-During these 35 years, the «Letter of 40» has often been called to mind, and those involved praised. Like now, again, by President Ilves. Was it worth it, to remember and laude these intellectuals and creative community personalities for decades?
Well, it’s been a long time. Perhaps, this is the way it is with history, that things start falling into place as decades elapse. Just thinking...
-Thinking back into the 1980iea, having the hindsight wisdom, one might assume that the crumbling of the empire was beginning to «feel». Might the letter have come earlier?
What we all felt clearly was an atmosphere totally abating. While we were young, the Khrushchev times were a bit like that, lifting the spirits somewhat. The clatter of the prison chains was growing dimmer, people were coming back – those that survived.
The year 1980, however, a Russification dominated, we lacked any decent self-defence. That, probably, was the motivation leading to the letter. Sure: the letter was very careful, balanced, so as to not be jailed. And we did not. That was not throwing ourselves on the altar, just an attempt. What was most encouraging was the masses hopping on board. The way the letter was duplicated, it was fantastic.