New at Reason

From our May issue, Matt Welch talks with James Tusty, director of the recently released documentary The Singing Revolution, which tells the story of Estonia's resistance to Soviet occupation through nationalist folk songs and modern rock music.

Comments

Barack Obama | April 15, 2008, 12:20pm | #

nationalist folk songs and modern rock music.

Everyone knows they were just clinging to their musical traditions and dislike of non-Estonians because they were bitter about not having enough socialism.

Tragically, they ended up with even LESS socialism and are now forced to deal with rising income disparities.

Jaybird | April 15, 2008, 12:42pm | #

"Comrade, what do you want to do with your life?"

"I WANNA ROCK!!!!"

Imagine Twisted Sister remaking that video today with that crazy dad/teacher guy playing an Imam. Islam would fall in less than a generation.

T'Surakmaat | April 15, 2008, 1:11pm | #

the Estonians are rocking out. that is agreeable and bodes well for the future.

perhaps in the next century or so, they will stop brutalizing people their churches dislike, i.e., "outsiders" and gay people.

peace and long life,
T'Surakmaat

bill | April 15, 2008, 1:59pm | #

"and talk about what political systems give us all the individual freedom we need."

There's nothing to talk about. The answer is Capitalism. A guy named Adam Smith wrote a pretty good book about it over 200 years ago.

ed | April 15, 2008, 2:54pm | #

The hills are alive with the sound of Laulupidu.

:) | April 15, 2008, 4:19pm | #

to barack
Estonian income disparities have actually been lessening in the last couple of years, a trend that is unique in central and eastern europe

to surakmaat
Estonians do not brutalise people from other cultures; as most Estonians are atheists or simply non-believers (the number of religious people is approx. 16%, the lowest in Europe), no we don't have the problem that exists in the US with churches offering false explanations and representing double standards

Travis | April 15, 2008, 5:59pm | #

"most Estonians are atheists or simply non-believers (the number of religious people is approx. 16%, the lowest in Europe."

Low Flat Tax, few religious zealots. Estonia is sounding better all the time.

LarryA | April 16, 2008, 9:12am | #

I reduce freedom to this reality: I don’t want my neighbor telling me what color to paint my living room

Liberty. So simple. Yet so few truly understand.