Comment on The Baltic Independence Movement by zaneg96

The national songs of the baltic states were always a strong point of pride among the Baltic populations, and I think that they realized they could reconcile their protest for independence with these songs. Another part of it is I think that they realized that singing is about the most non threatening action a group can undertake, so the Soviet’s would have no justification to undertake violent actions to break up such a protest.

Comment on The Baltic Independence Movement by zaneg96

I definitely believe that the dissolution of Russia’s satellite states played a role in weakening the Soviet Union overall. These dissolutions sparked other satellite states to recognize that they too could abandon the Soviet Union if they executed a withdrawal in a proper manner, while also giving them the hope and morale to do so.

Comment on The Baltic Independence Movement by zaneg96

I think that some of the violence that occurred was inevitable- using violence to suppress protests was a commonality for the Soviet government. The use of violence failed, however, when protests (like in the Baltics) really advertised their causes and the protests to the outside world, thus putting more eyes on them on the international stage as a sort of warning against the Soviets not to get violent.

Comment on Lots of Problems with Alcohol by eclaybrook

I loved your use of images in supporting your writing, because it really illuminated how big the issue of alcoholism was. The cartoons really show the tone that the government was trying to set, that alcohol abuse was a serious matter and people should have self-discipline in use of it. Great post!