Open letter to the chief Grandfather Frost from Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Published in "Narodnaya Volya" (The People's Will) Newspaper, No 11,
January 20, 2005
What has been taught to a man in his childhood will then mirror throughout his life. There are childhood memories in the life of every man which remain vivid even in the old age. Such memories will obviously include the first New Year tree celebrations with Santa Claus. Abundant with presents, New Year festivities are always impressive, and are held in a child's mind, reflecting in a child's character and even psychology. Therefore those who are responsible for planning New Year celebrations for children must approach their job very seriously.
And what about New Year celebrations for children in our country? Let me be open about it - there is not a more absurd New Year celebration to think of. That is why I want to first of all turn in this letter to chief and respectful Santa Claus from Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Santa Claus Belovezhsky). Fairy-tale says fish starts to rot from its head, and as "the head", chief Santa Claus, instructs so provincial Santa Clauses in rural kindergartens, schools, etc do.
Dear Santa Claus Belovezhsky, it is good that you appeared in our country, yet it is very disturbing, very saddening for the children's festival that you have reached the old age and (sorry) haven't got enough wisdom. Is it possible for a sage man to speak a foreign language with own people, especially children? The educated by you and your followers by foreign traditions, foreign culture and foreign language, children of our country will never become good citizens in the full meaning of this word. I am not even saying they can become patriots, because language and patriotism are as the one whole pivot of a person's moral. A great Chinese philosopher wrote 2,500 years ago: "The mother tongue brings up a man, the foreign tongue - a plunderer".
The God has given our people the language to grow with, create own heritage, strengthen our national identity and cultivate our land for good. One must not go against the God's will and spiritually maim the future of our country. After all, we have been struggling for over two centuries for independence to become people of our own right.
Dear Santa Claus Belovezhsky, please think carefully over the meaning of your existence so that you are welcome and loved by our people for a long time instead of being lost in history as one who used to bear foreign genes.
Long Live Belarus!
Respectfully,
Grandfather and patriot Mikola with his grandsons
from the town of Pruzhany