November 26 Belarusians celebrated the 85th anniversary of the birth of writer Vladimir Karatkevich. Everyone remembered the next anniversary, celebrated it in their own way, but the respect and appreciation it deserves Vladimir Karatkevich, his relatives and fans did not wait.
Most of the events dedicated to this date was held in Vorša, but as for me, marked Viciebsk: in claiming to be the "cultural capital of Belarus," the monument countryman laid only a few bouquets. I think that says it all...
Near unbanal titanium monument of national spirit – unity of gratitude that can be counted on the fingers. And where the teachers with their students? Where a grateful city officials? Where artists, management of theaters and museums? Where, finally, the readers, who once avidly read his works?
I do not know for you, but for me the answer is obvious. It is simple: a paralyzed national nihilism society has slipped into the arms of the so-called "Russian world". However, the paradox is that those falling into the embrace not only those for whom Belarusianness is empty words...
A striking confirmation of the announced withdrawal of the story can serve as a well-known Viciebsk resident Boris Khamajda, which each year brings to the monument of white-red-white bouquet of flowers:
Just at the moment when we began to place flowers, we were approached by a man of my age.
He bowed his head and held out his hand to me and said that we had supposedly familiar. Later, when I thought for a moment, then I remembered that he had once approached me during my standing near the "Blue House" and we talked. He – a former officer of the Navy – said Vladimir Karatkevich knew personally and even met him twice. He thus we are interested in, and even bribed. But the interesting thing started after my friends moved away a little bit and we were alone. He abruptly switched to the Russian language, but before talking on our way. "Well, okay, – she says. – Let's frankly. Ukraine moved away, but the main thing now – to save Slavic brotherhood and unity of Russia and Belarus."
I looked at him: for me it was so unexpected, that I stopped for a while. Imagine we have before talked friendly, photographed near the monument to the predecessor of the modern Belarusian national revival. I was so shocked that he even forgot a bag at the monument. Only when we left, I remembered that I had a hand bag. I initially thought that in front of me a serious supporter of Belarusianness. He took with respect to the memory of Vladimir Karatkevich.
– Listen, Ukraine has chosen its way. The time will come – and we choose your way – I tell him.
– No, listen, we have to be together.
For a while we had even talked about that, but I did not tell him the most important thing: what do people with similar thoughts after modern Russia there will be the same as what happened in 1991 with the Soviet Union, when he collapsed Then ... where to run, who to cling?
You know, I got the impression that it came at a time when we doshagali to the monument as he laid her bouquet before.
S. Horki, Vitebsk Spring
