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EESTI ELU reedel, 13. detsembril 2019 — Friday, December 13, 2019
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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 PDF-/Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Russians: Stalin’s not bad at all In spite of the deep wounds that Josef Stalin’s crimes left across Eastern Europe, where most people revile him for abject intolerance, communist cruelty and inhumanity, Sta lin’s approval rating in Russia has hit a record high. A 2019 poll, conducted by the internationally recognized Levada Centre, has revealed that fully 70 percent of Rus sians approve of the Russian dictator’s role in the country’s history. This is a substantial increase from the previous high of 54 percent in 2016. Only a combined 13 percent actually said that they dislike, fear or hate Stalin, while 26 percent had neither positive or negative views about him. In addition only 19 percent of respondents view his role negatively now compared to 32 percent in 2016. The share of Russians respondents who felt his crimes were justified rose from 45 percent in 2008 to 60 percent in 2019. A 2017 survey indicated that Stalin was named by Russians as the world’s most outstanding public figure. He was followed by the poet Alexander Pushkin and Vladimir Putin. Just three non-Russian figures made it to the top of international rankings, as seen by Russians themselves: Napoleon, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. Ethnocentrism plays a determining role in Russians’ choices. By 2017 Putin enjoyed a significant boost in ranks. In 2012 he had received 22 percent of the vote. By 2017 he had risen to 34 percent. The increase for Stalin and Putin seems to change in tandem. The Levada survey was conducted among 1,600 respondents between March 21-27, 2019. It has revealed that Russians are more willing to defend the mass killings and political repressions that were hallmarks of Stalin’s rule. Some 46 percent said that repressions were “definitely” or “in some way” justified the results achieved under Stalin.This was up form 36 percent in 2017. The upward trend is obvious. The rehabilitation of Stalin’s image has been successful, changing from that of a mur derous tyrant to an “outstanding leader”. It would seem that the terror with which Stalin held the
Soviet population captive, the millions he sent to slave labour camps or killed by firing squads – upward of 20,000,000 his torians claim – has little effect. The love affair with him endures, with increasing numbers joining the adulation. The man that caused so much suffering has even been called “Stalin the Superstar” by a Russian newspaper when the Levada results were released. Political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann has given explanations for Stalin’s rise in popularity. The seriousness of his transgressions reach back some two to three generations, a period with which Russians do not personally associate. The current regime is systematically promoting the image of the wise leader Stalin as the supreme victor in WWII. This victory nourishes Russian pride, even for those born in the post-Soviet years. He is seen as a symbol, not as a real man, of iron dis cipline and the saviour of Russians from greedy bureaucrats who defy any authority. Levada sociologist Karina Pipyia says that Russians are disheartened by economic hardship. When pension reform was opposed, this was seen as neg lect of the government’s social responsibilities. The public acceptability of the return of Stalin monuments in various locations, the reluctance of Putin to directly condemned Stalin’s crimes, point to a different motivation for people to evaluate Stalin positively. Reaction to the 2019 survey results in the Russian media was not consistent. While some com ments expressed alarm, others claimed that the poll did not reflect Russians’ true attitudes. In fact the public debate turned into an argument over the relevance of public opinion polls in a society heavily influenced by propaganda and also the wording of the survey questions themselves. Previous research into the accuracy of attitude surveys has suggested that Russians seem to be influenced by the regime’s prevailing political stance in responding to controversial questions by pollsters. In other words, fearing official reprisal, they do not trust the anonymity promised to them by researchers. Here’s a basic dichotomy: If the awareness of possible
The Toronto Estonia Mens’ Choir, at their annual Christmas concert, presents traditional songs of the holi days as well as a broader repertoire. Augmenting the full choir is an ensemble with appropriate headgear, boosting the Christmas spirit in full-throated form. Photos: Ants Toi, Andres Raudsepp
It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
The choir welcomed the audience with a strong and powerful choir motto, followed by “Mu Eestimaa,” lyrics by Peeter Grünfeldt and music by Kons tantin Türnpu. The beginning of the afternoon featured a collection of songs expressing love, admiration, and longing for the homeland. They provided a fitting and respectable start for the concert. To spice up the repertoire and provide a pleasant surprise for the audience, two operatic pieces were performed;
one of them being “Tasa, tasa” from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto and the other “Pal verändajate koor” from Wag ner’s Tannhäuser. Both were performed well and clearly showcased then singers’ vocal talents and skills. Many listeners were heard mentioning post concert that their favourite piece during the whole afternoon was “Tasa, tasa” and that they were very impressed with how well it turned out. Also featured in the first half was a song from the 2014 Song Festival repertoire called “Oma saar,” music and lyrics written by Kait Tamra. With this, the first half of the programme drew to a close in which the complexity of the choir was very apparent and the multi- faceted repertoire of the choir was well represented. To bring in the second half of the concert Santa Claus Enno Õunapuu payed a visit, bringing with him gift and even joining the TEM’i velled (Juhani Eistrat, Derek Ewen, Avo Kittask, and Madis Kreem) for
the singing of “Saabumas on jõulud,” lyrics Aapo Ilves and music Merideth Wilson. As a sombre moment, conductor Avo read out Marie Under’s text for the next song and had the late choir conductor Charles Kipper’s daughter Elli light a candle in remembrance of him. “Aasta kauneimal õhtul” was then sung by the choir to honour Charles. From there, the joyous holiday spirit was rung in again with pieces such as “Üks roosike on tõusnud,” one of the oldest Christmas songs to exist, and the classic “Tiliseb, tiliseb aisakell” which brought the concert to a close and left the audience with a warm heart and soul to carry home and welcome Christmastime with. The performance was followed by two pieces, “Püha öö” and “Oh sa rõõmustav” sung in unison with the audience. The Toronto Estonian Men’s Choir was yet again a pleasure to listen to and I think it can safely be said that this wonderful winter season can now truly begin.
government persecution is a factor in giving an honest response, then people who understand and personally fear political repression, are in complete denial of the atrocities of
Stalin. Putin has managed to effectively nourish the acquiescence of Russians to autocracy. The public acceptability of the return of monuments in various locations in Russia, the
reluctance of Putin to directly condemn Stalin’s reign and the significant increases of favourable evaluations of Stalin further bolsters Stalin’s favourable stature. LAAS LEIVAT
Kati Kiilaspea The Christmas season can’t begin without the annual win ter concert by the Toronto Estonian Men’s Choir. This past Sunday, December 8, the choir, conducted by Avo Kittask, put on a great con cert showcasing their talent and ringing in the most won derful time of the year. Accom panying and adding flavour to several songs were choir member Toomas Heinar on bass and Elli Kipper on the keyboard.
