When songs trumped rifles,
new book by Guntis Šmidchens
Review by Nancy Joseph
College of Arts & Sciences Communications
University of Washington

Songs are powerful weapons.

When the Soviet Union attacked the newly independent Baltic nations in 1991, Baltic citizens responded by gathering en masse and singing in nonviolent protest. The Soviets eventually backed down.

"Singing raises self-esteem and gives people a sense of community. It can calm violence in a really threatening situation," said Guntis Šmidchens, an associate professor of Scandinavian studies who leads the UW Baltic Studies Program. "In the Baltics, it was a way that each person in those demonstrations got their courage."

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