Esiet droši, esiet lepni, esiet latvieši

Labvakar, Daugavmalā, labvakar, Latvijā, un sveicu visus mūsu neatkarības atjaunošanas 15.jubilejā! Šie zvani, kas tikko noskanēja, atgādina mums par brīdi, kas izmainīja Jūsu un mūsu likteņus, kas izmainīja Latvijas likteņi. No tā brīža Latvijas tauta caur saviem priekšstāvjiem paziņoja, ka nav gatava dzīvot svešas sistēmas pakļautībā, no tā brīža Latvijas tauta paziņoja, ka grib ņemt savās rokās pati savu likteni, tāpat kā tas notika toreiz 1918.gadā, kad šajā pašā Daugavas krastā vēl ilgi bija jācīnās, lai savu Rīgu, savu Latviju no ienaidnieka atkarotu.

Mēs esam tagad paši savā brīvā zemē—tā zeme mūsu, tā valsts ir mūsu, tās nākotne ir mūsu. Ir tie, kas vēl arvien ar šo faktu nevar samierināties. Ir tie, kas kā suņi, karavānai uz priekšu ejot, smilkst ceļmalā un ņurd aiz sava naida, bet mums tas vienalga, vienalga, vai sviež dubļus virsū Latvijas vārdam vai nē, jo mēs zinām, ka Latvijas godu un Latvijas lepnumu neviens nevar aptraipīt, tas ir tagad mūsu pašu rokās. Mūsu rokās ir izvest Latviju saulītē, veidot viņu par tādu, kurā mēs jūtamies kā mājās, jūtamies kā līdzīgs ar līdzīgu, kā brālis ar māsu un māsa ar brāli, kur mēs gādājam par saviem tuviniekiem, par veciem ļaudīm, par bērniem, kur tie, kam ir uz to dotības, kļūst bagāti, un mēs par to neskaužam, bet tie, kas ir bagāti, palīdz tiem, kas bagāti nav.

Mēs esam tagad brīvā 25 valstu saimē ar līdzīgām tiesībām. Ne tikai savu likteni mums ir iespējams tagad lemt, bet mums ir iespējams arī teikt savu vārdu par to, kas notiek Eiropas Savienībā. Tas nav maz, jo ir tādi lēmumi, kur ir vajadzīga vienprātība, un Latvija var pateikt “nē” par tiem lēmumiem, kas tai nepatīk.

Mēs esam drošībā, jo NATO alianse gādā par to. Jebkurš uzbrukums Latvijai, jebkurš pāridarījums Latvijai skar visu aliansi un tās locekļus. Mums ir draugi, mums ir sabiedrotie, mums ir līdzjutēji, mums ir atbalstītāji. Būsim mēs paši arī sev draugi, būsim vairāk uzticīgi viens otra spējām, un īpaši savējām.

Man kā prezidentei ir liels lepnums par savu tautu, man ir dziļš lepnums par savu tautu, jo es redzu, uz ko tā ir spējīga, un es redzu, ka šī mazā tauta ir spējīga uz lielām un diženām lietām. Es redzu to talantu, es redzu to sirdsdegsmi, kas ir jūsu sirdīs un jūsu prātos, un jūsu acīs.

Nebaidieties! Nebaidieties no sevis, nebaidieties no saviem līdzcilvēkiem, nebaidieties no pasaules! Esiet droši, esiet lepni, esiet latvieši, mīliet savu tautu un savu zemi! Mums viņa ir viena vienīgā, mums viņa ir jāglabā, jākopj, mums viņa jāmīl. Mīlēsim savu Latviju!

Latvia falls to U.S. in hockey championship

An aggressive third period paid off for the U.S. ice hockey team as it managed to shake off Latvia and skate to a 3-1 victory in preliminary round play May 3 during the 2005 World Championship in Austria.

Jānis Sprukts got Latvia’s only goal of the game on a power play 16:17 into the first period, according to game results posted on IHWC.net, the official Web site for the World Championship. The U.S. answered with its first goal 13:36 into the second period, when Doug Weight slipped the puck past Latvian goaltender Artūrs Irbe.

While both teams seemed somewhat evenly matched during the first two periods, the United States put on the heat in the third, getting off 17 shots on goal. Mark Parrish got the game-winning goal 7:44 into the third period while Latvia was down a player. Parrish added another goal two seconds before the final buzzer.

In all, the United States had 30 shots on goal compared to Latvia’s 17.

A total of 5,460 spectators—the majority of them Latvia fans, according to IHWC.net—watched the game in Innsbruck’s Olympiaworld center.

Latvia has now lost its first two games. Despite a surprisingly strong showing, Latvia on April 30 fell to Canada 6-4.

Latvia is expected to fare much better against Slovenia on May 5 in Innsbruck. Slovenia already has been shut out in games against Canada, 8-0, and the United States, 7-0. Latvia, Canada, Slovenia and the United States are competing in Group B of the 16-team championship. The top three teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, so a Latvian victory over Slovenia is a must.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Canada tops Latvia in hockey championship

Canada’s victory over Latvia’s national hockey squad in the preliminary round of the 2005 World Championship in Austria came as little surprise, but the trouble it took has observers talking.

Canada won 6-4 over Latvia in an April 30 game that many predicted would be much more one-sided, especially after Latvia’s head coach, Leonīds Beresņevs, opted to initially put Edgars Masaļskis in the goal rather than the veteran Artūrs Irbe.

The first goal of the game came 2:55 into the first period, when Canada’s Brendan Morrison scored on a power play. But Latvia’s Aleksandrs Semjonovs answered about a half-minute later, getting the puck past Canadian goalkeeper Martin Brodeur, according to official game statistics posted on IHWC.net.

During the second period, Canada’s offense turned up the heat, adding four more goals, while Latvia got just one more off the stick of Ģirts Ankipāns. After Canada’s fourth goal of the period, Irbe replaced Masaļskis as Latvia’s goalkeeper.

Canada’s 5-2 lead going into the third period may have appeared solid, but Latvia wasn’t quite finished. Just over a minute into the period, Jānis Sprukts scored on a power play. A few minutes later, Kārlis Skrastiņš added another point, bringing Latvia to within one goal of a tie with the reigning world champions. But then Canada’s Rick Nash, who had already scored two goals during the game, added another to push his team to its 6-4 victory.

Masaļskis had 24 saves on 29 shots on goal, while Irbe had 15 saves for 16 shots on goal. Canada’s Brodeur had 20 saves for 24 shots of goal.

The game, played in Innsbruck’s Olympiaworld center, was watched by 5,344 spectators.

Latvia next faces the United States in a game scheduled May 3 in Innsbruck.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.