How quickly Balts forget. Was it not just slightly less than two decades ago that Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians' sense of nationhood was coming of age and clamoring for recognition? Was it not that resolute struggle against a totalitarian, occupational regime that won admiration for the Balts worldwide? Correct us if we're wrong, but wasn't it the awakening of the 1980s that helped define the indomitable Baltic spirit? These days, we can't be sure. Judging by the three countries' response to the tumult in Tibet, one would think that nary a Balt could answer these rhetorical questions.
Many observers have pointed out in recently weeks that the situation is Tibet is remarkably similar to that of the occupied Baltics. They are right to do so. Tibet won its independence in 1913, only to have it crushed by the communist invasion of 1950-51. A country and cultural region that was three times larger than the size of France was dismembered and assimilated; what remained of the Tibet Autonomous Region was oppressed, often brutally. As in post-war Baltics, a Tibetan resistance movement took up arms and fought bravely for years, only to be crushed several years later. (The Balts had the Forest Brothers, the Tibetans had the "mountain brothers.") Finally, Tibet, like the Balts, was soon transformed into a symbol of the victimization of totalitarian regimes in the eyes of Western democracies; in a manner of speaking, Tibet was, and is, the "Baltics of the Asia."
Yet judging by the reaction of Baltic politicians, few seem to understand the comparison. This is disgraceful. We need to perceive the Tibetan crisis for what it is: an evaluation of our own integrity and courage. Our reaction to the events 4,500 miles from home should be seen as an accurate reflection of our moral development over the last 17 years. If we are silent about human rights abuses in Tibet, then we cannot look ourselves in the mirror and claim we have the moral highground despite the crimes we suffered under Soviet dictatorship.
So what gives? Why the silence? No doubt, on a subconscious level, many Balts want to diminish the painful memories of yesterday and get on with the tasks of building families and lives. But we have to ask ourselves: do the Tibetans deserve anything less? When Balts clamored for attention during the 45 years of occupation, were we not thankful for every ounce of support shown? No one expected NATO to invade the Warsaw Pact countries and free Eastern Europe, but every Balt understood: moral support goes a long way to alleviate suffering. When you know there are people "on the outside" pulling for you, the struggle is abetted.
Baltic policymakers are worried of economic repercussions of taking a hard stance against China. This is just another mask for cowardice. We've managed to build our economies thus far without Chinese assistance. Will we honestly be worse off if there will be fewer plastic toys in our shops? There is no need to fear China; but there is every reason to support Tibet. This mindset that we have to place China on a separate pedestal 's that the Celestial Kingdom can play by different rules 's should be discarded. The final assessment of our courage depends upon it.
