Fight for Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence Part 3

Fight for Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence

Speech given by me in Canberra on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of Restatement of Lithuania’s Independence

PART 3

Why -how did it regain its independence? Only because there were people – ordinary people who felt they could do something to make a change. Ordinary people who were prepared to step up and put their lives at risk. As their numbers grew, the movement grew drawing more and more in. They were idealist, dedicated, at times fanatical, who gave it all they could and were prepared to take risks, give their lives for the cause. They tried to influence others, encourage others, recruit others. They had foresight, political acumen. They acted and didn’t wait for someone else to do it. It was their life’s goal. We saw the same pattern during the later years of the Soviet period. The spirit of nationalism growing. The emergence of Sajudis. Regardless of their political beliefs they worked towards the common goal together.

So as we step into the future what do we see ahead? Currently the outward physical appearance of the country whilst beautifully green with many forests, restored towns, villages and many modern buildings shows disarray, confusion, lack of direction. The lack of attention and action to the iconic Gedimino Kalnas in itself speaks volumes. We in the west have been focusing on this event for a while. But what is the mood within Lithuania – within the masses. What is their attitude to it? Where is the leadership to enthuse the population, to lift the cultural spirit, the sense of who we are, what we are and where we are heading? It seems to be going through a time of not knowing where it is heading, what are its priorities. It seems to deal with day to day ongoing matters and not being able to develop a big picture future plan. A mass exodus, 900,000 – a third of the population have left the country and is continuing to do so – will they ever go back? What about the brain drain? I do note that in Mūsų Pastoge a few weeks ago the stats were showing that people were starting to return but doom and gloom is still forecasted in this regard.

We saw the rise of Sajudis, idealism, national ferver. Leaders such as Lansbergis emerged who were able to hold it together, to keep things calm, to pace the events that needed to be controlled. They inspired and pulled the nation together and independence was regained. They did it at personal cost to themselves by giving their all. There are parallels between 1922 and 1992. Both times on regaining independence those that led it were dumped within a couple of years and replaced with others at the helm. They were made to feel inadequate. Mistakes start to happen as personal ambitions get in the way. Constant bickering, in fighting, lack of agreement, dissent and in fighting within parties and between parties leads to unstable governments. People loose faith. The recovery or rather finding the original handwritten independence proclamation in the political archive of the foreign affairs ministry by Prof Liudas Mažylis was a momenteous but such a short lived occasion. Globalisation is changing the world and with it are we loosing a sense of the importance of national identity. In the last week social media shows some outward signs of revival of national spirit with statues and even dogs covered with scarves, wraps, coats in national colours. We are seeing, as we saw last Wednesday here, young leaders, who are enthusiastic shaping our nation but are their words translating into actions. Quoting Šilingas “ A nation can attain its desired goals if it knows how to unite its people and manages to steer them towards a common line of thought, feeling, and purpose. A nation is successful when it is united in its decision making and timely in its pronouncements. Who will be next to inspire us to guide us? Or as my grandfather Stasys Šilingas wrote “The mistakes of only one generation are enough for us to be able to loose our independence.”

To close, I would like to read to you the following Nine Tenets, which have evolved in the course of the highs and lows experienced by the Lithuanian Nation throughout its history. Written by Šilingas they are still held to be the very foundation stone of the Lithuanian Nation and State.

First Tenet

The Lithuanian Nation in regenerating its inexhaustible creativity, having given and participated within the global world, seeks to live and act at the highest cultural level whilst creating its own Lithuanian cultural treasure trove that will glow within the universal cultures of mankind.

Second Tenet

Lithuania is the motherland of all Lithuanians.

Even those Lithuanians, who because of foreign actions in past events have lost their native language or their sense of Lithuanian identity and are now experiencing a rebirth, are held to be sons and daughters of the Lithuanian Nation.

It is the duty and moral obligation of every Lithuanian to love his native country and to defend the freedom of its land and sea.

Third Tenet

The Lithuanian Nation is its own creator of independence and the source of its own sovereignty. It entrusts the implementation of Lithuanian State power to the entirety of its citizens and places in their hands the responsibility for the Nation’s present and future.

The role of the Lithuanian State is to express and implement the aspirations of the Lithuanian Nation. It protects the security, peace and honour of the Lithuanian Nation.

Fourth Tenet

The State rallies its people to be unified as a Nation. Lithuanians respect each others beliefs, and seek to find common ground in the national interest.

A Lithuanian protects and cultivates his Lithuanian consciousness.   This is the country’s greatest source of creative power.

Fifth Tenet

The Lithuanian Nation relies on its land for its existence, freedom and power. The duty of the State is to help its people preserve the land.

Lithuanian spiritual and material capacity is the foundation stone of the Nation’s potential. It is the task of the State to strengthen this capacity.

Sixth Tenet

The strong Lithuanian identity of its individuals makes the nation resilient and powerful. It represents the honour of the Nation. It is a duty of the State to nurture the Lithuanian identity.

Community action develops Lithuanian national consciousness strengthens resilience and disciplines its society. Public opinion will then emerge from its community. A lively and healthy Lithuanian public opinion provides strong supporter to the work of the State.

Seventh Tenet

The Lithuanian Nation commits the current and future generations to come, to keep passing on the past’s capacity to survive for decades into the future.

Its strength is in the abundance of Lithuanians.

Lithuanians starting a family have the blessing and support of the Lithuanian Nation.

A solid Lithuanian family is the foundation of the Nation’s life. It fosters Lithuania’s future. The family gives rise to noble-minded, up-standing citizen.

The Lithuanian woman is the heart of the family. Standing together side by side men and women support each other in their worthy roles.

Eighth Tenet

All Lithuanians are part of one creative and working family. Through work a Lithuanian proves his worth. Work is the adornment of the individual, their family and theirs country.

Lithuanian arts and science, in their pursuit of truth, beauty and virtue, bring to the surface the spiritual wealth residing within the Lithuanian Nation.

Each generation has the duty to immortalise its Motherland through its good works.

Ninth Tenet

Historical monuments and art works bring out the rich past of the Nation and strengthen the national consciousness and determination. The duty of the living is to protect and enshroud these works with honour and love.

 

Although the language is old fashioned the thoughts expressed are still very current today.

May they guide our nation and its leaders and our expat communities to a stronger future. Sveikinu visus susirinkusius Nepriklausomybės atkūrimo