Thanks to the editors on Eesti Elu who have recently given us some very interesting reading indeed! My reference to Slavic influence is with specific regard to the Orthodox Church. Many wonderful Estonians are also Orthodox by way of religion (including President Päts), and have inherited or incorporated certain cultural elements both individually and collectively, and strenghened our cultural base as a whole. Unfortunately, Lutheranism has not contributed as much to Estonian cultural development as has Orthodoxy. Just look at Estonia's no 1 Cultural export, Arvo Pärt, and you'll see for yourself what I mean. It is with regard to these "threads" of Orthodoxy permeating our cultural roots that I would like to see more emphasis made on researching this area in the future. Most of you may of course disagree with me, and chances are you're probably of Lutheran background anyway, which explains that reason. I don't think there is anything particularly narrow-minded in that point of view, and I certainly applaude the editorial staff of EE for their continued broad-range of subject material used in these pages.

What an interesting and heart-moving speech. I wish that I was there to hear it in person.

I had a Russian grandmother and a Russified aunt. But I never saw reason to make strange with it like Maxim does.

Recently, Maksim scolded the highly respected Paul Goble for being incoherent and illogical without providing any specifics.
Here, he sounds like a high-school student dishing out praise and advice to Shakespeare.
Maksim is a clown who believes that he is the only one who gets the joke. In reality, he is the joke.

...that we weren't reading Maxim's comments in privacy; that instead we were gathered in a room where one of us read them aloud. Imagine that scene -- there would be dead silence and no one would look anyone else in the eye.

Well written, Leon-fellow slav and Estonian patriot! You could have written a little more on the eastern influence on Estonians and their history-I suspect this is a big subject and awaiting to be committed to the annals of history. So far there is too much emphasis on the German influence upon Estonia. Let's get the other side of the story please; and you sound like just the right man to do the job. All the best to you, Leon.