Odpočívej v pokoji, Václave Havle!*

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Zdravim vas, pratele!  Hi, pals! Sure, we've all been talking about Kim Jong-il and North Korea these days, but did you know that another big figure of modern history has left this world? Václav Havel, the "father" of the modern, post-communist Czech Republic.

The following excerpts contain some of the words Václav said throughout his political career, in his books, in interviews and such. No matter if we love him or are just indifferent to his role in the history of his people and Eastern Europe, he's undoubtedly one of the giants of freedom in modern time. Smart, sophisticated, principled, profound, and responsible to his nation, without necessarily being nationalist; a politician of global scope, without being a cosmopolitan... All in all, a complex figure who left a deep mark on his society. He surely deserves to be mentioned, even if to most people in the West he may look like a mere footnote in history. Because in fact he's of the magnitude of guys like Lech Wałęsa and Mikhail Gorbachev.

What distinguishes him from the former (and partly the latter) is that he's not exactly the "self-made" type of politician, who crawled out of a concrete residence block at some point, sold his Trabi to fund his new organization, then read a few mediocre books written by Western "intellectuals", and suddenly decided he was ready to teach others of "democracy". Nope, he knew pretty well where he was coming from and more importantly, where he was going, and where he wanted to bring his people. He had the confidence of a leader of a nation which had always been capable of giving more to the world than taking from it - something not many peoples could say about themselves.

Just some trivia btw... The Lucerna Palace at the central square in Václavské Náměstí (Václav Square) in Old Prague was built by his grandfather, Václav Maria Havel Sr (the Jr got it back after it was restituted by the state). This is not something unimportant, at least as far as shedding some light on Václav Jr's heritage. He certainly wasn't some third-rate deputy of the deputy to the secretary of state or something, a bureaucrat who'd look ridiculous if he attempted building a society and preaching about the principles of democracy and "capitalism with a human face".

Below is just a glimpse of the splendor of the palace, and the marvelous taste of the Czech... Before I plunge into a very rough translation of some excerpts from speeches and book chapters by Václav Havel, that strikingly remind me of our very own freedom hero, Vasil Levski, who had lived a century before the Czech hero.

The following quotes may or may not give us some insight about the processes that had been going on in the Czech society before and after the fall of communism, and the principles that Václav tried to apply during the difficult transition period towards building a new Czech society:


...Restoring freedom in a morally rotten environment has caused some phenomena that could've been expected, but still exceeded all our expectations. I'm talking about the enormous, almost blinding explosion of all negative human traits imaginable.

...The rules, if we might call them so, which the authoritarian regime had created, are now dismantled. The new rules of the freely accepted responsibility to society, have still not been forged. And they cannot be forged overnight, because such a thing can only be born and cultivated over many many years.

...Our society may've freed itself, but there are moments when it acts even worse than the time when it was unfree. All sorts of crimes increased, the media are pouring the same well-known filth that always comes from the deepest and darkest bowels of society, whenever times are of historical transition and strife.

...But time and time again, I get convinced that our society harbors enormous potential of good will. Except this good will is somehow fragmented, capsulated, frightened, choked and confused by the circumstances; it appears crippled and helpless. It's like it doesn't know what to lean on, how to start, where and how to make a meaningful realization of its potential.

...They say every nation has exactly the politicians it deserves. In a sense this is true: indeed the politicians are a mirror of society, and a personification of its abilities. But meanwhile, and that's a paradox, the reversed is valid too: society is also kind of a mirror of its politicians. A lot really depends on the politicians - which forces of society they'll unleash and which they'll suppress; and whether they'd lean upon the good or the worse in every single person, individually.

...One of my most surprising realizations in the sphere of "big politics" is that the display of a good sense of taste is much more important than having any political education. In politics, such things like empathizing with the other's opinion are more important, as well as the ability to speak convincingly, or quickly navigate through people's problems, and into their souls.

...It's not true that in politics only the insensitive cynics, swanks, impudent fellows and churls always succeed. Indeed, politics tends to attract them, but at the end of the day honesty and good upbringing prevails.

...I admit that cultural degradation terrifies me more than the economical one. It's more visible and it "physically" torments the person. I'd be more bothered if, say, the pub I frequent is untidy and if I'm treated in a boorish manner, than if I couldn't afford to attend it regularly and dine on the most expensive meals.

...No one can convince me that the nurse would start treating her patient better only after she's better paid. Or that the more expensive home is necessarily cozier. Or that only the wealthy merchant can be polite, and only the prosperous farmer can treat his livestock more humanely.

