A year has already passed since Russia’s treacherous invasion of Ukraine, and these 365 days have changed a lot for each of us, the nation and the country as a whole. Without a doubt, war is a very sad event. I could not and would not wish such an experience even on an enemy. During the last year, I have been in Ukraine several times, including on the front line, and I can only confirm that today’s war is extremely brutal and cruel.
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There is no knightly romance or display of masculinity here, as two armies face each other on the open field. Modern warfare enters populated areas. It destroys cities and villages, kills or maims civilians. And instills such a deep hatred towards the attackers that one or two generations may not be enough to overcome it.
You can and should talk a lot about the horrors of war so that no one has the foolish desire to start a new massacre. However, this time I would like to look back at the positive developments in our society and country caused by the Ukrainian war. And there are not a few of them.
The first is obvious. Latvia is finally working very seriously on strengthening its defense capabilities. If earlier a direct military attack seemed unfathomable, impossible to many, now it has become clear like a cold water that one should not lose vigilance even for a moment. We need modern anti-missile defense systems, artillery, anti-tank equipment, military equipment and well-trained, disciplined and professional soldiers.
The hostilities on the doorstep of the European Union have also made our partners tense and revise their external border protection plans. Our voice is heard more clearly and louder than ever in the NATO discussions, as the partners have realized that the Baltics know the Russians better than others. The increase in influence will help our diplomats ensure that we get all the help we need in a crisis.
Important changes have taken place in our consciousness. So significant that I would even like to call it a second awakening. If in the first we as a country got rid of the Soviet Union, now we are getting rid of the legacy of the USSR and the Russian Empire on a mental level. We tear down monuments that are important to another nation but mean nothing to us. We finally stop paying for universal education in a foreign language from the public treasury, as is the case in the civilized world. We more insistently demand that all people living in Latvia respect our culture, traditions, language and world view. And if anyone has a problem with that, it’s safe to get on the train and head east. In other words, we are regaining the self-confidence that has been suppressed for centuries.
The brutal war right here in the neighborhood awakened unprecedented compassion in Latvians. Although we are not a rich nation, we have donated more to Ukrainians than many rich countries. And not just help at the national level. Every week aid loads flow from Latvia to Ukraine, provided by Latvian residents – clothing, electricity generators, cars, food. It’s amazing how much we are able to give to others, even though we are going through some pretty tough times ourselves.
After 30 years of empty talk, a turning point has finally taken place in Latvia’s energy policy. As in many other areas, we needed a very strong impulse from the outside to finally understand that “sitting on the needle of Russian gas and oil” is a road to nowhere. Sticking to “cheap energy resources” from the east prevented us from abandoning our Soviet history and ties to become a truly European country. It’s finally happening. Hopefully permanently.
I also hope that the course started during these outbursts of patriotism will continue – to renounce the heritage of Russian culture and way of life. We have too many Russian-related street names, monuments, plays and music. In Riga, Daugavpils, Liepāja or Rēzekne, the Russian language is heard too much on a daily basis. We have our own language, culture, plays. We have our own people who deserve streets named after them. We have many successes to be proud of. And each of us can contribute to Latvianization of Latvia.
We may not speak Russian in Latvia. We can demand that people who stand against the Latvian state and democracy be brought to justice. We can opt out of Russian TV and radio stations. We can study our genealogies and boast about the achievements of our ancestors. We can join the National Guard and learn to protect our fatherland.
Our identity is not barricades and Awakening, as today’s ruling elite tries to tell us. Our identity is rooted in a much deeper past. Even before the battles of the white tribes with the crusaders. Centuries of history have shaped us as a nation. We just need to be aware of our roots and take the best from our past.
Let’s use this second awakening to awaken our self-confidence, Latvianness and patriotism!
