Two virtual venues where you can express your support for VVF’s bid—

Site: “A woman to head Europe”

Facebook group: “Vaira Vike-Freiberga for EU President”

Vysu lobu,
/P

Is there one for those of us who oppose it?

Heretically,
Tom

The short answer is nē. We’ll haul you in front of the House Un-Latvian Activities Committee and have you investigated.

Okē, okē. You could start an anti-Vaira group, of course (we have freedom of speech and all that jazz in our country, especially at Mūļgrāmata), and you’d probably have some points I could even agree with, esp. if certain persons in the “pro” group keep exalting support for the invasion of Iraq as an instance of “leadership,” or if gender is put forth as central to her qualifications.

If you’re an anti, I’ll join the People Against People Against VVF for Prez group, however.

There are many things I strongly disagree with VVF on. There’s a lot more with which I concur, though—and her presidency stands out as one of the few decent political episodes we’ve had, to put it mildly. As to the deluge after—how it relates to her presidency is something I ponder daily, as deeply as possible, believe me.

For the EU, in a post that will essentially be formed by the first to hold it; the first to make something of it? She’s eminently qualified and perfectly “European,” in the best sense of that term.

Vysu lobu,
/P

My first reaction to her proposed candidacy was a bit of a memory of a bitter taste that I felt in her administration. The first issue was her stridency and near arrogance - many saw it as strength, I admit. My worst moment was when, in the midst of one of many govt changes and Delna commentaries over the opaqueness of it, she said that NGOs should keep their mouths shut (where have I heard that recently, hmmm).

Then after her admin, came the television show that purported to be interview, but was little more than her lectures to the nation and whatever guests were on.

The biggest irony (coming from anybody elected to nearly anything in LV) was her comments about the lack of transparency in the EU election process.

I admire her intelligence, but fear her blinders.

The biggest irony (coming from anybody elected to nearly anything in LV) was her comments about the lack of transparency in the EU election process.

The rest of what you said has plenty of validity, to my mind—but this? Latvia is quite f’d up, to be sure—but that doesn’t and shouldn’t keep me or anyone from seeing how f’d up the EU is. Especially now that we’ve adopted a treaty nobody—not even eurocrats—can understand, against the will of Europeans (the only people voting on it being the Irish, who were forced to vote on it again when they got the answer “wrong”).

Vysu lobu,
/P

Maybe there could at least have been enough insight to bring the parallel to light?

You get a lot of insight from the other candidates?

/P

Only the ones close to home :) . Eva Birzniece for prez!

I agree that worse things could happen and there could be worse candidates. And there is the fact that it would be great for LV. You changed my mind. Where do I get my campaign buttons?

Tom wrote, “I agree that worse things could happen and there could be worse candidates. And there is the fact that it would be great for LV. You [Peteris] changed my mind. ...”

How alarming that it took just a few sentences for Peteris to convince you of the obvious that VVF in such world prominence as the President of the European Union would be great for Latvia - and the EU.  Were you serious?  Is this how many others you know in Latvia feel, despite all present problems of failure, corruption, and incompetence in Latvia, that they still need convincing about VVF’s relative past value and obvious future value for Latvia?  Y’all don’t think it would be a major morale boost and opportunity to stem some of the awful bleeding to the world to have “Vaira Vike-Freiberga [as] EU President?”  “A [Latvian] woman to head Europe” is something you would think would elicit some enthusiastic support among most Latvians and they would comprehend as a major coup for Latvia, not something to get into a sexist tizzy over.   

Is it that there are so many bad dogs in politics who are lost in the marauding pack that no one can or dares try to control, that when you finally get the lone, smart female collie, it’s so much easier to try and bring her to heel - especially if that has traditionally been the role of the master? 

Hmmm…..so your “first issue was her stridency and near arrogance.” (My italics) Had she only been more corrupt and a casino skirt-chaser running with the mutt-pack.  And Peteris, also somewhat ready to stick with the masters over the mistress, writes: “...you’d probably have some points I could even agree with, esp. if certain persons in the “pro” group keep exalting support for the invasion of Iraq as an instance of “leadership,” or if gender is put forth as central to her qualifications.” Huh?  She should have challenged the US and Bush, Great Britain and Blair, etc? What high standards some have for their female leaders in a world of male leaders with remarkably low and frightening leadership value. Had she only declared as a pacifist and disbanded the Latvian Army she would have been seen as so much better of a leader among her ready male critics.  I can only hope that VVF has done enough to ingratiate herself to her worthy critics and, unlike Peteris, I would be quite upset if VVF were rejected because “A woman to head Europe” would be “central to her [dis]qualifications.”

