The new ambassador to Latvia is Mark Pekala.

Some reflections on the past from outside the embassy gates.( at the Independence Day picnic/festivities “Meža parkā”)

During the playing of the latvian anthem I was standing not far from a rabbi dressed in the whole “shmier”, black outfit , black hat, bushy beard.  He was singing ” Dievs. svētī Latviju” in a clear, melodious voice, the way it is supposed to be sung.  Saying that this was a surprise would be an understatement.
A Orthodox church Patriarch made an appearance at the festivities too.  He made himself scarce by the time the anthems were played

While the festivities during former ambassador Catherine Bailey tenure could be characterized by mint juleps, the festivities of ambassador Judith Garber could be characterized by ” brownies”.

As personally satisfying to march at the front of the Gay Pride parade in Riga might have been to Ambassador Judith Garber, it was not a good diplomatic move by an ambassador to a foreign country

A few days after the parade, Cardinal Stankevics publicly in the news media thanked all those who had expressed opposition to the Gay Pride parade.

Visu labu,

Hi Bruno:

Don’t really know where you’re going with this veiled Gay Pride backlash commentary. I’ve always found it rather amusing that this particular issue is one overarching “lets-put-the-arms-down-and-agree-on-something” issue that Letts wholeheartedly seem to agree with their despised and despising Russian counterparts on….and I wholeheartedly disagree with both of their bonded-truce nonsense on this. Enough already with the shallowly justified gay-bashing. In large part, this is why I’m a happier atheist than a member of an organized religion these days. The religions don’t seem to “get it” and many of the non-religious don’t seem to either. The gays are no more the source of our problems than the Russians are (and despite the Russians’ sometimes well-orchestrated propoganda, we and our gays are not the source of their problems either.). As Pogo once said, “I have seen the enemy and it is Us.”

Meanwhile, I thought the rest of your commentary was quite enlightening. Thanks for the heads-up on the new Ambassador.

Trying to stay positive here….as always,

Al

I heard that the bastion of freedom, otherwise known as the city of Moscow, has banned gay pride for the next one hundred years. Just sayin’.

Aleksejs - 04 September 2012 11:52 AM

I heard that the bastion of freedom, otherwise known as the city of Moscow, has banned gay pride for the next one hundred years. Just sayin’.

they could mix it together with the “New Wave.” Raimond will love it…............

Those are probably the most homophobic people you meet. I mean, the oligarchs. The nationalists should embrace it.