Statesmanship

Korneelius and Vilhelm were their names. The budgies. My sense of humour. Conquerors, rulers both. Understood Estonian too. Truly. Tule siia And they flew to me and sat on my shoulder. I believe in a perverse way that they really liked nibbling on my earlobes. And leaving their calling cards on my clothes as well.

Thinking about labels here. Such as for the birds. I consider myself to be an Estonian first, as my formative years, from birth onwards, were conducted in Estonian. And, giving thanks to the country of my birth, a Canadian second. No need for a hyphen. That is the way it is. And forget about the term väliseestlane. It is a divisive, almost pejorative word, not allowing for the very real truth that so many had to flee Stalinist terror. For numerous, varied reasons. Is not life more important than stubbornness? Or lack of opportunity?

The title was chosen for it usually is misunderstood. How do you define a statesman? One recalls how Toomas Hendrik Ilves, during his time as an Estonian politician of note, was not considered to be a true Estonian, as he was born in Sweden, grew up in New Jersey. However, THI was the right choice to be President, no matter what you thought about him as a person, both in the West and in Estonia. Intelligent but often aloof, THI was perceived by many to be arrogant as well. Yet, in politics, one cannot function without being pliant and receptive, and when push came to shove, he was able to rein in those traits. He was able to connect with the ones that mattered, the nomenklatura, pardon the expression, of the Free World. He had the ear of those who made important decisions. Spoke English, the lingua franca of the world. And that cannot be dismissed.