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 50th 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
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