With all my heart, I congratulate you on your birthday, which is also the birthday of all those who have once been your students. And hereby I ask your permission to be included in the circle of your disciples. It was you who edited my first writings and encouraged me to continue, and we both have the wisdom to admire, value and fear the power of words.

Members of the Academic Council, who convened in Kadriorg the other day, add their good wishes to mine.

We both graduated from the university in during the night of slavery that lasted for fifty years. I have often wondered what urged you, in this era of censorship, to study the history of free press? The answer is contained in the way I posed the question. I am sure the answer is correct, as I remember something similar from my own past: I wrote a paper on the Resistance movement of France. Resistance is infinitely more resourceful than the totalitarian state, as resistance means creativity. The state’s attempts to restrict, prohibit and censor creativity are nothing but a wretched attempt to restrain it.

The press had a central role at the time of National Awakening, and in our awakening as a State. You chose the history of the Estonian media as your life’s work, although we knew your talent as a writer and your successful studies in the field of folklore. You chose the hard way, as your eyes could see further than most. You anticipated – or knew – that a day will come when Estonia needs independent and professional media again.

Today, the time has come when we need your gentle guidance and iron principles more than ever before. This is the law of life – more and more is asked of those who have given most.

Dear Friend, I hope to arrive at your door with a hearty birthday handshake on my next visit to Tartu at the end of this month.

Congratulations!


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 22, 1999

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