How was Little Lithuania formed? Did Germans or Prussians live in Klaipėda? Sky or Denmark? What do we show by restoring historically significant structures? Why is respect for history important? About this - in the discussion of historians Robert Petrauskas and Valdas Rakutis, which took place in Klaipėda. https://raudonaplyta.lt/aukoti/ Historians Petrauskas and Rakutis invite to discuss why Lithuanians do not accept Klaipėda? Have Lithuanians really accepted Klaipėda and its region into their cultural family? Without Little Lithuania, would we not have preserved the Lithuanian language today? Why is it that only Lithuanian things are loved in Klaipėda? Famous historians Robertas Petrauskas and professor Valdas Rakutis invite Klaipėda residents to discuss these and similar questions in an exclusive event. During the event, a photo exhibition dedicated to the architectural heritage of Little Lithuania was also presented. The professor's thoughts that provoked the discussion on October 21. In the "Švyturys Bhouse" space, two famous historians - prof. Valdas Rakutis and Robertas Petrauskas invited the people of Klaipėda to discuss the controversial but extremely relevant topic "Why Lithuanians do not accept Klaipėda?". According to the organizers of the event, the topic for the open discussion was dictated by the thoughts expressed by professor Valdas Rakutis: "If Lithuanians accepted the entire history of Memelis-Klaipėda, we would be greatly enriched with notable people, events and many other aspects. It is painful to see how the remains of Memel are still not valued, focusing only on the Lithuanian history of the city. The history of this region did not begin with the annexation of Klaipėda to Lithuania. It is necessary to appreciate, preserve and respect what has survived from the old times, despite the fact that at that time the land was not Lithuanian", says prof. V. Rakutis. Invited everyone present to actively discuss During the discussion with historians, the listeners were invited to ask questions to both historians live or virtually. According to historian Robertas Petrauskas, the aim of this event was to involve the gathered audience as much as possible and to hear a sincere position on the current topic. "This is a very relevant topic and it is necessary to discuss it. The contribution of Klaipėda region and Little Lithuania in general to the development of Lithuania is huge, therefore this region, its hundred-year-old culture and historical legacy deserve a much more respectful attitude than we are currently showing it," says historian and writer R. Petrauskas. Presentation of the photo exhibition "Red bricks of Klaipėda region" During the discussion "Why Lithuanians do not accept Klaipėda?", the presentation of the unique photo exhibition "Red bricks of Klaipėda region" took place. This is a project about surviving but disappearing red brick buildings in Klaipėda region. According to Edita Valinčienė, the initiator of the exhibition and the director of the public institution "Raudonas plytos", "red brick buildings in the Klaipėda region are best recognized after crossing the former border of Greater Lithuania and the Klaipėda region, when the wooden houses and buildings of the Žemaitsa region are replaced by works of red brick. These are mainly public buildings: schools, evangelical Lutheran churches and their building ensembles, post offices, train stations. Unfortunately, although they have survived, they are currently disappearing, although some have been privatized.” Six volunteer photographers agreed to dedicate their time and talents to artistically immortalizing these buildings. After the presentation in the "Švyturys Bhouse" space, the exhibition "Red bricks of Klaipėda region" will later travel through different parts of the city of Klaipėda: in November and December it will be exhibited at the Klaipėda Fishermen's Culture House, and in 2025 - at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Klaipėda University, Klaipėda County Public Ieva Simonaitytė library and other representative spaces of the port city. This event officially ended the half-year-long "Lutheran Culture Days" series of events in Western Lithuania. https://raudonaplyta.lt/