Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Informants
- Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Introduction: Persisting Pasts in the Margins of Europe
- Part 1 The Making of Estonian History
- Part 2 The Meaning of Closure
- Part 3 Closure and a Significant Other
- Conclusion: Guardians Of Living History
- List of Informants
- Full Reference List
- Index
2 - On the Margins of History: Good Old Soviet Times
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 November 2020
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Informants
- Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Introduction: Persisting Pasts in the Margins of Europe
- Part 1 The Making of Estonian History
- Part 2 The Meaning of Closure
- Part 3 Closure and a Significant Other
- Conclusion: Guardians Of Living History
- List of Informants
- Full Reference List
- Index
Summary
Abstract
Chapter 2 explores the taboo on positive stories of the Soviet period in the light of the emotional story of rupture. Although quantitative analyses show that about half of the ethnic Estonians believe that certain things were better in the ESSR than currently, these positive stories remain publicly silenced. Especially in the cities one is afraid to be a national betrayer. The story of Tõnis in the countryside shows that being critical of the rupture narrative is his way to safeguard national solidarity, preserve the real, uncontaminated memories, and stay true to his ancestors. Ultimately, thus, Tõnis shares the same values as those who adhere to the rupture narrative. By circumventing closure, he assures citizen participation and preserves apolitical memories.
Keywords: Taboo, positive Soviet memories, counter-memories, citizen participation, Estonian countryside, collective forgetting
It is a rainy May evening when we arrive at the Town hall in Tsirguliina. When we enter the building, people dressed as pioneers welcome us. They are wearing red scarves, skirts, and long white socks. Luule was already excited in the car, on our way here, but I feel she is getting more and more excited. The other people are very cheerful as well, which makes for a strange exciting tension. A woman asks loudly: ‘Where is Lenin? We had such a nice Lenin portrait!’ People laugh, pointing towards Lenin's portrait in front of the room. The women in the pioneer clothes proudly show off their outfits to their friends. One woman raises her bracelet and asks her friend: ‘This was also from that time, right?’ A red light projects the words ‘honour to work’ on stage. A flag from Soviet times makes the picture complete. At seven in the evening, the party kicks off. We are asked to sit down. When the music starts, a kolkhoz chairman takes his position behind the microphone. He tells the people they have worked very hard, and that he would like to reward them for that. He then hands out medals and certificates. The folk dancing group performs. An actor playing drunkard interrupts the kolkhoz party. Pioneer songs are sung. When the ‘official’ part is over, chairs and tables are put aside, and people drink and eat together.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Guardians of Living HistoryAn Ethnography of Post-Soviet Memory Making in Estonia, pp. 129 - 162Publisher: Amsterdam University PressPrint publication year: 2020