instances can be cited in legal history where guilt cannot be proven in court and the accused walks out a free man.  A quite recent example of that was the infamous case of O.J. Simpson in California.  He was tried for the murder of his wife and her friend and found not guilty (a later judgment against Simpson for their wrongful deaths was awarded in civil court).

The theft at the bank caused family tragedies. The automobile accident that left Urmas Kaju, the legal counsel at the Bank of Estonia at the time of the incident, permanently disabled is clouded in suspicion to this day.  A manager at the Põhja-Eesti Bank was assassinated on the street in front of his home.  The families of these two men suffered terribly and the incidents remain shrouded in silence.

As I sat in the church, observing the award ceremony in front of the cathedral’s main altar, I thought about my father who had gone to the War of Independence as a schoolboy. Throughout his life he had been an uncompromising opponent of Communism. He had been sent to Stalin’s gulag, and having survived and returned to his homeland, he studied to become a Lutheran pastor.  He was ordained in front of the very altar where now the congregation’s Council was awarding an ex-Communist who had made a career in a destructive regime. The program sheet states that Siim Kallas studied finance and credit at Tartu University, graduating cum laude in 1972, but it does not say what he did between graduation and 1991.   

I also thought what is happening to the Estonian Lutheran Church when in the house of worship are praised falsehood and lies. The church as an institution has to stand up against lies. Is it not written that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?  In the program sheet one can also read that a previous recipient of the Maarja award was the president and academic Lennart Meri.  Indeed, he was the President of the Republic of Estonia, but he was never an academic according to an academic institution’s definition of the word.

Unlike the former fascist regimes, Estonia and other countries that became free of the Communist totalitarian power when the Soviet Union collapsed have had, and continue to have, in their power structures former Communists and this has created many challenges.  Emerging from the very difficult years of the occupation, the Church should not compromise herself.  It is during the challenging years of recovery and the seeking of truth that the country needs an institution that stands firmly for justice and morality.

The poet Hando Runnel wrote during the Soviet occupation that Estonia’s countenance is beautiful when wiped of everything that is false.  In a totalitarian system it was almost impossible to wipe away lies, but now we have an independent country and we are free to do it.  It is reprehensible to speak in church of Siim Kallas as a protector of ethical principles, if for no other reason than that it would harm the church’s reputation in our society.  It is reprehensible, if not absurd, to extol in a free society Siim Kallas’ role in the European Commission when information about him is available.  My daughter and her family live in Brussels and I visit them.  Since my son-in-law holds a high position in a large company, I find myself among prestigious people during the visits.  After Estonia joined the European Union, I asked at one of those gatherings about the Estonian Commissioner.  There was a moment of reflection, and then the reply, “Oh yes, that former Communist.”

I would submit that it is not a sin for Siim Kallas to have been a Communist, but it is a sin for him not to have confessed and repented. A Christian would do that. No doubt, church doors should be open to sinners which we all are, at least according to the Lutheran doctrine, but before one is sanctified, the sinner has to walk to Canossa instead of buying a purified identity.  Martin Luther protested against the sale of indulgences.  What took place at Tallinn’s Virgin Mary Cathedral on October 29?  Was it not a sale of indulgence?  /..../ It is difficult to believe that the Council members were not aware of Siim Kallas’ past.  In a situation like this a Christian would acknowledge his mistake and ask Siim Kallas to return the award.  I would like to believe that you see the necessity of such a step.

Sincerely yours,

Ilvi Jõe-Cannon

Political Scientist

When the above event took place, the majority of the members of the Council were also members of the Reform Party, to which Siim Kallas belongs.  Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about the fact that former Communists are in positions of power in the republic.  The political party with the highest percentage of former Communists in its ranks is the Reform Party. 

In an interview a Norwegian asked an Estonian activist after the restoration of Estonia’s independence what is the leadership going to do about the prominent former Communists and whether they would pursue a policy similar to the one adopted in the formerly fascist regimes.  The Estonian replied in the negative, saying that they would do it differently.  To that the Norwegian said ‘”Then you are going to suffer a long time.” 

The Norwegian was right: our political recovery has been made difficult by our quislings.

P.S. Siim Kallas was not asked to return the Virgin Mary Award..

