| Mes Europoje!
01 May 2004
Labas is Europos and Sveiki!
I went to bed in Lithuania, and I woke up in Europe.
After work, I walked down Gedimino g. towards the Cathedral where
dozens of tents selling traditional food from Belgium, Germany,
Denmark, the Netherlands, and of course, Lithuania. Poland National
Costumes were on display in the window of one fashionable clothing
store, and Benetton offered 10 Euros off. Flags of all 25 member
countries flew amidst blue EU flags. Children carried blue balloons
decorated with 12 yellow stars and street performers dressed in
Estonian costumes entertained passers-by.
Last night in Cathedral Square a 100,000 people were gathered to
celebrate Lithuania's entry into the EU. A concert was prepared
which included popular music from across the "old" Europe
to congratulate members of the "new" Europe. People waved
two sided flags showing the Lithuanian and EU flags. The mood was
joyous as people sang and danced. The concert concluded with the
Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra and what I presume to be the national
choir performing the EU anthem, Ode to Joy. The huge screen which
acted as a backdrop on for the stage showed a collage of images
from this last century, including shots from Lithuania's first independence,
the growth of the European Union, and live shots from capitals across
Eastern Europe. The sky was completely clear and the whole show
culminated with fireworks set off from Gedimino piles (castle) just
behind the Cathedral.
I've heard about people in other areas stockpiling salt for fear
of sharply increasing prices, but I haven't see that hear at all.
The mood has been calm and fun. As I left Cathedral Square I was
surprised to see it left fairly clean, rather than the piles of
trash and broken glass I was fearing. As I walked home, I passed
celebrating youths, loitering punks, and a family, mother, father
and small child, carrying plastic sacks of empty bottles they had
presumably gathered in the park. Inevitably, the educated are celebrating
this turn in history, and anticipating great things for themselves
and Lithuania including better jobs and prosperous futures for themselves
and their children. Those less educated probably expect much less,
and even fear for their own futures and abilities to survive, or
simply don't care and don't expect anything in their daily lives
to change, which, honestly, probably won't in the near future.
Europe is now 455 million people strong, 1.5 times the United States
(290 million). It has 20 official languages and 24% of the total
population speak German as their native language. On the EU's homepage
www.europa.eu.int the headline declares, "May 1st, 2004, United
in Diversity".
There is a flag raising now in front of the Seimas and tonight will
be a concert in front of the Prezidentura (Presidential Palace).
To all my friends living in the "new" Europe, welcome
and congratulations. Today we are all truly European!
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