Brīdis, kad Latvija tikko nosvinējusi savu 91.dzimšanas dienu, varētu būt piemērots laiks salīdzināt, kā savus nacionālos svētkus svin latvieši un mēs, jaunzēlandieši. Mūsu valsts svētkus sauc par «Waitangi» dienu.
Man bija iespēja pavadīt Latvijas dibināšanas gadadienu Rīgā, kur apmeklēju vairākus svētku pasākumus. Biju dzirdējis baumas, ka valdības pārstāvji un policija ekonomiskās situācijas dēļ bija sagatavojušies sliktākajam. Taču es redzēju pilnas ielas latviešu, kuri vismaz ārēji šķita ārkārtīgi lepni un patriotiski noskaņoti. Domāju, krīze ietekmējusi ikvienu, taču likās, ka viņi bija spējuši nolikt slikto noskaņojumu sānis, lai svinētu savus svētkus. Pie «Laimas» pulksteņa man paveicās pienākt tuvu Valsts prezidentam Valdim Zatleram. Cilvēki pulcējās, lai paspiestu viņam roku, un šķita ļoti priecīgi par šo iespēju.Pēcpusdienā biju parādē, taču tur bija tik lieli cilvēku pūļi, ka nevarēju saskatīt pilnīgi neko. Daudziem apģērbā bija nacionālās krāsas, un teju katram otrajam rokās Latvijas karogs. Vakarā biju pārsteigts par tūkstošiem, kas bija devušies skatīties desmit minūšu ilgo salūtu. Lai tiktu vietā, no kurienes tas labi redzams, vajadzēja ierasties vismaz stundu iepriekš, savukārt pēc tam uz labu laiku bija bloķēta satiksme.Acīmredzamais patriotisms un cilvēku iesaistīšanās ir asā kontrastā ar to, ko esmu pieradis redzēt mājās savas valsts dibināšanas dienā. «Waitangi» diena ir 6.februārī, kad tiek atzīmēta Jaunzēlandes dibināšanas līguma noslēgšana. Tā nosaukums cēlies no parakstīšanas lietas. Līgumu 1940.gada 6.februārī slēdza briti, kuri vēlējās, lai Jaunzēlande būtu zem britu valdības, un jaunzēlandiešu iedzimto maoru vadītāji.Līgums tika gatavots steigā, un neizglītotie maori pašu parakstītā līguma sekas līdz galam nesaprata. Rezultātā dokuments piešķīra britiem ievērojamas zemes platības, atstājot maoriem krietni mazāk, nekā viņiem pienāktos. Līdz pat šai dienai abas puses cenšas šo jautājumu atrisināt, un maori joprojām cīnās par to, kas, viņuprāt, pieder viņiem. Diemžēl maori daudzos jautājumos ir sašķelti, un tas ietekmē viņu spēju stāties pretī valdībai.Nebeidzamā strīda dēļ «Waitangi» diena kļuvusi par protestu, nevis nacionālo svētku dienu. Jaunzēlandes valsts amatpersonas šajā dienā notiekošajos pasākumos bieži tiek uzņemtas naidīgi. Parasti nav pasākumu, kas būtu paredzēti plašākai sabiedrībai, un pavisam noteikti nenotiek parādes un salūti. Lielākā daļa cilvēku to uztver kā parastu dienu. Pēdējā laikā Jaunzēlandē aizsākusies kustība, lai iedibinātu jaunus nacionālos svētkus. Tās virzītājspēks ir fakts, ka cilvēki vēlas svinības, nevis dienu, kas rada naidīgumu un dalīšanos maoros un Eiropas izcelsmes jaunzēlandiešos. Pagājušonedēļ es arī ciemojos ģimenē, kurā dzīvoju, kad savulaik kā apmaiņas skolēns mācījos Daugavpilī. Jautāju savai «mammai», kā viņa uztver 18.novembri, un viņa atzina – tā ir lieliska diena, kurā krievi un latvieši cenšas vienoties, nevis izkliegt savus viedokļus par diskrimināciju un politiku. Ļoti ceru, ka Jaunzēlande spēs radīt ko līdzīgu tam, ko pieredzēju Latvijā. Svētkus, kurā cilvēki varēs patiesi paust savu patriotismu tā vietā, lai vienkārši dotos uz pludmali vai apdarītu mājas darbus. I hope New Zealanders can create a day similar to November 18With Latvia having just celebrated its 91st independence day, I felt that this week it would be appropriate to make a comparison of how Latvian’s celebrate their national day and how New Zealanders celebrate theirs; ‘Waitangi Day’.I had the privilege of spending Latvian Independence Day in Riga where I attended a number of the festivities taking place throughout the day. I had heard rumours that Government officials and police were prepared for the worst, given the current economic climate prevalent in Latvia. However, what I saw were streets teeming with Latvians who, at least from observation, gave the impression of still being extremely proud and patriotic. I am in no doubt that any number of the people I observed are personally affected by the crisis but it seemed for one day they were able to put their grievances about the current situation aside to celebrate ‘their’ day. I was fortunate enough in the morning to come close to President Zatlers near the Laima clock and people were flocking to shake their leaders hand. Everyone looked genuinely excited by the opportunity to meet Zatlers.In the afternoon I attended the parade and could not even get the slightest glimpse of what was going on, given to the throngs of people that had turned out to watch. Many were dressed in nationalistic colours and it seemed every second person had acquired a Latvian flag. In the evening I also attended Riga’s salute. I was astounded by the seemingly thousands that had turned out to watch the 10 minute display. To have a good spot you would have had to have been their at least half an hour in advance and leaving was a nightmare with traffic banked up for a significant while following the display.The outward patriotism and support this day gets in Latvia is in stark contrast to what I experience at home on Waitangi Day. Falling on Feb.6, the day officially marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of New Zealand. The treaty was made between the British who wished to bring New Zealand under British governance and the chiefs of New Zealand’s natives, the Maori. The treaty was signed on February 6, 1940 and the name derives from the location in which the treaty was signed. The treaty had been hastily put together and the uneducated Maori did not properly understand the repercussions of what they were signing. Effectively the treaty granted significant areas of land to the newly arrived British whilst leaving the Maori to significantly less than what they should have probably been entitled to.To this day, Maori people and the New Zealand Government are trying to settle issues over the treaty with the Maori people continuing to fight for what they believe is rightfully theirs. Unfortunately, the Maori people are split on many issues that effect them so struggle to put forward a strong case in front of the Government.Because of these ongoing issues, Waitangi Day has become a day of protest and uproar instead of a day of national celebration. New Zealand dignitaries generally take in the festivities in Waitangi where more often than not they are met by a hostile welcome. There is generally nothing organised for the general public and certainly no parades or ‘salutes’. Instead most people generally look at it as a day of work.In recent times movements have started for New Zealand to have a new national day, a movement that is gathering momentum as more people seek a day of celebration, rather than a day which creates animosity and division amongst Maori and New Zealand Europeans. I was also visiting my AFS host family in Daugavpils in the weekend. I asked mama how she felt about the day and she agreed that it is a great day in which Russians and Latvians tend to unite rather than voice their opinions over discrimination and politics.My only hope now is that New Zealanders can create a day similar to what I witnessed in Latvia in which the people of our country can truly voice and display their patriotism, rather than simply look at it as a day to head to the beach or do work around home.
