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 | Speeches | | |
President of the Republic at the Congress of Estonian Countrywomen on November 10, 2001, in Paide10.11.2001
Dear Estonian women, mothers, grandmothers!
It is not a compliment to say that you who have gathered here today and thousands of countrywomen standing behind you are the very mind and heart of Estonia. To say that is to tell the truth, which is evidenced by our entire history. Thanks to the ability of our women to carry several burdens at a time in farms, villages and small towns through the ages, to bear and bring up children, to be equal with men in the field, tend animals, take care of the meals and clothing of the family and besides all that to be a lover, encourager and consoler - it is thanks to that that we have continued as a countrypeople and the Estonian people.
But even if pointing out only that could perhaps seem unjust to Estonian men, it is obvious from the point of view of national culture that this has been carried particularly by countrywomen. Most Estonian folk songs have been sung by them and so we have to admit that the oral tradition carried on by Estonian women have laid a basis for our national intellectual life. We have to remember that Estonian countrywomen actively participated also in the activities of societies. The tradition of handicraft societies has preserved till today and we all know what invaluable treasures have been created with mutual inspiration.
But we experience all this also today, as the Estonian teachers that are regarded as the salt of the earth are for the most part women. Thus, the future of Estonia is in your hands in every sense.
It may perhaps seem out of place to start complaining here about the difficulties of life today, as who else would know better then you what is the actual situation in the Estonian village. Still, neither would it be right to assure you that the confusions accompanied with the transition period in Estonia, some people becoming rich fast and others impoverishing as fast, underdevelopment and isolation of more distant regions were inevitable. It would mean that we do not even want to learn anything from our past.
Even more, during these complicated times we should have listened more to the conservative advice and attitudes of Estonian countrywomen, who are nevertheless courageously facing the future. In connection with that I remember time and again the play of Lydia Koidula ''What a Mulk or One Hundred Barrels of Coarse Salt'', where the farmer Peeter Pint remains in disgrace with his pearl-parley story and is finally forced to follow the plan of the mother of the family and daughter Maie. We would need such housemothers and daughters also today! Aunt Maali alone is not enough to turn the topsy-turvy Estonian life back on its feet again.
But the increasingly beautiful country homes, the care you have put in your undertakings, manual work and intellectual creation show that we can rely on you. And what is most important - you are still ready to take seriously the famous poem by Hando Runnel ''The land must be filled with children and grandchildren...''
Words of thanks alone would be too little for all of that. I have emphasised for several times earlier and I am doing it now that as much as the Estonian state can pay attention to rural areas in different ways, so much it will also have hope to continue as the Estonian state. We can even say that any little contribution to the continuation of village life will pay itself back many times over. It is like sowing seeds in spring to have mature ears of corn in the autumn.
But we should emphasise one more thing. And namely that we should not become reconciled with the mentality that has developed that mothers in the country should bring up their children only for larger cities. On the contrary - it should be the pride of each countrywoman to have at least one, but even better if most children keep on life in their home farm, home village and small home town.
I believe and hope that Estonian politicians will understand that anyway some day.
Thank you for your attention and I wish you strength for the fulfilment of your dignified mission!
Have sun in your days!
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