Of course this only applies to those Soviet deformed latvians.

Andrejs

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/?doc=63480

Thanks, Andrejs!  The hard working seems to apply to the non-Soviet deformed as well as does the “envious”—“skaudīgi”:))!!  I never thought of Latvians as being indecisive,  but than again I haven’t spent a considerable amount of time amongst the “deformed”!! “Nevaru spriest”!

Irēna—just testing her fonts :)!

“Это общечеловеческая тенденция, характерная не только для Латвии”, — сказал эксперт.

“Это общечеловеческая тенденция, характерная не только для Латвии”, — сказал эксперт.

pete

PB, I knew that you probably always fancied yourself to be funny - what, with all those legendary one-liners and all - but somehow I never realized that you were a “funny letters” guy to boot. You’re full of surprises.

Smieklu pilnais,

Alberts

P.S. You’ll have to do a translation for me. I don’t do “funny letters”.

The Google translator came up with this, “It is a common human tendency, characteristic not only for Latvia,” - said the expert…..but I know this can’t possibly be what you intended because it doesn’t seem to be funny.

Rough translation: Its a common tendency, characteristic of not only Latvia, said the expert.

oopps. Sorry didn’t notice you already had a translation. Sorry, can’t do google translate for funny so we will have to wait on Pete for the answer to that question.

Andrejs

Dunno, Andrej.  I think my parents’ generation (Latvians in America, not the subsequent Latvian-American generation) was similar to those with the “Soviet-deformed” tendencies.  Generally hard-working, generally preferred a solid wage as opposed to entrepeneurial ventures.  I will say, though, I don’t think they were “envious”.  Instead, I think “modesty” was a more common trait.  When mixed with a little gossip, though, the end result comes out much the same.

The key to the russian quote : common to all mankind ................

if you go to “witz’s link and click on the russian language link just
below the article, you can see a russian version, not an exactement.

ps. maybe the link is there, but i couldn’t find the scope
of survey.

Wasn’t trying to differentiate between Latvian Latvians and offshore Latvians other than to indirectly point out that others on this forum often have and do. Also, will acknowledge that:

A) There are always geographical and regional differences. A Milwaukee Latvian is different from an LA Latvian who is different from a Liepaja Latvian who is different from a Riga Latvian who is different from a Paris Latvian.
B) In real life there is no such thing as a real tangible typical individual no more than there is a real tangible family with 2.1 kids.

I do, however, find the topic mildly interesting since the subject often comes up in this forum and no one yet has been able to define what a Latvian is. And no, I don’t have the answer to that question either.

Andrejs

Andrejs, latviešu kosmopolits, et al.,
“I do, however, find the topic mildly interesting since the subject often comes up in this forum and no one yet has been able to define what a Latvian is. And no, I don’t have the answer to that question either”

At the time Latvia became a nation in 1918 anyone could declare himself to be a latvian, no questions asked, provided one did not insist that he is not a latvian This was discussed on the forum before

Visu labu,

Each Latvian is different. A Latvian in Riga is quite different from the one living in the country, but all Latvians share a sense of belonging to Latvia: Latvians love their country, their take care of the environment, and their property matters to them; moreover, Latvians are pronounced individualists and tend to keep to themselves. However, if need arises, Latvians are able to become united and achieve great things. Latvians were ready for the Singing Revolution and the Baltic Way, when in 1989 many hundred thousand people of Latvia, irrespective of their ethnicity and religious affiliation, went into the streets of Latvia to fight for Latvia’s independence from the USSR.

Serenity and patience are the most typical features of a Latvian. At the same time a Latvian is joyful, cheerful and is a great singer! And even though it might initially seem that a Latvian is not too hospitable, that’s not true. He is hospitable and friendly, ready to give the best to the visitor. Latvians do not differentiate between their guests as to their ethnicity; the main thing is that the guests respect the country, its culture and nature.

The best Latvians are from Ogre.

peter B - 27 September 2012 05:32 AM

The key to the russian quote : common to all mankind ................

if you go to “witz’s link and click on the russian language link just
below the article, you can see a russian version, not an exactement.

ps. maybe the link is there, but i couldn’t find the scope
of survey.

The survey for the jokester…

https://www.dnb.lv/sites/default/files/dnb_latvian_barometer/documents/dnb-latvijas-barometrs-petijums-nr51.pdf

The best Latvians are from Ogre.

With this I must agree. Two years and seventeen days ago (on 9/11, khe), I fell in love with a woman from Ogre. Everybody cool seems to come from Ogre.

/P

Bruno wrote:

At the time Latvia became a nation in 1918 anyone could declare himself to be a latvian, no questions asked, provided one did not insist that he is not a latvian This was discussed on the forum before

Let’s discuss it again. An interesting postulate, Bruno—but it doesn’t fly. Not at all. Latvia was founded as a multinational (not merely multicultural—multinational) country. Yes, anybody who could prove residency prior to the First World War could take citizenship (not in 1918, though; only once the citizenship law was passed), Latvian or not. The idea that a Baltic German would or could declare himself (or herself) Latvian is ludicrous. Later, such changes got even harder—towards the end, ethnic Latvians were encouraged to “latvianize” their names, for example, whilst “others” were forbidden to.

Visu gaišu,
/P

As to solid wages & such—part of it may be sheer peasant mentality, which was long exalted, and a history of etatism. “Viņa strādā firmā. Viņai nav stabils darbs.” Or my uncle: you work the earth or you work in a factory, or you’re not producing anything; you’re not working. Many Latvians take this attitude, whether from the Soviets or from the Ulmanis era. I’m not making a value judgment (not here!)—plenty of people in the so-called West also see spekulanti as spekulanti by now—as part of an all-encompassing shell game of sorts, not based on anything tangible. The switch to an abominable, sham laissez-faire from the all-encompassing leaden state (tava dzimtene no tundras līdz palmām) didn’t change attitudes—tas notika nelaikā, nevietā, &, their being cynical, jaded nihilists—how would one expect Latvians to react? Banks spring up & pop. An influx of marketing people with no real skills. But there’s that word—reality.

Visu labu,
/P

Peteris Cedrins et al.,
“Let’s discuss it again”

After Latvia regained independence there was the continuation of the same idea . When a pasport was issued, the question was asked, what one would like to put down for “tautiba” .  Put down “latvietis”-no questions asked.  You probably left it blank.

Visu labu,