Some people in Daugavpils attraction to the sanctity of the town’s flag throughout wartime. In the meantime, many in individuals which are in energy in Russia current distorted historic details in try to justify the horrible crimes they’re committing in Ukraine. Interpretations of historical past will at all times exist and a very goal look is sort of inconceivable to perform. However there are details that present what’s reality and what’s not.
BNN contacted College of Latvia Museum Stock Keeper and LU Historical past and Philosophy College PhD pupil Rūdolfs Rubenis, who’s an energetic member of Latvia pupil company.
Commenting on what occurred in Daugavpils after the town’s flag was changed with Ukraine’s flag, which was a present of solidarity to the war-torn nation, the historian mentioned: «There are members of society to whom this flag symbolizes one thing constructive and different individuals who affiliate it with negativity. The latter are the individuals who sympathize with Russia within the Russian-Ukrainian warfare. If the flag of Russia’s enemy is hoisted, they take into account it a provocation from supporters of Ukraine.»
«Those that aspect with Ukraine, this flag and its hoisting symbolizes a gesture of solidarity, which reveals that they stand with Ukraine and help it in all methods.»
Each nation wants a flag as a result of it symbolizes the nation’s id
The historical past of flags as symbols could be very, very outdated. The flag of Denmark or the Dannebrog is taken into account the oldest flag on this planet, which first appeared throughout the Livonian Campaign. A flag is an official image made of material. It symbolizes a rustic, nation, organisation, army formation or neighborhood.
A flag has symbolic and sensible worth – prior to now they had been used for signalling, for instance, military regiments raised flags and waved them to point the beginning of motion.
Latvia additionally has its personal flag, which is protected by the regulation. Why is it so necessary? As a result of it’s a image that embodies the nation’s shared id. Beneath the flag, the nation, individuals or group of individuals are united for the sake of a single thought, says the historian.
«If we have a look at Ukraine’s flag, it’s vivid blue and yellow. It was hoisted for the primary time in 1848 in Lviv, which was then a part of Jap Hungary. The flag was hoisted by nationwide revolutionaries to reveal Ukrainians are a political nation. The nineteenth century was an period of nationalism. On the time educated members of society performed a significant half on the time as a result of they shaped political nations.»
Distorting historical past
«There’s a saying that everybody writes historical past they approach that advantages them. Politicians typically current historical past in a approach that advantages a particular ideology,» says the historian. He admits historical past is a science by which it is rather exhausting to keep away from politicization and ideologicalisation, as a result of each time the federal government modifications, so do the interpretations of historical past. Interpretations additionally change together with generations.
Additionally it is necessary to remember the fact that not solely does the nation have its personal have a look at historical past, but additionally politicians might have their very own opinions. Politicians who sympathize with one other nation, group of individuals might try to current historical past in a approach that might be helpful to them and a particular group of society. «It is a huge downside,» harassed Rubenis. Cicero as soon as mentioned: «Historia est Magistra Vitae,» or historical past is the instructor of life. «I fully agree with this. Those that be taught from errors of the previous, can keep away from the identical errors within the current, making certain a superb future. However in politics historical past is at all times used as a way of conducting objectives. The need to perform political objectives can go into radical means, akin to utilizing warfare,» says the historian.
«Carl von Clausewitz mentioned as soon as: ‘Battle is the continuation of politics by different means.’ It’s, sadly.»
The historian additionally says that the historian neighborhood continues discussing if such a factor as 100% goal historical past even exists. «It doesn’t, as a result of, for instance Latvia has had many various powers over time, so interpretation of the course of historical past is speckled. The target of historians is occasions from completely different views.»
He admits that this doesn’t work 100% of the time, as a result of historian’s interpretation is affected by their gender, ethnicity, political beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
«Details can’t be altered, however the query is how they’re interpreted. They are often interpreted as true or false,» stresses Rubenis.
As for the have a look at historic details and the way Russia is manipulating them now, the historian says: «Unquestionably Russia as an imperialistic international locations with a want to revive itself as a superpower will at all times attempt to show they’re Kyiv state or the heir of Kievan Rus’. This declare doesn’t stand up to criticisms, as a result of there was no Russia throughout Kievan Rus’. Russia as a rustic began forming a lot later, across the time of Grand Duchy of Moscow in the midst of the 14th century.»
«Russia will attempt to use completely different arguments to show it’s the heir of Kievan Rus’ in an try to show that Ukraine is a splinter province of Russia from the nineteenth century.»