...Evil may always exist; and human grief - too. The political arena always attracts irresponsible opportunists, ambitious people and crooks. Neither me, nor anyone else could win this war once and for all. The best you can hope for is winning a battle or two here and there. And even this is not guaranteed. But still, I reckon it's worth persisting with our efforts. This war has been fought for centuries on and on, and let's hope it'll continue for many more. It has to be fought for the principles, and because it's right. Or, if you like, because God himself intended so. It's an eternal, never-ending war.

...Few are the people with illusions as worthless as mine. And yet I feel obliged to stand for what I deem right and good. I don't know if I'll be able to change anything in this direction. I assume both outcomes are possible. What I cannot accept is that fighting for good and right is worthless.

...We'll never build a lawful and democratic society if we don't build a human society, one with morality, spirituality and culture - as non-scientific as this may sound in the ears of the politologist.

...Even the best laws and the most perfect democratic mechanisms cannot guarantee lawfulness, nor freedom, nor human rights, if they're not furnished with certain human values. What's the use of a law that no one respects, no one defends and no one follows?

...Law, by itself, and democratic institutions on their own are helpless, if they don't have the will and courage of decent people behind them, people who would not allow abuse thereof.

...I'll keep boring you to death, and despite all the condescending smiles I'd get, about the responsibility of morality, now when we're standing face to face with the marasmus of our society.

...Today, just like yesterday, I have no reason to believe that this battle of mine is a doomed cause. The only battles we lose are those that we've quit before they have even begun.

* "R.I.P., Václav Havel".

Comments

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

such things like empathizing with the other's opinion are more important, as well as the ability to speak convincingly, or quickly navigate through people's problems, and into their souls.

Brilliant line.

[onefatmusicnerd.livejournal.com]

Vaclav Havel made sure that we knew that it was not any rock and roll that was the anthem of the revolution. It was not the misogynistic tax-evading Rolling Stones, nor the banal boy-band The Beatles, or even the subversively African-American influenced Elvis Presley. It was the classically trained, emotional distant, drug fueled, pop art inspired Velvet Underground that gave its name to the Velvet Revolution.



I am proud to say that I shook Vaclav Havel's and and had him sign an English copy of his book, Temptation, for my mother. Since her death, it has become on of my most prized possessions.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Dude, that's fascinating. I haven't put my hands on that book yet.

[onefatmusicnerd.livejournal.com]

And say what you will about the US Army... but if I were a dictator I would be more afraid of an author with a couple of VU tapes and a book by Ellis Sandoz.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

The world is a strange place really. Within a short time, a great legend has left it, as well as a criminal psychopath.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Somehow the universe always restores balance.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

How very Zen!

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

Thanks, after a few posts about that other guy, it's nice to remember someone like Václav Havel.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

When he died I was eager to write the eulogy for him but I figured it best to wait and let a European write it.

The unique perspective of those who've struggled against communism is a loss for sure.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

You should've written the eulogy. I doubt there's a East European who isn't biased on these issues.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's better than being indifferent.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Havel and company were true heroes.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

He had the confidence of a leader of a nation which had always been capable of giving more to the world than taking from it - something not many peoples could say about themselves.

And that confidence was absolutely justified. The nation that gave to the world St. Wenceslaus, Jan Hus, Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, Franz Kafka, Miloš Forman, Martina Navratilova, Jaromir Jagr, Dominik Hašek, and Eva Herzigova, and Silvia Saint if you like; and also kolače, knedliky, Becherovka, Pilsner Urquell, Starobrno, Budvar, Gambrinus and Staropramen; the country of Hradčany, Vyšehrad and Stare mesto; of Karlovy Vary, Česky Raj and the High Tatry... has ALL reasons to be proud of itself.

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Btw I think apart from Havel, we ought to mention Alexander Dubček, an equally heroic giant in Czecho-Slovakian history.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

I once had roast deer with blueberry sauce and becherovka in Praha. It was divine.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

A great man and perhaps the only nationalist I have no contempt for. May he RIP.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

It's kind of symbolic that Havel has the same name as the patron saint and godfather of the Czech nation, Vaclav IV.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Turns out that the moment being ripe with opportunity for change is not enough. You need the right person at the right place at the right moment to make things happen.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

A much better man than Walesa and Hitchens. Many forget that he was a writer before he turned to politics, and a great one at that. Not an asshole or glib or narcissistic. A real brave risk taker and humanist. And he didn't turn rampant right wing either after the "velvet" revolution of the Czech republic.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

Most of my heroes have become tainted over time. Havel remains one who hasn't.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Even Captain America??

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.
From the quotes you gave, this is a man whose writings I will peruse.