I’m reading this book on Lithuanian history and the history of identity and it really shows how much we’ve dumbed down our questions and understanding of “identity”. For example, Lithuania adopted the strategy for centuries to be the middle man; bringing together...

Russians, Polish, Jews, Tatars, Germanic and Scandinavian people. Learning their languages, adopting their names and religions to gain advantages etc. To be Lithuanian for centuries was something similar what Americans hold to be American today: doesn’t matter where you’re from..

Or what language is your first, you can be Lithuanian if you believe in the Lithuanian land and it’s rightful purpose. Jogaila’s first language was something more Russian/Ukrainian, multiple Polish kings who didn’t speak Lithuanian fought to uphold it as an equal state, ...

Tatars lived/fought in a land they adopted and there are hundreds more examples, from poets to great thinkers. Today when people argue of if Lithuania is Baltic or Slavic, it’s really the middle melting pot of it all and it has historically played that to its advantage...

Balancing the Polish off with Ruthenians, being the middle man between Germanic Teutons and the Polish. The point is, Lithuania has historically kept a fluid identity to position itself in an advantageous position if it could not overpower by force. Today Lithuania positions...

Itself as Western/Northern in balance itself into the western order of power (EU/UN) but also acts as a lighthouse for the rest of the East like Belarus and Ukraine. This has and always will be Lithuania’s strategy; its identity.

I think my very own surname is proof of this too. My great-grandfather changed his name from Klevickas to Chlevickas with help from a polish priest to escape Russian persecution and survive.

Through adoption and assimilation there was survival. Perhaps an arguing point to why Prussia didn’t survive history whilst Lithuania did?

I think is also a very interesting point towards any emigrants with identity questions today. Today’s Lithuanians can be very conservative and preserving the language and traditions are important but you are no less Lithuanian because of your language or place of home

You can say you are as Lithuanian as Jogaila who neither spoke Lithuanian as his first language or lived there for any large portion of his life!