Lithuanian ban on Soviet symbols

bbc.co.uk ^ | 17 June 2008

[Tailgunner Joe]

Lithuania's parliament has passed the toughest restrictions anywhere in the former Soviet Union on the public display of Soviet and Nazi symbols.

It will now be an offence in the Baltic state to display the images of Soviet and Nazi leaders.

This includes flags, emblems and badges carrying insignia, such as the hammer and sickle or swastika.

Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

The new law also prohibits the Nazi and Soviet national anthems but does not specify if this extends to the modern-day Russian national anthem, which uses the Soviet music with different lyrics.

BBC Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says these are the toughest bans on symbols from the Soviet past adopted in any of the 15 countries that emerged from the USSR.

'Blasphemous'

The measures go further than neighbouring Estonia's ban on Soviet symbols, he says.

Estonia's decision to put the swastika and hammer and sickle on an equally prohibited footing was described by Russia as "blasphemous", and an attempt to rewrite history.

Moscow's official interpretation of history is that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were liberated from Nazi Germany by, then voluntarily joined, the Soviet Union.

This account is rejected by those three Baltic States and most other European nations, says our correspondent.

They believe the Soviet Union illegally occupied the Baltic republics as a result of a secret agreement - the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

The occupation continued until the collapse of the Soviet state itself at the end of 1991.

[Revolting cat!]

Excellent!

[Gay State Conservative]

The Lithuanians are really gutsy to do this.I hope they understand that Russia today is in the firm grip of the KGB of the 60’s and 70’s.If they want to know what to expect they should consult other neighbors of Russia...including Finland.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Take a hint Russia.

[dfwgator]

Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

Truth hurts don't it. As General Anders put it, "With the Nazis we lose our lives, with the Soviets, we lose our souls."

[Sax]

Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

Stalin murdered somewhere between 10 and 20 MILLION of his own people, so are they saying that they don't compare to the Nazis because they were far worse? Or are they saying that somehow they are better?

[Still Thinking]

Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

Why? Because the Nazis made it difficult for the politically incorrect to leave the country freely? Because the Nazis killed six million which makes them worse than Stalin, who killed 20 million? Because the Soviets were socialists while the Nazis were....no, wait. Hmm, I really don't see a problem here.

[dfwgator]

so are they saying that they don't compare to the Nazis because they were far worse? Or are they saying that somehow they are better?

It's saying that it's ok to mass murder people, as long as they belong to the same race as you.

[Maceman]

After the fall of the Soviet Union, a relative who went to Russia bought me some old Soviet uniform insignia pins. Wonder if I’d get anything on E-Bay for them.

[weegee]

Would Cameron Diaz be able to be prosecuted for this fashion faux pas?

[1rudeboy]

If she survived the ass-kicking.

[dfwgator]

Now if we could only ban displays of Che Guevara.

[Fractal Trader]

How soon will it be that Lithuania’s natural gas supply gets “accidentally” disconnected?

[weegee]

The USSR had their own concentration camp gulags and tens of millions of citizens murdered. Political purges and tyranny.

Yep. They are brother ideologies.

[Still Thinking]

I like the Guevar-style Reagan shirts.

[Sax]

I even like the name of the site hocking these shirts, Che-Mart.

[1rudeboy]

Again? LOL

[nathanbedford]

17 posts so far at this writing and not even a muffled sigh for free speech.

[1rudeboy]

Maybe when Lithuania adopts the U.S. Constitution. Otherwise . . . .

[NucSubs]

[The_Reader_David]

Perfectly reasonable.

If they banned the Imperial double-headed eagle, or the three barred cross (or eight pointed cross, as the Russians call it), it would be simply offensive Russophobia, but equating the Soviet and Nazi regimes is long overdue in many quarters.

[weegee]

Germany saw fit to ban the symbols of Nazism and to continue to prohibit Nazism’s return.

The tyrannical politics of Isalmic theocracy will be so evaluated one day. The cult of a dead warlord.

[varon]

BTTT

[VeniVidiVici]

Guess Barry won't be visiting the Baltics anytime soon.

[nathanbedford]

Germany saw fit to ban the symbols of Nazism and to continue to prohibit Nazism’s return.

The tyrannical politics of Isalmic theocracy will be so evaluated one day. The cult of a dead warlord.

Gee, there is evidently no end to the good you can do.

[Clemenza]

Hooray Lugans! Now if you can only stop hating Poles. ;-)

[Joe Boucher]

Seems folks just got tired of Russia leaning on them forever.
Still Russia tries to bully its way using oil instead of its army.
Great to see these little countries giving Russia the middle finger.

[dbehsman]

From the article:
Correspondents say equating Soviet and Nazi symbols in this way is certain to infuriate Russia.

F@#& Russia!

Those bloodthirsty monsters never paid for the crimes they committed, and now they squeal over this.

Hey Russia, history's a bitch! Get used to it.

[SeminoleSoldier]

Props to them.