Slog
News & ArtsSunday, December 18, 2011
1
I was about to SlogTip this. Mr. Havel ran a government without pretense or bluster. In the first year or so of the liberated Czechoslovakia, I noticed in my local paper that his vice-president for science and research was in town to give an address and mentioned it to a colleague who was just beginning a collaboration with some Czech scientists on an international conservation project. He easily reached him by telephone and invited him over for a chat; I still remember the vice-president and his deputy walking together up the winding road to our little institute.
We have an "Absurdistan" of a different kind going on in this country. I wonder if we will ever have the fortitude to fix it, and the intelligence to give science and research a prominent role in guiding our future.
We have an "Absurdistan" of a different kind going on in this country. I wonder if we will ever have the fortitude to fix it, and the intelligence to give science and research a prominent role in guiding our future.
4
Historian Newt Gingrich weighs in:
"He compared his role (attacking Democrats) in the bank affair to the actions of Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia, Lech Walesa of Poland and Boris Yeltsin of Russia in bringing down Communism. "I'm going to the Gdansk shipyards," he said. "I can't tell you when we will win. Every year is a make-or-break moment until the system collapses. We'll know that when it happens."
NYT 3/17/92
"He compared his role (attacking Democrats) in the bank affair to the actions of Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia, Lech Walesa of Poland and Boris Yeltsin of Russia in bringing down Communism. "I'm going to the Gdansk shipyards," he said. "I can't tell you when we will win. Every year is a make-or-break moment until the system collapses. We'll know that when it happens."
NYT 3/17/92
6
The Velvet Revolution may still be the most recent clear example of the pen being mightier than the sword.
7
Havel will always have a place in my heart. Not only as someone who is of Czech (Bohemian) descent, but also as a former theatre major I had a great deal of respect for what Havel was able to accomplish under Soviet rule as a playwright and political activist. His writings showed that through letters and humor corrupt systems can be overcome.
I am sad to hear of his passing, but happy to have known of him.
I am sad to hear of his passing, but happy to have known of him.
8
I believe in Havel as a role model for true searching in a life time as human being. Sorry Lech Walesa and Boris Yeltsin betrayed their countries once they got into power. I admire Havel but I truly mourn for Christa Wolf.
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