Attn: DC Reasonoids! The Revolution Will Be Sung Tonight, Jan. 23 at 6:30 P.M.!

Please join us at reason HQ tonight, Jan. 23, at 6:30 P.M. as director James Tusty discusses and shows excerpts from his remarkable new documentary, The Singing Revolution, about the crucial role of group song in Estonia's David vs. Goliath independence struggle against the Soviet Union.

See portions of a film the L.A. Times called "gripping" and "inspiring," hear about the tradition of patriotic music as dissent, and enjoy a Baltic drink or two.

What: Excerpts from The Singing Revolution, and Q&A with director James Tusty.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 23, 6.30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Where: Reason, 1747 Connecticut Ave., NW, two blocks north of Dupont Circle.

How much: As free as the Baltic Sea breeze, though RSVPs are a must.

RSVP info: [e-mail] or 310-391-2245

Comments

Guy Montag | January 17, 2008, 3:17pm | #

Now those are some protest singers that I can support!

Ken Shultz | January 17, 2008, 3:17pm | #

Out of curiosity, how are Baltic drinks different from other drinks?

Matt Welch | January 17, 2008, 3:21pm | #

More vodka-ier.

SugarFree | January 17, 2008, 3:23pm | #

enjoy a Baltic drink or two

There's nothing Baltic about having just a drink or two.

Montoya | January 17, 2008, 3:24pm | #

What do cosmotarians drink?

Guy Montag | January 17, 2008, 3:32pm | #

What do cosmotarians drink?

Martinis, of course. Big giant ones, while smoking big cigars and twirling pocket watch chains.

Warty | January 17, 2008, 3:39pm | #

What do cosmotarians drink?

I drink beer by the liter. I'm not sure what that makes me. Fruity Euro-measurement...cosmo. Beer...paleo. Decent beer...cosmo? Someone please tell me what label to attach to myself.

Guy Montag | January 17, 2008, 3:41pm | #

Someone please tell me what label to attach to myself.

Pabst

Warty | January 17, 2008, 3:46pm | #

By a lucky coincidence, I own dial Pabst wristbands. They're my most prized wristbands.

Warty | January 17, 2008, 3:48pm | #

Crap. Dial = dual.

mk | January 17, 2008, 3:51pm | #

So the group we need to ally ourselves with aren't the neo-confederates it's the Sweet Adelines ?!

Geez, someone tell Ron Paul stat.

Also, I don't drink, can I still be a cosmotarian? Do I need to call myself a cosmo-teetotalitarian?

The Wine Commonsewer | January 17, 2008, 4:40pm | #

I had the good fortune to see the Singing Revolution. It was fabulous, except there was a lot of allergens in the air or something. I kept having to dab my eyes.

The Wine Commonsewer | January 17, 2008, 4:45pm | #

I'll raise your Pabst wristbands.....

Hanging on my wall are dual Pabst Blue Ribbon beer barrels, with the bright blue ribbon on the end caps. They were originally used for promotional good will by beer reps. They date to the late 1960's early 1970's and are mint condition.

The Wine Commonsewer | January 17, 2008, 4:48pm | #

Also, I don't drink, can I still be a cosmotarian? Do I need to call myself a cosmo-teetotalitarian?

Yes AND Yes.

Done.

[Looks at Urkobold who bangs the gavel and exclaims THREADWINNER]

Scott | January 17, 2008, 4:49pm | #

If you want to endear yourself to the speaker, bring a bottle of Saaremaa vodka. It's his favorite, although I don't know if you can get it in the States.

I saw this documentary at its premiere. Probably the first movie I teared up in since Mr. Spock died. It makes you proud to be human.

Captain Chaos | January 17, 2008, 4:51pm | #

So, I take it that paleos prefer to sip mint juleps while sitting on their front porch and watching the happy darkies work the land?

gaijin | January 17, 2008, 4:59pm | #

I thought singing was a joyous thing...look at the faces on all those kids...they look like mom and dad made them sing in the recital.

NoStar | January 17, 2008, 5:11pm | #

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOEU87SBTU

This revolution too will be co-opted before it begins.

Cut & paste or click on my name.

Kiisike | January 17, 2008, 5:21pm | #

You are all something else.

I saw this in New York a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely cannot wait for it to finally come down to this area. I am absolutely biased, sure, as this is a personal, family thing for me, but that aside it was still great. Probably the most moving film I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.

The Wine Commonsewer | January 17, 2008, 5:35pm | #

When I was a kid I was in cub scouts with a boy whose family excaped the Baltics. I had no idea WTF Lithuania was but he sure enlightened me. He had picture books and passion. I've never forgotten Doug.

The Wine Commonsewer | January 17, 2008, 5:37pm | #

You are all something else.

Am Not!

OK Kiisike :-)

I repeat my 4:40 comment here:

I had the good fortune to see the Singing Revolution (last May). It was fabulous, except there was a lot of allergens in the air or something. I kept having to dab my eyes.

Matt Welch | January 17, 2008, 5:41pm | #

Thanks, Scott!

Kiisike | January 17, 2008, 5:42pm | #

Yeah I did note that Mr. Commonsewer, and that's great to hear, honestly. :]

The more people who see this and learn, the better.

Baltic drinks | January 18, 2008, 4:33am | #

http://www.saaremaavodka.ee/
http://www.turivodka.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vana_Tallinn/
http://www.matrics-importing.com/

vanya | January 18, 2008, 10:28am | #

Enjoy it while you can. Someday it will all be Russian again.

Matt Welch | January 18, 2008, 10:37am | #

I missed you, vanya.

NotSoFast | January 18, 2008, 11:02am | #

...

und Königsberg wird wieder ein Teil von Deutschland sein...

joe | January 18, 2008, 9:33pm | #

"...or two," huh?

Yeah. Sure.

imp | January 18, 2008, 10:32pm | #

So how did Latvia and Lithuania win independence? In the Evening Gown and Swim Suit competitions?

"A single nation. A million hot bods . . . . "

SIV | January 18, 2008, 10:40pm | #

Heh, the bot doesn't have scrolling function

Joe Allen | January 18, 2008, 9:32pm | #
What happened to the politcal survival thread?

I guess it didn't survive. :-(

SIV | January 18, 2008, 10:44pm | #

So do the editors have beards over here in mirrorverse?

Dedalus | January 18, 2008, 11:31pm | #

Ah, these plucky little Baltic states, where anything goes in the name of pro-West and anti-Russia march to progress. Libertarianism at the barrel of an Aryan gun...

Nutter | January 19, 2008, 9:23am | #

A big improvement on our homegrown singing revolutionaries

Chris Grieb | January 19, 2008, 10:29am | #

I have seen the movie and it is great. I must been at the same place with Wine because I had some allergy acting up too.

theOneState | January 23, 2008, 3:45pm | #

so...is it safe to come on an empty stomach?