Tuesday, March 11, 2014

They Just Asked --Lithuanian Independence Day

Lithuanian declared its independence from the Soviet Union today in 1990
All they did was ask.
The guide on our tour of the Baltics last year, a Lithuanian woman, said all the Lithuanian government did was ask to leave.
It was written into the Soviet constitution ( I'm not sure this is the correct word, but it conveys the sense) that any country could ask to leave. It hadn't occurred to any country to ask until hers did it.
The above is a simplistic explanation of how Lithuania regained its independence, but it is how it started.
Vilnius

10 comments:

messymimi said...

Sometimes we don't have simply because we don't ask.

Leah J. Utas said...

Aye, so true, Messymimi.

solarity said...

I kept getting told in college that I should have asked for help before turning in papers. I never did because I never knew I needed help until I was told.

(What, where, when, is that fabulous header picture? To speak of asking.)

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Leah J. Utas said...

So true. If you don't know you need help, then you don't know to ask for it.

Thanks for the kindness re: header photo.
It's the Sportsmen's Inn, in Fort Assiniboine, Alberta (home town) circa 1989. I played with an editing program (Picasa, I think) and made it neon. I am so pleased you like it.
It has since burnt down.

Bossy Betty said...

A lesson here for all of us!

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

Leah J. Utas said...

Aye, Betty.

Nice to see you here, Andrew.

Hilary said...

I understand the sentiment behind Lithuania's independence but there's a part of me that has to ask... shouldn't independence be something we just advise/take rather than ask for? I guess I'm thinking on a more personal level than between countries in arranged agreements.

I like what you did with that image for your header also, Leah. It looks very artsy.

the Bag Lady said...

Interesting. I had no idea that they just asked. Wonder if the Ukraine could just ask Russia to leave them alone.

Leah J. Utas said...

Personal independence, certainly, Hilary, but the Soviet way did have a few extra wrinkles.

BL, it threw us, too, hearing it. Of course there was bloodshed later, 13 people died a year or so later.
It probably wouldn't work now that Ukraine isn't an SSR.

Thanks to both re: the header. It was fun playing around creating it.