“Democracy is not an opportunity to openly hate and curse each other”

A chance to preserve humanity

I appreciate the fact that we have a democratic country every day. Opening social networks, looking in the direction of Russia, looking at the sky above. I don’t always appreciate it with pleasure – I would like everyone to think like me, but I have to swallow the discomfort or anger and understand that there can be other opinions. Democracy is an opportunity to maintain humanity and respect, to hear each other in a vast world of religions, ideas and choices. And each of us is responsible for every word and choice.

Democracy is not an opportunity to openly hate and curse each other, it is chaos. A conversation in which both parties listen is a seemingly simple practice, but it is also not so simple.

A conversation where you listen instead of waiting to speak is quite rare.

For the part of people who do not think that it is important that we have a democratic state, I would like to remind you of the time when we did not have freedom of choice, as well as the sense of community and hope that prevailed after the occupation ended. I do think that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and October 7th, with all its dire consequences, remind us of this every day.

I don’t remember that I personally started an avalanche that changes the world for the better, but I gladly join those initiatives that seem meaningful to me. I believe and see that together we can change a lot, I believe that politics is not only about thieves, robbers and sluts.

I believe that there are people in Latvia with bright eyes, heads and hearts. Only we sometimes must muster the courage to say it.”