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34 LITERATÛRZINÂTNE, FOLKLORISTIKA, MÂKSLA
behavior of the upstarts of other European nations and the first generation
of the ruling circles of the African states after they their regained
independence. The lifestyle of other ‘nouveaux riches’ who belong to
other ethnic groups and live in Latvia is just as uncivilized. When smugglers
and drug–dealers are punished in accordance with the law and according
to their misdeeds, the number of uncultured people among the
wealthy surely will go down.
There are also other vices which are wide–spread widely spreading
among Latvians and which are typical of young societies after their liberation
from a the colonial regime. For example like: an insufficient
grasp of the concept of statehood, a strong desire to be in opposition,
being irresponsible and inefficient. If people get into a top position or
have to carry out public tasks of importance, they often demonstrate
a striking inability to think strategically. In vast layers of society the
ability to fight for ideals, no matter how realistic or unrealistic they are,
is still alive. The belief in beautiful promises amounts to sheer credulity.
Still, if the democratic society in Latvia is going to develop for a few
more years, it may happen that the understanding among the people
will grow faster than the virtues of the ruling elite and those who try to
join it. 9
It seems that this has happened even faster than was predicted in the
articlespublished in the spring of 2002. In the October elections it became clear that
the majority of the people had voted against all the ruling political parties.
To one of the “weak spots” of Latvian ethnic identity I would also attribute the
cultivation of a restrictive social shyness and the timidity of children. Actually, it is
the excessive desire not to take up too much space which is typical for the farmer
psychology; when it is exaggerated, it may well become an obstacle for Latvians in
their quest to for self–realization and progress in the modern world.
To the “strong spots” of Latvian identity I would attribute the multi–layeredness
of the Latvian mentality, which explains why there are very few if any xenophobic
tendencies in our society. Latvia’s modern culture is multi–layered, too. This multi–
layeredness expresses itself in space and in time. German, Russian, Polish,
ByelorussianByelorussian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Jewish influences can be traced everywhere.
When speaking about the multi–layerdness in time it should be noted that
alongside with modern, Christian, Greek and Roman concepts there exists a very
ancient mythological heritage in Latvian culture that other European nations have
already lost. Our genetic memory is strong. It has withstood the test of the twentieth
century, its aggression, cheating, betrayals, and has cultivated in many of us the feeling
that we can truly rely upon ourselves alone.
Facing the prospect of joining such a huge political and economic entity as the
European Union (to which we feel we had always belonged, but from which we had
been artificially kept away), this feeling is gradually fading away. Here we stand, open
to the world again.