Editorial: cultural correction craved to modify manners

Photo: Venno Kallis

Vandalism vented at Tõrva Song Festival Arena over the week-end ranks with other acts of violence committed in Estonia, this summer. Events of this sort are always deeply disturbing and hoist question marks over our law enforcement capabilities, as well as quality of education and upbringing.

As stated by Tõrva mayor Agu Kabrits, reports of youth vandalism started to sound on Saturday already, from various parts of town. Sunday night, youngsters were causing trouble near the school house. It is difficult to comprehend how, in spite of alarm and announcements by townsfolk, the vandals were able to carry on, unhindered, for hours on end, winding up their dark activities at the song festival grounds without being intervened by police.

The other question is of a wider, cultural nature. Would the vandals have ventured to set fire to the song festival arena, had they possessed a proper overview on Estonian culture? This being a problem much larger than Estonia. Last week in Warsaw, European Union – in search for its «new idea» – arrived at issues of education. This, it seems, is where all else begins – the issue of Europeanness with its values and corresponding behaviour. How come that despite Europe’s long cultural history, not much of it remains in how the new generation conducts itself? Has education missed it? Left something undone?

We are not only talking of knowledge alone – even though this also is terribly deficient. If a substantial percentage of young people think that Sun revolves around Earth and that only genetically modified tomatoes possess genes... this is part of the problem. The other part being related to cultural-historical knowledge – also alarmingly poor. Even so, this knowledge would be the very foundation for being European with the values thereof – human rights, freedoms, democracy. The next step being behavioural, behaviour in its turn being rooted in culture alone.

The European errors in educational foundations do not, of course, serve as justification for the vandalism committed in Tõrva. However, the roots of cultural vacuum go deeper still. No doubt, this can be avoided not on state level only, but in communities – as well proven in Estonia. Even so, this is not enough.

In a way, Estonia seems to be an organism birthed by two opposing schools of thought. Its one hand does damage and creates garbage, the other hand says «Let’s do it!» and cleans it all up.

Again proved, this time around, in Tõrva. With a charitable concert and donations drawn, it is hoped to get the song arena fixed. For a small community, the arena is vital – both culturally and just to come together.

The wider problem, however, is still screaming to be solved.