Politics
These stories are beginning to be too serious so it’s time
to write something lighter – politics. My special interest
is small stories that are or not are a part of larger entity.
It would be nice to handle the whole context so that things would
get the meaning they deserve. From experience I can tell that
getting into the history, language and basic mentality of one
old nation in a few month is mere mission impossible along with
other studies and projects. Tom C and Petja P could perhaps do
it I perhaps couldn’t. So, small stories you shall have.
A guy who travelled a lot
A legend from last century tells that there was and probably
still is a man in Czech who never left his hometown and still
has been in eight different countries. Those who know some history
will get the idea fast. This man was born in 1918 some small village
near Prague. It was a time (1.) Austro-Hungarian Empire, which
faced her end 20.10.1918. Soon after his birth his country got
independent and so begun the time of (2.) Republic of Czechoslovakia
that lasted until the fall of 1938. Then his country changed to
(3.) Czech-Slovak republic for a half a year.
Tough times begun in the village. The Second World War begun
and Czechs flipped under Nazi rule. It was then, when the country
was called as (4.) Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and she
became a Nazi German satellite country until “liberation”
in 1945. A few years Czech lands were under hands of winners and
she were forced together with Slovaks again. New name was (5.)
Czechoslovak Republic. Communist coup de’ta in 1948 ended
this period and started a long time of communist regime. Now she
was renamed as (6.) Czechoslovak Socialist Republic that lasted
over 40 years until the Velvet revolution in 1989. For a few years
the man lived in (7.) Czech and Slovak Federal Republic until
these two countries finally separated and Czech land were now
called as (8.) Czech Republic. In fact this kind of travelling
is impossible elsewhere then in Czech lands.
Others like soldiers as their presidents, others inmates
Other interesting detail concerns about presidents of Czech.
Most of the countries have habit to choose honourable men or women
to this kind of post, at least politicians, except of course in
America where they choose brainless soldiers. In Czech a candidate
should feel comfortable if he or she has been an inmate at some
point or at least wanted. Here are few examples for starters –
list of all presidents.
1. Masaryk (1918-35), Austro-Hungarian wanted him for high treason,
which would have led to death. Instead they jailed his wife.
2. Benes (1935-38) was also wanted for high treason and in this
case too they imprisoned his wife.
3. Háhca (1938-39) was accused for co-operation with Nazi
Germans and he died imprisoned.
4. Benes (1945-48) at the second time. Precidency ended when he
was put under house arrest.
5 . Gottwald (1948-53) was imprisoned before his presidency during
his time in parliament, as he was accused of rowdy behaviour in
there.
6 . Zápotocký (1953-57) was imprisoned by Nazis.
7 . Novotný (1957-68) was also imprisoned by Nazis.
8 . Svoboda (1968-75) was imprisoned in 1939 in Poland and in
50’s in Czech.
9 . Husák (1975-89) imprisoned in 1950 by his fellow party
members.
10 . Havel (1989-2003) was imprisoned by his former in 1979-83.
11. Klaus (2003- ) has never been as jailbird but many thinks
he would be a good candidate.
The future rest in good hands as there are many appropriate candidates
in Czech politicians.
Defenestrations
Czechs have a strange traditional way of making politics. When
they get really angry to those in power, they literally throw
them out of window from very high. Possible to the caring hands
or spears of welcoming comity and they make very thorough job.
They haven’t unfortunately acted this way quite resent,
as last defenestration was committed in 1940’s.
First defenestration happened in 1419 only few years after reformist
Jan Hus died. It was then, when angry Hussaits through 14 officers
down from town hall at Old Town. It proved handy so they used
it again in 1483. But this wasn’t so original that they
didn’t count it as defenestration. “Second”
defenesrtration happened 1618. This time two governors learnt
how to fly. And they did as both survived. This followed a revolution
that didn’t please Mr Ferdinand who was probably quite irritated
as he attacked to Czech. Third defenestration happened in 1948.
The last non-communist minister Jan Masaryk, son of first president,
was found dead in the yard of Cernin palace. It looked like murder
but official communist propaganda told it was suicide. Later they
discovered that it was really a defenestration.
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