Commentary
Latvia:
Viena Komiteja
Seattle, Washington
The Chrysler Corporation is
on the verge of getting involved in
a bit of international genocide.
Please forgive me if the
assumption is made that you know
little about the Latvian nation.
Historically, Latvians have
been unable to keep out of the
affairs of their much larger
neighbors.
Toward the end of the first
World War, in order to free
themselves from German Barons,
many Latvians joined up with
Lenin and his Bolsheviks. During
the ensuing calamity they managed
to make many Russians very, very
unhappy.
During the second World War
again Latvians got mixed up in the
fight between the big boys and
vigorously resisted the
implementation of the Hitler-Stalin
Pact, namely, the second coming
of the Russians.
When things settled down
after the second World War, the
Russian occupation regime known
Students speak out: What do you think?
Students were asked the following questions relating to East Germany: Do you feel Communist
countries are a threat to U.S. security? How do you feel about East Germans demanding
reforms and breaking d
Karla Carter, 24, General Humanities
Communism: Communism will be a
threat to weak countries, just as the U.S.
can influence countries less powerful.
The Wall: I feel the breaking down of
the wall will release some tension
within East Germany. The breaking
down of the wall is the breaking down of
a barrier.
United: They still have a lot of work. A
lot of people fear a united Germany
because of history.
A nation
as the Soviets, decided that they
had had enough of Latvian antics
and decided on a program to
destroy the Latvian Nation. This
program of destruction, in
addition to traditional methods
such as execution and deportation,
employs subtle, internationally
less visible methods.
One such method is
industrialization of the territory
historically inhabited by the
Latvians. Without any economic
justification, huge industrial plants
are imported from other parts of
the Soviet Union. Raw materials
to operate these plants are also
imported from other parts of the
Soviet Union. The products of
these industries again disappear
into the Soviet Union, without any
benefit to the Latvians.
However, the most deadly
aspect of the machination, as far
as survival of the Latvian Nation
is concerned, is the forced
immigration of labor from other
parts of the Soviet Union to man
these plants.
At this time (1989), this
program of genocide has created a
wn the wall? How do yo
Xiau-Qing Zhu, 26, American Studies
Communism: Communism is an ideal
goal for human beings, still it has not
been proven to work. This is a very sad
thing.
The Wall: From the economic stand
point East and West Germany is very
different. Economic pursuits are very
understandable, so it is understandable
for East Germans to immigrate to the
West.
United: I think it will be very hard after
the historical aftermath of World War II .
The people are the same but the
governments are different.
OP-ED
in jeopardy
situation where Latvians now are a
minority in their homeland.
It has been announced that the
Chrysler Corporation plans to
build a manufacturing plant in
Latvia. Latvians see this as one
more step in the program to
destroy their nation.
Under no circumstances do we
believe that the Chrysler
Corporation knowingly
participates in furthering genocide.
Nevertheless, the Chrysler
Corporation Project will promote
the influx of some 50,000
additional workers, thus further
weakening the ability of Latvians
to survive. (Native Latvian
population prior to World War I -
3,100,000 is down to 1,400,000
now).
Industrialization with
subsequent migration of new
workers int Latvia creates an
unprecedented historical event,
namely, the Latvian Nation will be
democratically voted out of
existence.
In addition, the post-war
forced-industrialization has caused
unbelievable contamination: all of
u feel about a united
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Sam Kapiye, 30, Public Policy
Communism: The U.S. might be afraid
that [Communism] will affect
neighboring countries.
The Wall: Their movement is a clear
demonstration that they are demanding
reforms. They are moving along with
die winds of change.
United: There is a need to unite the two
Germanys
November 15, 1989, CAPITAL TIMES 9
Latvia's lakes and rivers have
been declared unfit for swimming.
Birth defects among migrants and
Latvians is a disaster. The most
polluted area is Ventspils where
Mr. Hammers' Occidental
Petroleum built huge chemical
plants.
Latvians are not asking for
special privileges. We would be
grateful to receive just half of the
rights accorded to the smallest and
weakest member of the United
Nations.
Please help us stop Chrysler.
Editor's note: The above
opinion does not necessarily
represent the opinion of the
Capital Times or it's publisher, the
student body of Penn State
Harrisburg. The Capital Times
will gladly give space to anyone
wishing to express an opposing
point of view, and as always, we
welcome letters to the editor.
Join the
Capital Times
ermany?
Scott Alper, 22, General Humanities
Communism: I think we're hig enough
to protect ourselves.
The Wall: East German economy is
being hurt because the steel workers are
leaving. West German economy is being
hurt because there is too much
unemploymment already.
United: I think they should [unite]. The
economy will be better for both
countries. I can't worry about what
happened with the holocaust.