An observation about the parliamentary campaign

The current parliamentary elections campaign has reminded me of Edward Lucas’ (International Editor of The Economist) article that appeared on December 10, 2009 in the daily, Eesti Päevaleht, titled „The new Estonian story: without good news?“It’s quite true that we haven’t had good news.  According to an observation the financier Indrek Neivelt made last fall, Estonia’s GDP is back at 2005-2006 level and only the size of the debt is significantly larger. Inequality has increased, especially in wages; the country has the largest gender wage gap in the European Union.  Even the adoption of the euro at the beginning of this year was greeted internationally in the context of eurozone’s financial crisis and the pessimistic predictions about its end.  Why do we have such a situation? The reason is that the result of the neo-liberal policies has been a plutocracy, and if the politics in the country do not change, we cannot expect good news from Estonia for some time.

I agree with businessman Hans Luik’s observation that it’s been evident already for some time that an elite group has developed in the country.  It has wedged itself into the top, gathering the economic arteries under its control, and it does not want new arrivals into its space.  That is plutocracy.  Part of its politics is the prevention of the development characteristic to a democratic society - a robust opposition - and we have witnessed destructive internal rifts in the political parties out of power.

The parliamentary elections campaign had its opening act before Christmas when the government’s coalition (Reform and IRL parties) accused the Chairman of Centrist Party of having asked money from Russia for his party and they demanded for the Estonian Security Police (ESP) to make this information public.  Thus a governmental institution was dragged into politics (considered an abuse of power in law abiding states) when ESP posted the declassified document on its website.  According to the daily Postimees Online (Dec. 21, 2010) „The President of the Russian Railroad, Vladimir Yakunin, promised to give Edgar Savisaar, the Chairman of Centrist Party and the Mayor Tallinn, and to Deniss Boroditsch, the Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, 1.5 million euros for the support of Centrist Party’s election campaign.“

After that, the picture became confused and muddied.  Terms like „country’s traitor“, „influence agent“, „criminal charges“ were thrown around, and a „truth committee“ was established.  Both the Prime Minister and the President practically lectured the public on ethics and democracy, despite both of them having skeletons in their closet and pursuing policies to protect plutocracy.

It cannot be said that I favor or protect the political party under verbal assault.  I am an unaffiliated democrat of long standing.  It’s just that following the events in Estonia as a political scientist, certain questions come up.  In this case, I ask myself: why has a frenzied activity erupted in the media about Edgar Savisaar when, for example, in the spring of 2010 the disclosure of Toomas Sildam’s KGB past did not create equal clamor?  Sildam is not a man on the street, but the public relations adviser to the President of the Republic, which means that he has access to information concerning state security.  Does the KGB have „former“?

The above disclosure led to a request sent to Peeter Ernits, a well-known journalist at the weekly Maaleht, for a discussion of this matter in the media to which Ernits replied: „Estonians have become so thick-skinned that, unfortunately, nothing surprises them any more.“  Apparently it is so, because the scandal involving MP Jaanus Rahumägi’s hidden wealth and unknown money sources has not prevented his Reform Party from running him for re-election.  About the only objection heard so far has been the warning that should he be returned to the parliament, he no longer can chair the ESP Committee which has access to state classified documents.   

Several days ago the public learned that Eerik-Niiles Kross is Green Party’s candidate for the parliament. When one considers Mr. Kross’ past illegal and unethical activities, it is quite clear that the powers that be think nothing surprises Estonians any more.  He plans to be elected and even appointed the Minister of the Interior.

Due to scandals not associated with Centrist Party being treated lightly by the  media, it can be deduced that the furor surrounding Edgar Savisaar is part of the election campaign, especially when considering that the serious accusations leveled against him have not been verified and the explanations offered by the head of state are not convincing.

Constructive criticism not only requires looking at problems and deficiencies, but also recommendations for solutions.  How our society could develop from a plutocracy into a democracy is a complicated matter which has to be addressed separately.

The book "Carrying Linda's Stones"

Perhaps my biggest undertaking so far has been the book „Carrying Linda’s Stones: An Anthology of Estonian Women’s Life Stories.“  The project surfaced unexpectedly. 

In the latter part of 1998, almost a year after the move to Estonia, I decided that I could become involved with civil society building.  The renovation of the 1997 purchased apartment in total disrepair – the location was of paramount importance, and at the time practically all housing built during the Soviet occupation, or for that matter, all that had been built earlier, was in need of renovation – was completed. 

