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EESTI ELU reedel, 18. juunil 2021 — Friday, June 18, 2021
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English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
International outrage, the genesis of political jokes Irrespective of the tedious mother-in-law cliché, the newest political joke about Belarus’ Alexandr Lukashenko was to be expected: In an e-mail to the President of Belarus, a hapless son-in-law writes, “My mother-in-law is taking the next Ryanair flight number 1268 from Paris to Moscow and will be flying over you territory at around 8:00 pm. I distinctly heard her criticizing you regime this Sunday at the dinner table. You are welcome.” The joke of course is a cyni cal reference to the forced land ing of a passenger airliner over Belarus territory recently. Specifically, Lukashenko osten sibly scrambled a military jet to forcibly land a passenger plane because of a “bomb report” that turned out to be fake. The Lithuania-bound flight was diverted to Minsk, where jour nalist Roman Protasevich was arrested for being involved in “extremism”. Protasevich is well known for his pro-democracy activism and has lived in self-exile for fear of Lukashen ko’s reprisal. Western media expressed outrage and governments promised the most severe sanc tions. A previously unacknowl edged reserve of jokes ridiculing Lukashenko and his regime is now emerging. Anastasiva Fiadotova, a scholar at Tartu University has commented: “The lack of visibility of a nation’s humour can be ex plained by the lack of attention towards it on behalf of the media, popular culture and of course, researchers.” Belarus, a country of 9.4 million, bordered by Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Russia, till now, was never a major international headlinemaker, in spite of its blatant government political suppres sion ilicting determined, wide spread unrest. Thus stereotypical Belarusian humour is a product of selfawareness. Belorusian humour can therefore make sense to Belorusians themselves. Jokes have usually dealt with sub missiveness and passiveness. Fiadotova points to a typical joke targeting these character traits: A Russian sat on a bench with a nail sticking out of it. He
sprang up, crushed it, cursed and left. A Ukrainian sat on a similar bench, stood up, yanked out the nail and left with it. A Belorussian also sat on a simi lar bench, remained seated, felt the jabbing nail and finally said “Maybe I should sit this way.” Belarusians usually depict themselves as victims rather than aggressors, focusing on tolerance and patience, accord ing to Fiadotova. It creates an ambiguous image of a people and prevents them from pur suing their own agenda and defending their rights. But they have an arsenal of jokes that speak otherwise, that haven’t been yet identified with a nationality that seems to choose peaceful means for change rather that open conflict. A man is walking down a street in Minsk, close to a de monstration protesting fraudu lent election results. A cop jumps out of a car and starts beating up the guy. The man yells, “No, please, stop! I voted for Lukashenko.” One of the cops responds: “Shut up, liar! No one voted for Lukashenko.” It’s impossible to tell any political joke without knowing the contemporary or historical context of the the situation. The following can be interpreted from more than one viewpoint but wide background knowl edge is essential to understand it. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and President Alexandr Lukashenko are in a hot air balloon and one of them must go over the side in order to save the other two. They hold a vote as to who it will be. Result: Boris Johnson one vote. Donald Trump three votes. Alexandr Lukashenko 220,314 votes Lukashenko demanded a recount. You only need a passing knowledge of the Soviet govern ment, a little of its Communist leaders and not much more to appreciate this old, classic story that depicts that absurdity of the inhumane and corrupt system. Stalin, Khruschev and Brezhnev are traveling on a train when it shudders to a halt. “Fix it,” orders Stalin. The engi neers repair it but the train still
Marking the eightieth anniversary of the June 14 Soviet deportations in the Baltic states at a special ceremony at Toronto City Hall Square were: Yvan Baker, Member of Parliament; Andris Kesteris, President of the Latvian National Federation in Canada and the Baltic Federation in Canada; Kairi Hemingway, President, Estonian Central Council In Canada; Latvian Ambassador Karlis Eihenbaums; Lithuanian Ambassador Darius Skusevicius; Marcus Kolga, President, Central and Eastern European Coalition; Kazimieras Deksnys, President, Lithuanian Canadian Community Inc. Photo: K. Kiilaspea
