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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Our leaders
New citizens Thanks for a great article ["Bill aims to restore citizen status," News, Dec. 3-9]! One correction: Czech refugees to the United States who became U.S. citizens by May 7, 1957, always had dual citizenship. The 1927/28 agreement was not in effect during the war. Jirina Fuchsova Plzen (Pilsen)/Los Angeles Film stars This is a great addition to The Prague Post [Hollywood East, Dec. 3-9] and allows those of us in the States to have a better idea of yet another facet of your fascinating city. Dr. Kate Tandy Bakersfield, California Roma support Well done to Dija Gidzic. This article ["Dija Gidzic: Kosovo's Romany envoy," Prague Profile, Dec. 3-9] highlights the fact that with just a little support and encouragement members of the Romany community can achieve a large amount. I hope The Prague Post keeps up the good work of speaking out on behalf of the Roma community. Joe Phelan Dublin, Ireland Got my first issue yesterday, and read your piece on Dija -- just wonderful! A tremendous tale, and passionately told -- I feel like I have a stake in how she does here, and once back at home. I look forward to reading it every week, if your profiles are always this good! David Showalter Brno Beware the big boys I am really quite worried about what I've just read ["Neighbors say Non! to Carrefour," Real Estate, Nov. 19-25]. Watch it, Prague, the big boys they are a'coming. I am talking about the McDonald's restaurants, the Carrefours and the Tescos. They will, unintentionally or not, knock the living daylights out of your communities. Soon you will have so much "choice," but it will exist only within the four gray walls of the giant multinational retailers, and your splendid smaller/family-run Czech businesses will be hung out to dry. I urge you to resist the advances of Carrefour and others by every legal means. You are fighting for your very way of life here. A tactic such as letting an area run down, then bombarding it with unbelievably bad development proposals is a classic means by which the big machinery of chain stores will try to get their way. In England, the urban areas have been ruined by removal of essential sevices such as local post offices, schools and playing fields. They are often replaced by sky-high-priced homes and soulless retail parks. The result? Car congestion on a scale you wouId never believe, plus a general decline in the quality of life and ever-rising criminal activity. Please don't make the same mistakes we in England have made. Rob East Littlehampton West Sussex, England Appreciates Profile It is with great satisfaction that I read today a copy of your feature on Linda Wagner and her company, Transitions ["Linda Wagner: Expats' handholder," Prague Profile, Sept. 17-23]. Linda is an old friend, and I was delighted to receive from her a scribbled note and folded copy of the article. I fell in love with Prague four years ago when I came to visit Linda. I plan to return with my daughters and to celebrate a high school graduation. I cannot wait. Valerie Littleton Clarksville, Maryland Freedom's slaves Maybe you should not enter the United States for work if you are on a visitor's visa ["'Slavery' for American paycheck," News, Dec. 3-9]. My wife is from the Czech Republic and has a great job as a mechanical engineer. But of course she is working legally. You cannot expect to be treated properly if you are cheating the system. I suppose if I were to go to the Czech Republic for work on a visitor's visa, I would be treated the same way. Mark Kansas City, Kansas via the Web The Czechs most likely committed some crime such as prostitution; otherwise they will not go to jail just for emigration violation. We had a case of very large prostitution in Los Angeles, and to avoid jail in the United States, they agreed to leave the country. John Dorusinec Los Angeles Likes Da Lorenzo I am an American living in Prague and have been a good customer of your paper since my arrival here one year ago. I have enjoyed many of your articles and have looked forward each week to buying your paper until I read the review of Da Lorenzo's Italian restaurant ["Eat hot lead," Night and Day, Nov. 26-Dec.2]. I was shocked that your paper would print such a terrible (and unprofessional) review. I am a frequent customer of Lorenzo's restaurant and find it to be one of the very best Italian restaurants in the city. Your reviewer distorted the facts and the fun environment of Da Lorenzo's to almost a slanderous point. And his knowledge of how Italian food is prepared proves that either the reviewer is an amateur or that he had ulterior motives for his comments. I am very displeased with this review, and unless you correct this display of ill-advised journalism, I will no longer recommend your paper, much less buy any more editions. Clay Freeman Prague 2 Say no to the EU I cannot believe the leaders of the home of my ancestors are supporting the European Union ["Nation's delegates support EU treaty," News, Dec. 10-16]. Czechs, please reconsider. You are giving up your national sovereignty to people