I live about a block from the National Library and I heard that the book „Naised suudavad“ (Women Can Do) was being presented at the library by the political party „Möödukad“ (now Social Democrat) which I had recently joined.  The book had been translated from the Norwegian with Norwegian funding; Ambassador Lie and his wife were present.  The book presentation was followed by refreshments and the customary socializing during which I met the ambassador’s wife, Suzanne.  When she asked me what I was doing in Estonia, I replied that I’ve come to volunteer in civil society building. 

Suzanne invited me to volunteer at the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre which she and Eda Sepp, an Estonian-Canadian, had helped to found. Sometime before Christmas I went to the Centre and started going there regularly.  Usually Suzanne and I ate lunch at the university’s cafeteria (the Centre is located at Tallinn University, formerly named Tallinn Pedagogical University).  In such cases where people are thrown together from different parts of the world, as was the case with Suzanne and me, the discussions inevitable include getting to know each other.  I told Suzanne that before leaving the States I had written a chronicle of our family’s journey and rather than my talking about my background, she could read that chronicle.  She agreed. 

After reading the chronicle, Suzanne said to me „You know, your mother’s story made me think that we should write a book containing Estonian women’s life stories from the war.“  Suzanne, a sociologist and academician, had co-authored several books and I had had limited experience with book-writing; her suggestion appeared plausible and I agreed.  That was the beginning of „Carrying Linda’s Stones“ – seven years of challenging work in a society emerging from Soviet occupation!  By the way, it’s not easy to find a title for a book.  We searched and searched until one day Rutt Hinrikus suggested “Carrying Linda’s Stones” and my reaction was “Eurika!”

During those years, we had different partners in the project (the original ones who prevailed to the end were Suzanne, Rutt Hinrikus and I; Lynda Malik came on board when the life stories were ready for editing and the sociological chapters were to be written) and I’m not sure I would have stayed with the project had Suzanne not had the tenacity and perseverance which I’ve found to characterize the people from the American Mid-West.  Suzanne was a Hoosier.

The obstacles we had to overcome were emotionally exhausting.  An example of the last one:  we were finally ready to go to print in 2006, except that we had not yet secured the cover picture.  By way of background, I had told Suzanne circa two years earlier about the classic „Linda carrying stones“ drawing by Kristjan Raud and suggested that it could make a suitable picture for the cover.  She agreed.  I had met the artist’s daughter at an event held at the Kristjan Raud Museum and I contacted her. We met, and I told her of our interest in using her father’s drawing on the book’s cover.  She consented to its use. Actually, she seemed to be pleased that her father’s picture would be displayed in international settings, and although we offered to pay her for the right, she refused to accept payment.

The drawing was in a museum in Tartu and the artist’s daughter cooperated in contacting the museum, giving us permission to have it photographed.  I recruited a photographer in Tartu to take the picture for us.  The publisher thereafter designed the cover with the drawing and a lawyer drafted a contract to be signed by the artist’s daughter and the Women’s Centre.  When it came time to signing the contract in the spring 2006, the daughter telephoned me and said that she refuses to sign it.  I could not believe it!  After two years of cooperation and an amicable relationship, she blocks the publication! 

I phoned Suzanne in Oslo and told her the devastating news.  Her tenacity surfaced.  She asked me to contact Jarõna Ilo, an artist whose work she admired, and ask her to draw the cover picture.  I did.  Jarõna’s immediate reaction was that she is not of equal stature to Kristjan Raud and, therefore, could not provide us with a cover photo.  After some persuasion, she said that she is committed for the summer, but would try to draw us a picture.  She drew the picture, we liked it, and put it on the cover.  

The book was a product of volunteer work by the four persons named on the cover, but we needed money to have it printed and presented.  I turned to friends and family who contributed generously, generally in memory of a significant woman in their lives.

The presentation took place on September 25, 2006 at the Occupations Museum.  It was a well attended event which included four of the life story authors.

The book has been well received and it has had two reprints.  It is generally considered the best English language text on Estonia’s recent history.  It can be purchased at:

amazon.com

Lakeshore Press in New London, NH, contact@lakeshorepressbooks.com

The Nordic Press in NYC, NY, talitus@vabaeestisona.com

Estore in Toronto, Ont., ekn@ca.inter.net

and at the following locations in Tallinn, Estonia:  Occupations Museum, Museum of Estonian History shop, Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre, and the bookstores Rahva raamat, Apollo, Raamatukoi.

All proceeds from the sale go to support the work of the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center, a non-profit organization.