About Lithuanian Americans

I often find myself making comparisons between Lithuanians (Native) and Lithuanian Americans. None of my opinions are set in concrete. Everything is subject to change. Mostly I’m curious about the differences between two seperate cultures which share common roots. I’m amazed by the fact that many of us continue to celebrate our ethnic identity even though we are seperated from our ancestral origins by generations, decades and even mixed heritage.

I personally have found that the greater segment of the Lithuanian American population consists of every day people who are proud of their heritage and try to maintain at least some connections with their ancestral roots. Some speak Lithuanian well, some speak only a little and some not at all. But this does not diminish their sense of ‘belonging’ to our greater family.

Others know they are Lithuanian or at least ‘part’ Lithuanian. Very often they know very little about our history. And are also confused or severely ‘mis-informed’. I’m often bewildered when they group themselves together with the Poles and Russians! Someone once said to me “What’s the difference…we’re all SLAVIC people anyway!” …I gave up on explaining the ‘Differences’ long ago. So long as they are decent human beings, I still go out of my way to make them feel that they are included in ‘the herd’.

Then there are the relativeley few, but obnoxious and arrogant people whom I refer to as “Lithuanian Royalty”. These are the ones who sit on a high perch and selectively classify others in accordance with many their many ‘Royal Standards’. They often look down on those among us who don’t speak the language well, or don’t speak it at all. The interesting thing about this is that their own language skills or often acquired from parents who left Lithuania long ago. They use ‘Lithuanianized’ forms of Polish and Russian words or speak like ‘farmers’ (not to dishonor the farmers!) Some even become perplexed if you speak to them in ‘polite’ form.

I was once approached by a man who noticed the small Lithuanian Flag on a shirt I had been wearing. He greeted me in Lithuanian. I resopnded accordingly. He immediatley began to ‘measure me’ by my ability to speak Lithuanian. My skills are modest but functional. I informed him that I seldom speak Lithuanian and asked that we continue the conversation in English. Immediatley, his nose lifted upwards as he claimed some unspoken ’status’ above me. Then he went so far as to impress me with his knowledge of Russian, Polish and German. And asked me if I could speak any of these languages. This was his attempt to climb higher on the ladder. I responded by telling him that I would not disgrace the memory of my Lithuanian ancestors by speaking the language of their enemies! (Actually…I don’t hold any grudges against any of these nationalities) That sent him off with his tail between his legs.

I often wonder how native Lithuanians view their Lithuanain American cousins. I have questioned many on this very same subject. Most are very polite and avoid making comments on such matters. Native Lithuanians tend to be far more polite to begin with. So many times I have unwittingly butchered their language while communicating with them. Yet they are genuinely thrilled by the fact that I attempt to speak Lithuanian at all! They even go so far as to complement me on my abilities, when I know for certain that I have spent most of the evening stumbling on inncorrect forms of many words and mispronounciations.

Native Lithuanians seem to be more cautious about openening their minds to new aquaintances. However they are quick to remind you that they consider you to be welcomed as one who shares their blood and their heritage. Perhaps this is much that ‘we’ Lithuanian Americans can learn from them.