History of Lithuanian Nationalism
The commentary is full of extreme distortions, exaggerations and outright lies. One wonders what is the purpose of such commentary? Is it an attempt to set one ethnic minority against another in Los Angeles? Why is such a commentary published now when Israel is celebrating its 42nd independence and Lithuania is struggling to re-establish its long lost independence? To publish such inflammatory trash is not worthy of The Times.
To link the atrocities of some individuals, in many instances common criminals, in 1941 when Lithuania was occupied by Nazi Germany, with the events now taking place in Lithuania is reckless. The whole Lithuanian nation cannot be blamed for the crimes of some individuals like Klimaitis, who is no hero as claimed by Frankel and Kux. To link the desire for self-determination and democracy in Lithuania with the nationalism that discriminates against minorities is obscene and has no justification.
Lithuanian people have suffered enough from Stalin and Hitler and still are suffering under Gorbachev. Why was there no mention of the two parties that started and orchestrated the Jewish and Baltic Holocausts and the Second World War: Hitler and Stalin.
VINCENT ZIGMAS VISKANTA
Director for Information
Lithuanian American Community
Los Angeles Chapter
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