R.Smetona: Shamefully disappearing LRT content – Respublika.lt

1 photo

Granddaughter of the brother of President Antanas Smetona, Ignas, former member of the Seimas Rimantas Smetona. Photo by Irmantas Sidarevičius.

– How will the family of the first President of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona, signatory of the Law of February 16, celebrate the Day of State Restoration?

– We are very distracted: Ukmergė, Panevėžys, Vilnius and other places, so it is difficult for everyone to meet. And this year, when the usual rhythm of life is shattered, even Vilnius residents will likely not see the flag being raised.

– This year, a monument to President A. Smetona should appear in Vilnius. Many have already called the winning project another “pipeline.” What would you say about the winner: a stainless steel sheet that represents the cover of a book or a postcard with the portrait of the president?

– A very correct comparison is another “pipeline”. Only in that case the “pipeline” was a nameless object, and here, however, the monument is to the head of state, a truth that is often called “controversial”, like the spell of modern times, the winner and how was the contest, everything is similar to the monument to Vytis in Lukiškės square.

Immediately after the announcement of the contest winner last fall, I expressed my negative opinion in public. He hoped the president and Saulius Skvernelis, who was prime minister at the time, would have a say in whether they felt important and responsible for such things. At least it should be, because the monument is not for the cat or the dog, which is now loved to do, but for the historical personality. Unfortunately, I did not receive your evaluation.

– What does the state holiday look like when watching the LRT program? What does the national station offer each year?

– The occasional shows on this day, of course, will be. Famous people (there is such a profession) will speak, songs will sound. But it’s worth looking a little further: what’s next to all this? What other programs? How they fit in with the pompous or beautiful words spoken to Lithuania. What was shown yesterday, yesterday, will it be tomorrow? What our children and grandchildren see, the values ​​they see – all LRT content is very important. And that content is shamefully fading. And we are decreasing every day, the recession becomes more evident. So, on the occasion of the holidays, I can only ask, where, Lithuania, are you going?