- May 13, 2013
- 248
Vilnius Patriotic Youth grabs for brooms and rakes
On Saturday, May 11, Vilnius Patriotic Youth (WMP) – known for its active participation in Wilniuks social life – organized another action, namely – cleaning the Bernardine Cemetery in Užupis, which is not so popular among the “youth cleaners”, i.e. schools and organizations.
The idea quite uncharacteristic for Vilnius Patriotic Youth, because, as you know, is more focused on the graves of veterans and heroes of Polish Nation. This time we took care of peoples graves, about which is little known – only as much as it is engraved on a tombstone.
The idea came quite spontaneously. Same action was held two days earlier. On the WMP on Facebook appeared a message and invitation to all comers, and the day before the action – specific details of time and place of the meeting (on Saturday at 12 with “Angel” in Užupis). Gathered us (because of all the spontaneity) only 6 – met as planned, with “Angel” in Užupis, each brought their own tools and garbage bags and leaves. We set off in the direction of the cemetery.
After entering the cemetery we could not find an area which we will tide up – the cemetery even if we really want to clean out it we would be impossible. The choice fell on the area which was situated almost at the end of the cemetery, where the graves of Lithuanian which still weren’t seen. When we realized that we wanted to change the place of cleaning, knowing that this will infuriate media hostile to us and we can be accused of chauvinism and incitement to hatred, so this idea remained in the form of a loose joke (we hope that it will not change).
After four hours, the area was cleaned and squeaky clean, so we started to roll up slowly. Along the way we cleaned a bit neglected (but in good condition) graves, which (as it later turned out) are taken care by the Adam Mickiewicz Gymnasium in Vilnius (two graves marked with plaques in the Lithuanian language ). For a bit of fun we swept the sidewalks near the car park opposite to the cemetery (we fancied the lesson ).
Although the action was spontaneous and a few of us got together, we can safely conclude that the cleaning was not only what we managed to do, but also gave a lot of thought (we saw how many of us, Poles, here used to be), and we spent time together. These actions are repeated more than once.
Tłumaczenie by Katarzyna Dąbrowska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Katarzyna Dąbrowska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.