you have not elected. This method of government is totalitarianism. Have you not learned your lesson after living under the Habsburgs, Hitler and Stalin? The EU constitution does not recognize your rights as a free people. When government details what rights you are to have, the government can take those rights away at the stroke of a pen. Whether you are a believer or not, humans derive their rights from a great power, not government. The people stand above the government. [Former Czech leaders] Masaryk and Benes are turning over in their graves. Your freedom has been short-lived if you join the EU. Jindrich Naizer Austin, Texas Asylum insanity The reason for the existence of this policy is obvious ["Interior's insane asylum policy," Postview, Nov. 19-25]: to discourage other potential immigrants from entering the Czech Republic, especially as illegal immigrants. The motive of government to limit access of immigrants from certain continents or countries to the Czech Republic might be discussed forever -- hours, months or years, depending how much time and energy one is willing to spend on this subject. Josef Celnar Foster City, California Political ponderings It is rather sad that the Civic Democratic Party has not learned what it means to be the "loyal opposition," especially as they are likely to form the government in 2006 ["Uncivil, uncivic Democrats go to extremes," Postview, Nov. 26-Dec.2]. It does not bode well for Czech democracy unless the major opposition party and the government act in a responsible manner. Fortunately, the current coalition is attempting to lay foundations sufficiently solid that it cannot be undermined too badly by the next shift in political parliamentary control. Joel Monkarsh San Leandro, California Reality intrudes Re: "Government drops treason appeal," News, Nov. 19-25. This acquittal was to be expected, because of the statute of time limitation. Those trials should have started in the early '90s. There should have been a commission set up to hear and investigate what happened in 1968 and who collaborated with the invaders, etc. All the traitors are old and will use their health and age as an excuse. This is logical and should be expected. It is not justice but it is a reality that has to be faced all over the former Eastern Europe and Asia, such as in Cambodia. Alexander Weiss New York Refugee treatment Re: "Interior's insane asylum policy," Postview, Nov. 19-25. The reason for the existence of this policy is obvious: to discourage other potential immigrants from entering the Czech Republic, especially as illegal immigrants. The motives of the government in limiting access of immigrants from certain continents or countries to the Czech Republic might be discussed forever -- hours, months, years, depending on how much time and energy one is willing to spend on this subject. Josef Celnar Foster City, California Established concept Your succinct summation of the colorful background to the profile of Heldentenor Peter Svensson ["Hero by another name," Prague Profile, Nov. 12-18] points to a central characteristic of Central Europe. Despite the negative effect of nationalism practiced by successive successor states, the idea of multiculturalism had been present in the region long before the concept was ever articulated by sociologists and promoted by politicians and bureaucrats. The gala performance of Tiefland, with its diversity of participants, is an appropriate testimony to this abiding tradition. Andrew Pressburger Toronto Response on Iraq I find that Mr. [W. Scott] Ritter has a selective memory when he condemns the United States ["Wrong turn," Opinion, Nov. 19-25]. He forgets that when Saddam Hussein threw the UN inspectors out of Iraq (itself a breach of Security Council resolutions), the inspectors were sure there were banned weapons of mass destruction and that Hussein refused to document their destruction. Indeed, even Hans Blix, the chief UN inspector, found Hussein in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1441! Ritter makes no mention of the fact that the intelligence services of every major nation, even Germany and France, believed Hussein had illegal weapons of mass destruction. Ritter also forgets that the UN inspectors in 2002-03 found many banned weapons that demonstrated Iraq's violations of the UN resolutions. His assertion that Iraq was not in violation of the UN resolutions is astonishing, given Hussein's actions. I want to thank the Czech Republic for providing troops for the noble purpose of building democracy in the Arab Middle East! Jonathan Epstein Brooklyn, New York Romany stakeholding The debate about Roma in recent editions was placed in sharp context for us when my wife was attacked by a gang of four on the tram on a Saturday night at namesti Republiky. They muscled me out of the way and one of them attempted to slice through her bag with a knife. This is the second time we've been targeted in half a dozen visits. So what can be learned? We've seen Roma around the country doing hard manual work, so in some places they are included at some level. However, overall they don't seem to have much stake in the place, which leads to