Mutual `infospace`. New concept that has been in the making for years Estonian Life (1)
Arvamus | 30 Aug 2015  | Laas LeivatEesti Elu
LAAS LEIVAT
(The following is a translated synopsis of an article published in Eesti Elu by Dr. Sirje Kiin, scholar of Estonian literature, author, essayist, translator, journalist, who has resided in the USA for the last ten years – prior to that in Estonia and Finland.)

We have for years wrestled with the existence of an ‘information space’, used by the Russian speaking minority in Estonia. We tend to forget that the indigenous people of the country, Estonians, urgently need an ‘infospace’ for themselves regardless of where they reside, study or work. And satisfying this need is just as crucial as breathing.

Depending on the source of the information, between 100,000 and 200,000 Estonians or those with Estonian heritage live broad. They speak Estonian (Dr. Kiin’s asssertion, not the translator’s) and own a basic interest in what happens in the country.

To put it mildly, the public media in Estonia provide very little coverage of the activities of Estonians abroad. In fact it seems, that those who have left Estonia for foreign shores also disappear from the image of Estonia’s media, like falling off the edge of the world. Sometimes it seems that the prison mentality of the Soviet era still dominates in Estonia whereby those Estonians in the West are traitors, to be punished by suppressing info about them or by labelling them with disparaging names. If someone studying or working abroad manages to have a piece published in Estonia, then that person is inundated with comments demanding that they do not own the right to express their views because they live elsewhere.


(Pikemalt Eesti Elu 28. aug. paberlehes)
 

Viimased kommentaarid

Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Väliseestlane02 Sep 2015 16:10
I'm acquainted with Sirje Kiin and know that she's a level-headed person. Therefore, I suspect that her remarks, here, are out of context and misleading.
In reality, it's impossible to generalize about Estonians.
The old emigrants -- the refugees -- are rapidly disappearing. Their offspring are a mixed bag: many have no association with Estonians; a few have moved to Estonia, studied in Tartu, and even served in the military. Some speak excellent Estonian, others; not at all. Some have an interest in Estonian affairs only at the local level, with the possible exception of "laulupidu".
We welcome new immigrants from Estonia and some have blended seamlessly into our fold; others for their own reasons, not at all.
"Back home", we're a curiosity. Who speaks tolerable Estonian is held in very high regard. Others -- the pretentious who say that, "mina oskan estoniani spiikida" -- are rightly called silly, behind their backs.
It's to everyone's advantage to develop ties among Estonians where ever they may reside. Independence and freedom are at hand, now. It should be put to good use.

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Arvamus