Talk:Baltic states/Archive 1

message: *Yes, merge 'em.  -- Randall Bart 10:42, 7 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Merge 

message: --3 Löwi 09:00, 3 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tourism-related stuff more appropriate in each country's article(s) 

message: Quote from MRP additional protocol, Article I: In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall represent the boundary of the spheres of influence of Germany and U.S.S.R.. The original German text reads: 1. Für den Fall einer territorial-politischen Umgestaltung in den zu den baltischen Staaten (Finnland, Estland, Lettland und Litauen) gehörenden Gebieten bildet die nördliche Grenze Litauens zugleich die Grenze der Interessensphäre Deutschlands und der UdSSR. 
--3 Löwi 16:09, 8 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Just a thought: Is the adjective "baltisch" in the above text used in a geographic sense (like "Baltic" in "the Baltic island of Gotland") or is it used in a geopolitical sense (referring to "das Baltikum" which I believe would be the German equivalent to the English term 'Baltic States')? Clarifer 07:45, 24 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Finland as a Baltic state in 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 

message: This may just be me, but trolling the web as the primary source to assemble an encyclopedia article seems to me rather self-cannibalistic. Most of my books are still (!) in storage but should be out by the end of the year. The "evolution" of an article shouldn't be ooh, found something new someone said on the web, let's stick it in the article with a retrieved date. The evolution should be based on someone reading a book (preferably books), instill in one's self an informed perspective, and then to write from that perspective. I'm glad for web soures as corroborating information readers can easily look up, but without a good scholarly base--books, that is, cohesive narratives of a collection of information large enough that it takes days to read and understand and be truly informed--we're bound (by the very nature of these mainly sound bite sized sources one finds on the web) to descend into WP:SYNTH, i.e., a collection of 100 sources each of which can be read in two minutes or less that editors have tried to make sense of, like assembling a puzzle.
  'On the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics' looks like a fascinating series, unfortunately far too rich for my budget right now (at least the whole series). Does anyone have any volumes? That, and the Latvian title on Baltic languages are the only BOOKS mentioned so far. We need LOTS more. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 14:51, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Also, can we read some books, please? 

message: Re: "Jogaila lived before reformation and the text is not given in the ref"...
*I'll go back and find my ref (Stone's seminal book on Poland-Lithuania). As I recall, as part of unification/taking the crown, Jogaila, previously heathen, was baptized (Catholic) as the Polonized Jagiełłó--that's where the Władysław comes from. This was the start of the Catholic tradition in Lithuania. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 17:43, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: He converted to Christianity, at the time everyone was catholic - reformation started only in 1517 and in fact spreaded in Lithuania as well, rather you should find how they ended up Catholic ----Xil...sist! 18:05, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  My understanding is that reformation came in and stayed primarily as the result of the Swedish empire. That said, I believe even Martin Luther himself visited Riga. More to explore! Historically, Latvians at least didn't seem to care much what you told them to believe as the new conquering power as long as they could still celebrate Jāņi. Consider how far religion bent to the heathens... Christmas = Ziemassvētki = winter fest, Easter = Lieldienas = great days, and no palm fronds but pussy willows--and I've always wondered, what is the connection with Christianity when parents lovingly swat their children on "Palm" Sunday with a bunch of pussy willows saying "Round like a pussy willow... health in, sickness out..."?  —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 19:45, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Boundaries/eras of religious adoption 

message: I updated the section talking about language and culture. I'm hoping it's clear. Finns+Estonians and Latvians+Lithuanians culturally/linguistically apart, with historical factors introducing commonalities across (e.g., zither as national instrument,...) the two as well as differences within (e.g., Lutheran/Catholic split of Latvians/Lithuanians). These can all be discussed on their own merits. —  Pēters J. Vecrumba 23:04, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Intro