Canada and Europe share entwined past and future Toomas Lukk, June 7, 2021 Canada’s participation in PESCO’s work constitutes a vital development significantly augmenting the transatlantic bond and contributing to the EU and NATO co-operation. In today’s geopolitical realm, the arc of instability spans from the Middle East to North Africa and from Asia to the Americas. The world faces threats of terrorism, climate change, refu gee crises, the COVID-19 pan demic, and also irresponsible and destabilizing behaviours of authoritarian regimes. On May 6, the ministers of defence of the European Union accepted the request of the United States, Canada, and Norway to participate in the Permanent Structured Cooperation PESCO) Military Mobility project. PESCO is the part of the European Union’s security and defence policy, a strategic platform that pursues the structural integration of the national armed forces. The defence ministers’ meet ing in September 2017, in Tallinn, Estonia, during the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, paved the way for launching PESCO in December of that same year, and the PESCO
does not move. “Shoot every one,” orders Stalin. All the en gineers are shot, but the train stands still. Stalin dies. “Rehabilitate everyone,” orders Khrushchev. The engineers are rehabilitated, but the train does not budge. Khrushchev is removed from power and re placed. “Close the curtains, and pretend we’re moving.” orders Brezhnev. LAAS LEIVAT
security. Military mobility, however, is a major factor for the credi bility of European defence in response to this changing secu Military Mobility project in rity environment. The participa 2018. The prelude to this deci tion of Canada, the U.S., and sion was the changing security Norway, key NATO and Euro environment, which stimulated pean partners, in PESCO’s efforts to enhance cooperation work constitutes a vital de of developing defence capa velopment significantly aug bilities. menting the transatlantic bond Over the last decade, Russia and contributing to the EU and has proven to be the single- NATO co-operation. The PESCO biggest source of instability in projects also include co-opera Europe. Russia’s war against tion in other areas, such as Georgia in 2008 exposed its medical services, training, cyber aggressiveness and indicated the response, disaster relief, mari changing security environment time and space surveillance, in Europe. Illegal Russian and intelligence. The PESCO annexation of Crimea and the Military Mobility project ad invasion of Eastern Ukraine in vances preparedness, resilience, interoperability. The 2014 opened a new geopolitical and m a j ority of PESCO projects chapter, shifting from peaceful post-Cold War years in Europe respond to NATO priorities. For Canada, NATO and the to a more turbulent stage. European Union play a central Russia, however, uses total role in its foreign policy. NATO denial policy, well expressed in is Canada’s most important Russian Foreign Minister Sergei multilateral security ally and the Lavrov’s derisive comment to European Union is Canada’s Interfax on May 6 regarding the EU’s decision to impose restric strategic partner. Thus, Canada tive measures against Russia as welcomed the EU’s decision allowing third- party participa “illegal and for no reason.” The recent escalation of tion in PESCO and expressed tensions on the Ukrainian bor satisfaction with the possibility der and in the Black Sea clearly to work closer with European show that challenges are no partners. Canada’s strategic interests longer limited to the military in Europe began long before sphere. The challenges spill NATO or the European Union over into the information, tech were established. During the nological, economic, and other two World Wars, Canada’s men domains attempting to impact and women sailed across the domestic and foreign audiences. Atlantic to defend Europe. After The developing security situation in Europe requires an the occupation of Eastern adequate response, new tools Europe by the Soviet Union, and approaches. The EU, Canada became a destination expan ding beyond traditional for refugees. Since then, many territory, advances its defence Europeans have found new capabilities and reinforces the homes in Canada, and gone on European pillar within NATO. to contribute to its history and NATO, strengthening its re success. PESCO’s ambition is to be sponse to disinformation, terror come an “instrument to foster ism, and cyber-attacks, bolsters common security and defence,” the EU’s activities in the civilian providing Europe with “a domain. NATO remains the cornerstone of transatlantic (Continued on page 17)
