15 April
Participants of the Celebration,
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world is celebrating the Day of
Culture. In most countries people are exchanging ideas on the fundamental
values, raising and addressing fundamental questions, and the word
"culture" is uttered more often than usual. In this context, I would
like to speak of culture not only as the artistic and creative heritage passed
on from generation to generation, but also as our level of communication, capacity
of building bridges of tolerance, and the level of trust in others who have
different views and profess different faith.
Unfortunately, the subject has so far raised more questions than it has offered
answers. Even in our day and age, in our seemingly modern times marked by the
deepest theoretical insights and most advanced inventions of civilization, human
communication, understanding, and trust are still an issue. Therefore, the
cultural motif of the day, Peace through
Culture, is just as relevant, valuable, and timely as ever.
Many of you have probably heard the story about the Soviet dictator Stalin, who
being warned that his political and military action would be countered by the
Roman Pope, ironically and cynically asked how many military divisions the Pope
had. I think that this question posed by the dictator can be considered a blatant
symbol of depreciation of peace. It is true that the Pope did not and does not run
any military division, but his work and efforts for peace have been and remain vast
and important. Mahatma Gandhi, originator of peaceful opposition, had no
military divisions either, but he nevertheless managed to win freedom for his
country. Finally, Lithuania did not have any division
in the military sense, but our peaceful political struggle has led us to independence
on 11 March 1990.
Lithuania won in its fight, but, as I mentioned before, there is still a lot of
misunderstanding and mistrust worldwide and conflicts abound. Resolving them is
a task not only for ambassadors of peace and goodwill, who are, by the way,
often cultural figures. This is a moral task for each of us, we should always
intervene, never stay indifferent. I believe, just as much as you do, that through
hoisting this flag as a symbol of peace we contribute to the fulfilment of this
task, and maybe not only symbolically.
Klausyti
Skaityti
fonetiškai
I am grateful to all who support
this by their words and actions, and who join, in body or in spirit, all the
people of good will.
Irena Degutienė
Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
