Whew!

I can't imagine how different my life might have been had I been born american, and it's probably not worth imagining as there are too many variables to consider such an imaginary tengential life direction. But there is no question that my view of the world and my perspective on international events could have been much different than it is today. I mean, no matter what, there is no getting away from the influence your parents have on you, and I was no different.

Their families having escaped from the clutches of communist Russia, my parents had somewhat predictable views. I was taught political history from an early age, and through my father's black and white glasses, the view of How The World Works was born. My sometimes simplistically ignorant, sometimes astute political commentary was largely garnered from my father, and only later as a child did I start to question a few of the ideas that had been planted in my head. Luckily, I was also taught to be very individualistic, to always stand up for what I believed in, and to always question everything. This eventually translated into my idealistic younger self to question the very politics that had been dictated to me as fact. I laugh to myself now, when I think of the heated discussions I still get into from time to time with my dad, as he gives an exasperated shout of, "Stop alvays contradicting me!". You taught me to state opinions plainly dad, and to stand for what I believe in. Thanks, actually.

Despite our differences though, my dad taught me some powerful lessons. Through my Latvian and family histories and heritage, he gave me some incredible people to emulate and look up to, heroic men and woman of virtuous heart, stoic demeanor and unselfish behaviour. It is no accident that the Latvians, caught in a large vice between Germany and Russia, have somehow remained with their cultural identity intact, despite its tiny size. After 50 years of Stalinism, upon meeting a native of Latvia this is much less obvious, but the historical results speak for themselves. It might surprise many who know my father in passing that a fairly misogynistic man could have taught me that my grandmother was the greatest hero of the war, but in reality it's just a reflection of the many contradictions we all have within us.

I think about my grandmother, dead now for 8 years, and others who were just ordinary people stuck in extraordinary times. A very young wife with three kids who became a widower, having to somehow feed and protect her children while saving others along the way, escaping from her wartorn land. Her husband (before he died), a police lieutenant in the big city, deciding whether to follow orders and condemn an innocent family's life, his own career and life in jeapordy. On my mother's side, a prosperous farmer deciding whether or not to join into armed battle to fight invaders, or let his family and farm be plundered mercilessly. A teenaged, inexperienced soldier, sent to the front lines for certain death, making the decision to get back home somehow to later hide out in a barn. A young man forcefully conscripted along with his buddies and put into the heat of battle, laying among a pile of his dead friends to escape horrifying torture. A mother with four children not backing down to soldiers pointing guns and demanding food.

For you, it may be the stuff of legend, but I am quite certain it all happened. With one noteable exception, I knew and spoke with all of those people. They were old, and pretty ordinary people, but they had the most amazing stories, and I believed them to be true. A different time it was - but were the people so different from now? I look to our neighbours down south, and hear about a story now and again that makes me think of the heroic individual standing up for what is right. They are infrequent, but I read about them.

The US is at war with two countries right now, and is frighteningly close to becoming embroiled in another more encompassing conflict with Syria and/or Iran. I wonder if it comes to pass, what the reaction will be among the common man there. What the effect will be if a draft is instilled. What decisions will be made by ordinary citizens put under extreme duress. Many people think that this war dream will never come to pass; but based on history, at the very least I don't think it can be discarded as a distinct possibility.

If there aren't that many heroes now, how many will there be then?