When we arrived home, I could not help but go through these magazines for a quite a while. The covers of these magazines were a look back in time. Basic graphics used on super-imposed pictures were the height of cool back then (probably by accident) and something fashion in all forms is trying to emulate today - badly.
At a whopping $2, this bi-monthly magazine was fairly pricey for its day. If you take inflation into account, the magazine would probably sell for $20+ today.
After reading one or two articles and the headlines throughout each copy, it didn't take much to realise that this magazine was an alternative outlet to the closed door attitude of 'Meie Kodu' (Our Home) - the national weekly paper for Estonians living in Australia. Obviously frustrated by a lack of voice in their own community, even by todays standard, Küü Ii!'s articles read as confronting, cutting, and kick-you-between-the-balls-if-need-be. In some articles, maybe a little too much of an activist approach was taken, but the spirit is undeniable.
Edited by Juhan Lübek and Lembit Suur, with art direction by Olev Muska and assisted by Ingrid Slamer, the magazine boasted a treasurer, Mick Payne, a legal advisor, Jaak Peedo and an editorial board of six consisting of Anni Meister, Eva Lehtsalu, Arno Muska, Talmi Lübek, Mick Tartu and Peter Martionson. The line-up would change little up to the last edition I have.
In this first edition, a forward from the infamous politician of choice by Sydneys underworld, (The [dis]Hon.) A.J. Grassby blessed page 5, just to kick things off. Not bad for a little rag. The printing was carried out by SNAP printing in North Sydney.
At this stage, and unless I can unearth more copies, I will delve into each edition and touch on one article that is as relevant today as it was back then in the 80's. I'll re-produce the article as best I can for your own reading and invite any additional facts or comment you have.
On the 3rd of March 1978, Eva Eichenbaum from Toronto Canada, gave a talk on why she had become one "of those 'apathetic deserters' to the cause" - i.e. a young Estonian who had shied away from the community. Although from Canada, the parallels between there and the Estonian-Australian community at the time were (and still are) almost identical.
Whilst what she said was stirring stuff, her sincerity and clear argument made for good debate. However, when she made her argument, times were very different. Eva didn't see the point in fighting a fight for Estonia that couldn't be won (at the time Estonia was still under the USSR). She could also see an internal fight on the horizon in her local community that she didn't think was worth fighting either.
As the crux of her argument centered around the attitudes of Estonians returning to the fatherland, I have not included her quotes on that topic as they are not relative today. I have instead focused on the issues that still plague the community today, even if they are a hangover form immigration incurred on Australia because of the occupation of Estonia.
"It seems that certain sectors of the active 'Eesti Selts' are concerned about the disappearance of youth from the core activities of the Estonian community, and are also concerned about the increasing apathy of even the senior members."
"...me I don't show much interest any more. Why?....there are some very basic elements about this entire Esto phenomenon that I find unattractive."
"I am not impressed by Estonian cultural arrogance toward other ethnic groups...not to mention 'lost' Estonians like myself."
"I'm concerned about Esto introversion and conservatism."
"Basically, the entire Esto scene tastes a little of...., insecurity, fear, and cultural paranoia, and I wonder whether the quality of my life would be improved by these things."
"Mourners must learn to look to the future, to readjust their values and goals in response to the demands of their immediate environment. It's time to let go of the past, and set some REALISTIC goals for the future."
"The younger generation has grown up in a comfortable setting and has possibly become too apathetic, materialistic, and self-indulgent to bother with ethnicity. Immediate social needs can be satisfied by alternatives to Estonian events. It seems that the only genuine interest in our ethnicity that may be stirred comes out of a more intellectual need..."
"...that brotherhood and communal caring that once existed in the early fifties seems to have evolved into a pattern of cliques, animosities and rivalries. It seems that meetings and organisations frequently fall short of their goals because of personal differences and petty bickering. Good intentions get bogged down with cultural trivia."
"Somewhere along the line this humble ethnicity and pride has turned into something resembling arrogance..."
"Why should I, or any other 'second generationite' be made to feel ashamed because we do not speak the 'better' language fluently?...it is exactly this purism, snobbery, 'umber mensch' mentality that is alienating many of those people who could be persuaded to seek involvement in the ethnic community."
"Change, flexibility, and adaptability are the key words to survival and development....This fact has to be accepted before it's too late and all the good things disappear together with the outdated idealism."
"Nothing positive will be accomplished unless we face reality and do a little bit of cultural house-cleaning, as distasteful and unpleasant as it might be. Old dreams die hard, and change always hurts."
Whilst the Australian-Estonian communities show signs of life again, the lesson to be learnt here is that what started the rot in the baby-boomers camp and sent them spinning off into apathetic-outer-space could come around to haunt us again. The danger of the baby-boomers (particularly the ones who maintained the community whilst the others checked-out) holding on too tightly to what took so much effort to grab off the post-war community leaders, could send the 'now' generation packing as well. The irony lying in the fact a baby boomer was responsible for this article...
There is a new transition about to take place in all of the Estonian communities of Australia. Already some have seen the light and gotten on with it, as evidenced by the recent successes of both the Estonian Adelaide and Sydney communities. For all the communities, this new phase in our existence has to happen seamlessly with the old helping the new to learn what they already know and be warned of what not to do. It also has to involve as many people as possible, not just the select few.
Although not relevant to todays situation, I'd like to end by using two more of Eva's quotes to make a point.
"...that longing and goal to return to 'our' native Estonia and to fight for its freedom is an outdated dream....Are we the 'right' superior Estonians and those who have grown up there over the past thirty years the 'wrong' and inferior Estonians? By what right could we descend en mass to take control of their country?"
With the influx of our brothers and sisters coming into Australia from Estonia growing by the year, a new connectivity has emerged not only between them and us, but between ourselves. This might never have eventuated had Russia not failed. Perhaps what we now need to consider and understand is that it is they who might ultimately be saving us. Not the other way around.
