The Singing Revolution

The Singing Revolution is a 94- minute documentary directed by James Tusty. I found it to be engaging, as it dramatically flowed to its climax - victory; thought provoking as it kindled the question, "What would coalesce the American people if under attack and weapons are not available?" and finally satisfying, as it verified that the human spirit is man's most valuable weapon in creating a world, or marshalling self.

The movie is about the Baltic State Estonia. This tiny nation has a physical history of being bullied by neighboring larger states and a cultural history of regional singing festivals. Both dated back to the 13th century. More recently occupied by the Nazis then swallowed up by the USSR, Estonia longed for freedom.

Estonia's story is similar to the conquest of Jericho. After a seven day march and the sounding of trumpets, Jericho fell to the marching Hebrews. Estonia did not march, it sang itself into a frenzy, creating a juggernaut of national pride that swept like a raging California wild fire in a dry forest.

The movie's final scene pictures the USSR's tanks and support soldiers rushing to the Estonia's Capitol to enforce the will of the USSR -- led by Mikhail Gorbachev. The target is a communication tower that controls the radio communication to the people and the world. Two Estonia policemen are ordered to protect the tower. The Estonian people are gathered at their national singing festival. Twenty-five thousand are singing on an outdoor stage. An untold number fills the outdoor audience.

Already under many internal political pressures, the Soviet government needed to control this massive gathering in this recalcitrant state. To avoid tense moments at the large gathering, Soviet officials ordered that Estonians are not to sing their beloved people-adopted national song. At the conclusion of the festival, the people spontaneously broke into singing the national song, their usual practice at the conclusion of their concerts. The Russians relented and allow the choir director to lead the people. Experiencing shame, Gorbachev is ordered arrested and the USSR began to splinter. Russia declared itself free then other nations followed.

The singing was the heart and soul of these freedom fighters. It ignited patriotism in the Estonian people. The revolution's soldiers were children of all ages, men and women. They formed an unarmed army, making victory unlike any in history. Truly, the Estonian revolt was a victory of and by its singing people.