And Peteris, also somewhat ready to stick with the masters over the mistress…

Of course, Ambersun. Anything to irk you. But do tell us how you square your ultra-nationalist rants with VVf’s positions, please? Language law? March 16th? Determination to discuss the prickly issues of collaboration?

I’m afraid VVF is not exactly popular at your end of the spectrum. Oops, sorry—we can’t know your politics, can we? They’re as occult as Mr LL’s, eh?

As to VVF and Iraq—I made my views quite clear back then and have never changed them. She was, in my view, very wrong.

Going up against men has nothing to do with it. As I said, I strongly disagree with VVF on some things. Such is life. Such is democracy. I support her—and I worked for her. I have a right to my views, and having differences—even strong ones—does not erase a common ground. Not at all. That’s something you just can’t get.

Ivars Ījabs noted the following:

Kas būtu tās lietas, kuras Vairas darbībā ir nākušas no trimdas psiholoģijas? Par to mēs varam izteikt vienīgi dažus minējumus. Vispirms tā ir fanātiska uzticība Latvijas neatkarības ideālam un vajadzībai izcīnīt Latvijai vietu tieši rietumu, nevis kādā citā pasaulē — lai tas maksātu, ko maksādams. Otrkārt, īsti makkartisks antikomunisms, kurš jebkurā kreisā politikā un protestos saskata boļševikus, čeku un okupāciju. Treškārt, vieglas, bet uzmācīgas bailes no Latvijas krieviem — visbiežāk balstītas nespējā viņus saprast nedz valodiski, nedz arī citādi. Un, ceturtkārt, ne visai glaimojošs skatījums arī uz vietējiem latviešiem. VVF gan ir bijusi pārāk inteliģenta, lai uzskatītu viņus visus par komunisma vīrusa saēstiem diedelniekiem, kā to slepus ir darījis ne viens vien trimdinieks, tomēr viņas izteikumi par šejieniešu “iemācīto bezpalīdzību” savā precizitātē un pamatotībā vienlaikus arī diezgan precīzi iederas tieši trimdas pasaules ainā.

“VVF zīmē”

I mightn’t be as harsh as Dr. Ījabs in my assessment… of VVF—but those things are quite glaring in our dear Ambersun, no?

Vysu lobu,
/P

Only on this forum are expressions of normal nationalist allegiance (like US, French, British, Danish, etc.) denounced in Stalinist harshness as “ultra-nationalist rants” if they are expressions of Latvian nationalism and loyalty - albeit defensive because of the shocking collaboration with anti-Latvian, chauvinist-other nationalists.  It’s even more frighteningly Stalinist when it comes from a Latvian blindly suffering from the Stockholm syndrome.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome

At ”[my] end of the spectrum” we are not knee-jerk true-believers in the internationalist church of multicultural salvation.  What’s a person to do with the fifth-columnists once they’re in your home and refuse to leave or be good guests?  It helps to not be in denial about how screwed you’ve been in your own home, about which critical element VVF and I have always agreed.  It seems rather impossible to create a workable way to integrate wolves that are occupying the hen house so who can fault VVF for trying the impossible after others had let the wolves in and allowed them to stay without a plan to protect the hens.  VVF was required by deeply-dividing problems and grossly-corrupt politicians to be a pragmatist - and who could have done better with a nation-that-isn’t.  She was the intelligent face of Latvia to the world, the formidable figurehead of Latvian promise. “Going up against men has nothing to do with it” makes sense to state only if you’re just in denial.  You still have Putin to thank for the donkey ears and May 9 festivities in Latvia and you must remember to thank Bush and others for Iraq. 

It’s interesting to see your strong assertion about VVF and Iraq—“As to VVF and Iraq—I made my views quite clear back then and have never changed them.”  She was, in my view, very wrong.” —but that’s just a little short of condemning all the other war’s of aggression and pre-emption that are waged against civilians and other “collaterals”  elsewhere in the world that you seem to support.  What’s VVF to do with a world of war-mongers who act like they’re fighting for peace?  What’s to be done with all the selectively critical men who readily excuse or cheer on their favorites?

What’s a person to do with the fifth-columnists once they’re in your home and refuse to leave or be good guests?

I think the first thing you do is figure out what “fifth columnist” means, and stop calling people who aren’t “fifth columnists” “fifth columnists.” Then you get it through your head that citizens are not “guests.” That this is as much their home as it is yours. More so, actually. Much more so. Your home is in California.

/P

I stand exposed before you Ma’am… Humbled that you could see the obvious sexism in my statements.

Stuff that made me say WTF??
Baltic Times - Delna call for Udre’s resignation. Or, son-bitch-soros.

I think the Bay Area Madade is right. I shall oppose VVF’s nomination. I want a male, a true leader, to take that job.