Regarding Alfred Koop's critical comments about the productivity of Baltic workers ["Balts hard-working?," Letters, TBT #567, vol. 10, Aug. 2 - 8, 2007], could it be that the most productive 2 - 3 percent of the Baltic populations are contributing to the dramatic productivities of the countries that they have migrated to?
Regarding Mr Hempshire's dismay at the attitude of Latvians to his fellow citizens urinating on venerated Latvian monuments ["Leave the Brits Be," Letters, TBT #568, vol. 10, Aug. 9 - 15, 2007], as a fellow citizen of Mr. Hampshire, I have often been appalled at the behavior of drunken British tourists (mainly English), and thoroughly ashamed of them, not only in Riga but also in Spain and the Caribbean.
Latvia has, historically, always held Britain in high esteem and it is sad to see the esteem eroded by such boorish behavior.
