"It’s regrettable that commercial TV channels have a peculiar understanding of citizenship and patriotism and call their listings festive, yet include merely comedies and action movies. It's such a peculiar understanding of the phenomena of patriotism and citizenship and education, and we all know that television is really persuasive and significant in shaping our state's general self-perception," he said in an interview for the Žinių Radijas (News Radio) on Tuesday.
According to Lingė, various events and initiatives dedicated to 16 February will take place in Lithuania, and he invited people to actively participate in them. "Everything depends only on us, on our attitude and whether we’ll be able to make this day something more than just an ordinary day off," he said.
The presidential adviser also underlined that, in the president's opinion, patriotism is cultivated not on public holidays and during festive events but in everyday activities.
"The family, school, community and, of course, daily work are very important factors (…) when people do a conscientious and honest job," Lingė said.
Lithuania will mark the 94th anniversary of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania on Thursday.
On 16 February, 1918 the Council of Lithuania led by Jonas Basanavicius proclaimed the restoration of the independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital.
