Tag Archives: Independence
A Quiet People With A Powerful Voice
Ever since my arrival as U.S. Ambassador to Estonia on a frosty winter evening in 2009, I have been confronted with the loud volume of the Estonian people’s silence. For a typically extrovert American, keeping a conversation going in this country can often … Continue reading
Abruka Island: Post-War Deportations And A Modern Tragedy
Letter from Estonian Writer Ülo Tuulik. Part 3: I spent a poor and unpretentious and yet wonderful childhood on this island. The war was over, my family was alive, the sky was blue, the sea was filled with fish and … Continue reading
Filed under Civil Society, Peace and Security, Uncategorized
Abruka Island: Invasions and the Sanctity of Life
Letter from Estonian Writer Ülo Tuulik: Part 2: In 1935, my father came to this island to be a schoolteacher. He spoke Finnish, Russian and German but also taught the local young people how to play bridge and chess. In … Continue reading
Filed under Civil Society, Peace and Security, Uncategorized
A Courageous Sign of Respect and Friendship
This Fourth of July I received a most special gift – an American flag, found in the waters off the coast of Morocco 36 years ago by a very courageous Russian fisherman and sailor. In 1974, the sailor, Mr. Gennadi Gamov, today an Estonian citizen, found … Continue reading
Filed under Peace and Security, U.S. -Estonian Relations
Renewing the National Spirit
This has been a week of commemorations and celebrations in Estonia and an opportunity for me to offer yet another “guest perspective.” On Wednesday, I attended a thoughtful and touching commemoration in the lovely town of Tori to honor Estonian … Continue reading
Freedom Isn’t Free – My First Estonian Independence Day
On February 24, my wife and I were honored to celebrate our first Estonian Independence Day in this country. We were moved and surprised. Moved , because the outpouring of national pride was so genuine, so fresh, and so filled … Continue reading
Filed under Peace and Security
