Hate Mail for a sale ?

[Low Light Mike]

I think that lots of BC-ers believe that BC Ferries has already been sold, as a result of the restructuring done during the new Prov. Gov'ts first term.

Given that premise, I also believe that plenty of BC-ers have already sent plenty of hate-mail to their MLA's, to BC Cabinet, and to the Premier himself.

As evidenced by many comments on various threads on this forum here, people have very strong feelings for/against what they perceive as privatisation of a public service.

Now the article that you quote explains a situation where the "hate" was based on hating the former Soviet Union's continuing legacy in Estonia. Like us here in BC, that's an ideological based hate, but I dare say the Soviet issue is more deserving of passionate opposition.

Thanks for bringing that article to our forum's attention.

[Starbucks Queen]

There is also a strong dislike from Finnish people, against the Estonian people, as they were associated with communism - although when the Soviet system was about to break down, the Estonians were one of the first, who started to claim there independence.The Finnish dislike for the system is very strange though, since many Finns travel very often to Tallinn (Estonia) and Riga (Latvia) to - well, buy cheap stuff and get drunk. As well marriages between Finns, and ones from the Baltic state are more common now. I think, it depends on the people, I have been up there for a while, know people - and I think I can dare to say, that this attitude is not so much spread in the bigger cities than in the countryside.

Tallink - though, they have started service with their first ship "Tallink" and later, "Georg Ots" joined the fleet-list, and as well ex. Estline´s "Vana Tallinn". If you look up these ships on www.faktaomfartyg.com and compare them with the modern fleet of Silja or Viking, you get the clear view that years ago the two latter mentioned were the "big guys" of the ferry-business, and Tallink more a cheap way. This has now, turned around and does leave some people who do still have the imgination of poor Baltic countries puzzled.

Re. Cascade´s comment - I did not see a dislike for Germans or German things, I have rather noticed that speaking German is as common as speaking English, and since there is also a huge Russian population, especially in the capitals, I did hear not just once "my son/husband was stationed in Germany.."
But to go back further, German names can be seen as well there, even some of their words (ok I can say that only about the Estonian language) have German heritage. The medieval trader´s union Hansa was very active in both Riga and Tallinn, if you travel further to Lübeck, you´ll notice that style of the old buildings is very similar, if not the same.

I have first been in Tallinn in 1994, since then, last time I been there was 2 years ago, it has changed alot. They are very good at marketing their country, they restored their old town and the city appears to be very young and open-minded.

I personally hope that the Finns who are responsible for these hate-mails do sooner or later loose their arrogant attitude, and will regard these countries, which did by far not have it that easy as Finland as valid members of the EU. The last thing they want to see there, is the Soviet system, and although elderly Russians do still not speak the languages of these countries, their kids are fully integrated and regard themselfes as Estonians/Latvians with Russian heritage and Europeans too.

The below pics show streets of an old part of Tallinn in the 90ies.