"A free society is a place where individuals are free to be different, to think differently, to live their lives as they choose."
This quote by Toomas Hendrik Ilves emphasizes that a "free society" values diversity, individuality, and personal freedom. It suggests that in such a society, people have the liberty to express themselves freely, think independently, and live their lives according to their own choices without undue interference or restriction from external authorities. This notion of freedom is crucial for personal growth, creativity, and the development of a vibrant, dynamic community where everyone's unique perspectives and experiences are respected and valued.
"If you can't stand up for freedom anywhere, stand up for it everywhere."
This quote by Toomas Hendrik Ilves emphasizes a strong commitment to promoting and protecting freedom universally. It suggests that if one cannot defend freedom in specific situations or locations, then they should advocate for it consistently across all contexts. In essence, it calls for unwavering support of freedom wherever it is under threat or not fully realized.
"Democracy and rule of law are not about the majority winning, but about the loser accepting the result."
This quote emphasizes the fundamental principle of a democratic system, where it's not just about the majority triumphing, but also ensuring that the losing party accepts the results fairly and peacefully. It underscores the importance of respect for the rule of law, which upholds fairness, equality, and the protection of minority rights in a democratic society. In essence, democracy is more than just winning; it's about maintaining trust, unity, and adherence to established rules and principles even when one doesn't hold the majority view.
"The greatest strength of a democracy is its capacity for self-correction."
Toomas Hendrik Ilves' statement highlights the inherent resilience and adaptability of democratic systems. Democracy has an innate ability to address its own flaws, correct mistakes, and learn from past experiences through the mechanisms of free and fair elections, public debate, and the rule of law. This self-correcting nature allows democracy to maintain stability, progress, and legitimacy in the face of challenges and change, ultimately ensuring its survival and prosperity over time.
"We should never forget that the first duty of every government is to protect the safety and security of its citizens."
This quote by Toomas Hendrik Ilves underscores the fundamental role of a government – to prioritize and safeguard the well-being, security, and protection of its citizens. It emphasizes that the primary function of any governing body is to ensure their people's safety from both internal and external threats, thereby fostering an environment conducive for prosperity and peace. This responsibility encompasses various aspects such as maintaining law and order, providing essential services, ensuring national security, and promoting a stable political climate.
In a modern digitalized world, it is possible to paralyze a country without attacking its defense forces: The country can be ruined by simply bringing its SCADA systems to a halt. To impoverish a country, one can erase its banking records. The most sophisticated military technology can be rendered irrelevant. In cyberspace, no country is an island.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
When Estonia reestablished its sovereignty after a half century of successive thuggish, totalitarian, foreign occupations by the Soviets, the Nazis, and then again the Soviets, we knew we wanted to create a democratic country characterized by rule of law and respect for human rights.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Digital warfare, in the Clausewitz definition as 'the continuation of policy by other means,' reached Western public consciousness via my own country, Estonia, in 2007 when our governmental, banking, and news media servers were hit with 'distributed denial-of-service attacks,' which is when hackers overload servers until they shut down.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
In Germany, a country that for obvious reasons is far more attuned than most to the dangers of demagogy, populism, and nationalism, lawmakers have already proposed taking legal measures against fake news. When populist, nationalist fake news threatens the liberal democratic center, other Europeans may follow suit.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
The E-government cabinet, E-health services, online voting, online pre-filled tax returns, e-mobile parking, are all examples of Estonian innovation, but far more importantly, they are examples of the transformative power of intensive and extensive use of Information Technology in the public sector.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
I was surprised by some of my French colleagues who immediately assumed that because I spoke English with an American accent, that, therefore, you must be a supporter of whoever is the current president of the United States. There seems to be this widespread feeling that, 'Oh, American accent - therefore, you like cowboy boots.'
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Generally, people's fear and hesitancy regarding greater computerization comes from a George Orwell/'1984'-based metaphor of a single computer or data base where all your information is stored, knows everything about you, and can use this information at will and for evil purposes.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
The thing people forget is that the entire world - or, at least, Europe, U.S., transatlantic, Russia, Soviet Union - that security architecture has been in place since 1945 and has been refined. Already, the U.N. charter that everyone signed is that you can't change borders through use of force or even threat of use of force.
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves
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