«Throughout the time of the Russian Empire it was known as Malorossiya. That is fully false, as a result of within the nineteenth century Ukrainian political nation began forming in Lviv. And so they understood they differ from Russian nation with their tradition, language and faith,» explains Rubenis.
Each are Slavic nations, however the declare that Russian and Ukrainian languages are one and the identical is unfaithful. «I research Czech language at Charles College in Prague in 2017. Learning this language I understood there are various phrases in Ukrainian language which are much like Polish, Czech and Slovak languages.»
Coup d’état in Kremlin?
«I’m no prophet, however for years there have been talks a couple of coup d’état that will occur within the Kremlin in opposition to Vladimir Putin. Politologists and army consultants speak about this. Nevertheless it’s not like Russia is dominated by Vladimir Putin on his personal (there is no such thing as a pyramid-type system with the ruler on the prime). Russia is dominated by Putin’s system, which consists of Putin and his clans or «chekist oligarchy». Regardless if Putin is overthrown or he decides to go away politics of his personal accord, some unknown successor will take his place. It may very well be Putin’s heir that will proceed his work. It might be some very harmful particular person that will end up even much less predictable than Putin. There may very well be an unstable successor that will begin clan wars, which can lead to a civil warfare. I used to be advised as soon as by my scientific supervisor of my doctoral thesis, asoc. prof. Raimonds Cerūzis: ‘Individuals concern the unknown. The world fears that they don’t know why can be Putin’s successor.’ Ukrainian defence skilled Oleksiy Melnyk mentioned: ‘Even when there is no such thing as a extra Putin, we can’t be certain Russia will change. However I wish to stress that I hope to God no decentralisation processes begin in Russia and trigger unpredictable penalties’.»
«As for the potential of democracy in Russia, it’s inconceivable from a historic viewpoint. For hundreds of years Russia has been dominated by a powerful arm or a ruler that used violent means to realize objectives. As British historian Norman Davies mentioned, Russia and its rulers have at all times had a style for conquering new territories. The nation conquers extra territories to develop Moscow’s safety perimeter to really feel ‘protected’. I wish to say that USSR strengthened its western borders by increasing its territory by way of the occupation and annexation of Baltic States, East Poland and Bessarabia (Moldova), in addition to Karelia and Finland’s jap territories. After WWII USSR shaped a community of satellite tv for pc international locations in Central and Jap Europe. However historical past teaches positives: no empire lasts eternally – ultimately they fall. However in what type? Rhetorical query.»
«In any case – it IS tough for Russia with all of the sanctions. Even Putin feels the implications of his coverage – he’s in search of methods to avoid sanctions. One such approach is asking ‘unfriendly international locations’ to pay for fuel in Russian roubles in an try to put them in a helpless scenario from fuel scarcity. Time will inform what occurs subsequent.»
What function do college students play throughout the Russian-Ukrainian warfare?
Since Rūdolfs can be an energetic member of the coed company, BNN requested him if the significance of pupil companies might improve.
«In a approach, sure. We’re doing energetic work to assist Ukraine. Members of the company not solely donate cash to get humanitarian assist to Ukraine but additionally invite different members of the company to enter the Nationwide Guard or reserve troops.»
«If we have a look at Latvia’s Battle for Independence period (1918-1920), there was a Separate Pupil Unit. The core of this unit consisted of pupil companies Selonija and Talavija. In fact, there have been additionally Lettonia, Lettgallia and Faternitates Lettica. They too had been a part of the unit, which was one of many first Latvian army items that had been a part of Kalpaks’ Battalion, which was commanded by Col. Oskars Kalpaks, who was the commander of armed forces of Latvia’s interim authorities, not the primary commander of Latvia’s military. Dāvids Sīmansons was the primary commander of Latvia’s military.»
Rūdolfs stresses that any pupil company member’s drive to enter the Nationwide Guard or skilled army service is welcome.
«My discipline is educational analysis, not army service. I don not deny there are academically-minded individuals who be a part of the Nationwide Guard or skilled service.»
«Though pupil companies have formally invited Latvian civil society to hitch the Nationwide Guard, reserves or enter skilled army service, it’s the particular person alternative of every particular person, as a result of in contrast to Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia doesn’t have obligatory army service.»
It ought to be added that pupil companies additionally actively donate cash in the direction of humanitarian and army assist to Ukraine.