fit young men going for rich pickings by robbing tourists, thereby potentially screwing up the tourist trade (word of mouth travels fast around the world). Czech Television coverage and decent street lighting at crime "hot spots" would help. So would some presence of police in such a high-profile place as namesti Republiky at 6:45 p.m., and creating stakeholding for an ethnic minority (what proportion of the police force is Romany compared with the population overall?). John and Pat Keith Appleby-in-Westmorland, England Delays worth it Andrew Satter's piece, "Long rail project to ensnarl Zizkov," [News, Nov. 26-Dec. 2], about the closure of the intersection near Bulhar, doesn't really explain the larger context of the project in this area. "Nove spojeni" is a multiyear project of Ceske drahy to modernize its infrastructure in Prague. The train bridge is only the first part. In regard to pedestrian and other forms of nonmotorized traffic, in the long run the area will benefit financially. The bridge is the start of a multifunction path for pedestrians, cyclists, inline skaters and people in wheelchairs, possibly all the way to Prague 9! It will be in the old train track that runs above Husitska and Konevova, then through the tunnel toward Nadrazi Liben and beyond. Our organization is proposing additions to the path, not just a connection to the Hala Sazka area but also from Seifertova directly into the train station from the east. The investors in the Churchill Square project (between Hlavni nadrazi, Seifertova, Italska and Vozova) have already agreed to build a bike path along the west side of their project to Spanelska ulice. What all this can mean is more pedestrians and more cyclists, which means more business. Todd Edelman Project manager, Prague Central Greenway Metro suggestion As a frequent visitor to Prague, I wish to extend my compliments to the Prague metro system. It is fast, economical and clean. Its rapid recovery from the flood is nothing short of a miracle. In the San Francisco Bay Area, our metro system is called BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). After much political and economic negotiation, and 30 years, we finally have extended BART to San Francisco International Airport. I am wondering whether there are plans to extend the Prague metro from the Dejvicka station to Ruzyne Airport. Because Prague is a world-class city, I think it is worth considering. Dale Olander Yosemite, California Inappropriate spot While not wishing at all to denigrate the public-spirited work of Wendy Luers, I hardly think that a feature-news item that by paragraph three is dwelling on the paucity of the Havels' wardrobe on the eve of Vaclav Havel's first presidential inauguration merits being the top-of-the-week story ["Donor diva," News, Nov. 5-11]. "I knew Olga for years, and I knew she had very few clothes," Wendy Luers recalls. "Dissidents lived sparsely." Well, stone the crows, thanks for the wake-up smack between the eyes -- weighty issues be damned. I would not be surprised if Luers herself is more than a bit mystified by which of her comments ("And then it dawns on me: Havel is wearing Bill's tie and Olga is wearing my blouse") you chose to draw readers into the story, considering some of the public-interest issues she comments on later in the piece. I feel you can do much better than this. Will Conroy Prague 6 Sudeten story I have read your report, "Sudeten contact prompts firing" [News, Oct. 29-Nov. 4] and find it interesting and well balanced. My attitude is based on the fact that I belong to the generation of Czechs that will not forget the guilt of the Germans for the poor conditions of the Czech lands and people during the German occupation. Karel Holbik Newton, Massachusetts Doubts on sex trade I read the article featuring the suggestion that there was an endemic problem with child prostitution in certain border towns of the Czech Republic with a sense of "Here we go again!" ["Child-prostitution claims disputed," News, Nov. 5-11]. Although I have never visited the towns in question, I have made numerous happy visits to the Czech Republic in the past eight years and I have never seen any evidence of such a problem in your country. There is a vested interest in constantly throwing this phenomenon into the public domain, but the public is becoming tired of the same old tune. Listen to the Czech police. They are in the front line of crime prevention and have proved to be pro-active. Their findings are that certain claims about the prevalence of child exploitation in the Czech Republic are exaggerated for a number of obvious and subtle reasons. I suggest that UNICEF and others take time to focus on those countries in the world where this issue is not afforded the high level of scrutiny that it currently receives in the Czech Republic. S. Cassidy (via Internet) United Kingdom Compliments dealt Thank you for your recent informative, open-minded and well-written article about the Tarot of Prague ["All decked out," Tempo, Oct. 8-14]. This deck could only be the issue of Karen [Mahony] and Alex [Ukolov], who are as practical and research-oriented as they are visionary. They have