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and were never voluntary members of the Soviet Union. They regained their freedom as independent nations in 1991.
Estonian flag
Estonians identify strongly with Native Americans for good reason.
They know what it's like to be driven out of their homes, have their language and culture nearly destroyed, herded onto reservations (Siberia, in this case), be treated like second-class citizens in their own native country.
During the Soviet occupation, Estonians were forced to speak Russian as the "official language" and only Russian was taught in the schools. Whole areas of Estonia, such as the two main islands, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, were off-limits to mainland Estonians because the Russians had military bases there. The Russians left huge chemical dumps and radioactive sites to pollute the Estonian countryside.
I have relatives there.
I would point to the 300,000 or so Russians who've been living in Estonia. They've been there since Stalin sent tens of thousands of Estonians to Siberia, and filled Estonia with Russians to "Russify" the place.
If Estonia is so terrible, and Russia is so great, how come none of these 300,000 or so Russians living in Estonia have moved back to Russia? They are perfectly free to go. There is nothing to stop them.
Why haven't they? Because they know damned well that in Estonia they live in a better economy, with better living conditions, more freedom, more opportunities, than anything they could possibly find in Mother Russia.
Where would you rather live?