produced a tarot deck that is in a category all its own: visually exquisite; intellectually, artistically and symbolically satisfying; and richly realized on all levels. Thank you, Raymond Johnston, for being a person of integrity who respects those he interviews, and for treating seriously a subject that is often maligned without reason or reflection. Bonnie Wells Durango, Colorado I just wanted to thank The Prague Post for writing such a good article on the Prague tarot deck. I enjoyed reading the article, and I think it's great to see tarot in the news in such a down-to-earth, interesting and serious way. Thank you! Thijs Dekeukeleire Gent, Belgium Historical divide I can understand that this situation is a difficult one for all parties involved ["Sudeten contact prompts firing," News, Oct. 29-Nov. 4]. I'm afraid that atrocities committed during the war are not easy for the victims to forgive, and their anger is deeply seated no matter what efforts are made to build bridges. I can speak from my experiences of being an American woman married to a Japanese national and living in Japan. Believe me, the feelings run deep on both sides, and both of us had to endure a lot of strange looks and sometimes unkind comments by the older generation in Japan and by the veterans of the second World War in my own country. There will always be a small majority who just can't move on. I hope that all parties involved will be able to find a peaceful solution. It sounds like Mr. Stransky has done a lot of good things, and I hope his hard work and continuing efforts will go forward. Corry O'Brien Sedona, Arizona Roma treatment In response to [B.D.] Kavalir's letter ["Romany situation," Letters, Oct. 22-28] I would like to say a few words about my thoughts. Roma in the Czech Republic are denied a decent education. Roma in the Czech Republic are under constant threat of racist attacks and institutionalized prejudice. Roma in the Czech Republic are often denied important documentation that guarantee their proper rights as citizens. The Czech government has no interest in preserving and developing Roma culture. However, decency in these matters always prevails and I am glad that there are at least some intelligent Czechs working to improve the life of their fellow citizens. I am most grateful to The Prague Post for highlighting these issues to the English-speaking world. Chris Power York, England Asian tiger I commend Jeremy Hurewitz ["A tiger's tale," Opinion, Oct. 29-Nov. 4] for reporting on Mahathir Mohamad's outrageous antisemitic remarks. He has sullied his reputation and that of Malaysia. Mohamad's hate talk furthers the image of Islam as intolerant religion that incites hatred and encourages more Palestinian terrorism. June Brott Oakland, California Austerlitz outrage I believe NATO has gone too far in placing the station so near this historic site ["Battle lines," News, Oct. 29-Nov. 4]. Austerlitz was the site of Napoleon's greatest battle and should be preserved for historical purposes. Matt (via Internet) Tallahassee, Florida The Czech Republic is doing a lot of silly things and worse -- for example, the persecution of its Gypsies [Roma] and tolerating virulent racism. The Czechs will soon lose their reputation for being a civilized people and nation. This is yet another silly move. I hope it will be reversed. Vive l'empereur. Napoleon was a person who brought a measure of decency to the Europeans. Jay Bhattacharjee New Delhi, India Good going Congratulations on progress in meeting EU standards and planning to meet all the EU standards ["Report favorable on EU readiness," News, Nov. 5-11]. We Czech-Americans are proud of your progress and wish you continued success. James Janek Winona, Ohio Beer, please The Czech beer brewers would have more success exporting to U.S. markets if they had a trade organization in the United States working to increase exports ["Beer there," Business, Oct. 29-Nov. 4]. A friend of mine has a pub and imports Radegast. We went to the Czech Republic, tasted it, and he wanted it for his pub. It was a big hit, but it was very hard to locate the beer and get it to his pub. Mike Kozlik Omaha, Nebraska I have noticed that the Czech beers are not advertised at all here in the USA. This is a shame because the U.S. market is the most important one in the world. It seems that the Czechs love to cultivate obscurity! Stephen Price Winston-Salem, North Carolina Food illness Re: "Food poisoning problem persists" [News, Nov. 5-11]: I used to work for Tyson, both catching chickens from the houses and slaughtering them at the plant. I have seen the horrendous conditions these birds are raised in. As long as factory farming continues to exist and the industry continues to do business in the way that it does, there will continue to be problems with these diseases. The chances for super-germs to breed will increase also. My wife and I have now gone vegetarian, to quit being a part of the problem of factory farming. This intensive factory farming is increasingly harmful to society and should be stopped, or at least modified. Virgil Butler Pine Ridge, Arizona
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