Vaclav Havel Was Both A Political And An Intellectual Hero. You Couldn't Say That Of Our Politicians

Telegraph(UK) ^ | December 18, 2011 | Ed West

[Steelfish]

Vaclav Havel Was Both A Political And An Intellectual Hero. You Couldn't Say That Of Our Politicians

Ed West December 18th, 2011

Vaclav Havel: thinker, statesman, hero of the people. It says much about Vaclav Havel that, perhaps alone among European politicians, his face can often be seen gracing the walls of restaurants in his homeland. People might wish to pay such a tribute to their monarch, or in some parts of Europe their religious leaders; rarely to politicians. How many of Britain or France's former heads of government might inspire such genuine affection?

Havel, who died today in the Czech Republic, was something rare in history. He was one of the heroes of the anti-Communist movement, but uniquely he was both one of the great intellectual heroes of the Eastern Bloc and one its political heroes. Indeed in politics, where more often than not vapidity and managerialism is rewarded, he was an unusual thinker-statesman. How many other politicians of his era had a Samuel Beckett play dedicated to them, or were genuine friends of leading musicians and poets? While the Communist leadership was ugly, old, predictable and pedestrian, its number one critic was cooler than a rock star.

It was Havel who helped, as much as anyone, to put across the idea that Communism was built on an illusion and that, once people began to doubt the illusion, it would collapse. His essay "The Power of the Powerless" described a system based on the Emperor’s New Clothes, a fairytale that would perfectly suit the bizarre shadow world of Marxist-Leninism. In Czechoslovakia the “brotherly help” given by the Soviet Union in 1968 was followed by “normalisation” whereby 145 historians were expelled from universities and any praise for the inter-war Czechoslovakian democracy banned.

[Steelfish]

But Clinton and Obama think they are like Havel

[who_would_fardels_bear]

It was better in America when we were proud of our anti-intellectualism. That might have been self-defeating, but at least it was honest.

Now we praise idiots because they are said to be great intellects, when it fact they are complete morons.

That is self-defeating and dishonest.

[denydenydeny]

One of the greatest man of the twentieth century. His successor Vaclav Klaus was a better national leader with a clearer vision of what his country should be, but Havel was the inspirational figure.

[Oldexpat]

We had the pleasure of spending a couple weeks in Prague back in 99 and dined a couple times at his favorite restaurant. They had lots of pictures of him. We also went to an orchestra concert in the restored town hall where they declared their independence. Mozart's Requiem. The hall was used by the Russian occupation troops and was in bad shape after they left..but is beautiful now. There is a great Ratskeller in the basement.

[ScottinVA]

Clinton and Obama wouldn`t be qualified to shine Havel`s shoes, much less compare to him as a person or leader. A scarce few of modern American politicians could reach the level of a Vaclav Havel.

[ScottinVA]

When Havel was Czech President, he liked to show up unannounced during tours at Hradceny Castle to serve coffee and interact with the visitors. He always had both feet on the ground and never seemed to consider himself anything other than a servant of the people.. a stark contrast to the over-inflated egos we see from most politicians.

[Revolting cat!]

BUMP

[ak267]

“You can’t have socialized medicine and pensions at age 50 and remain competitive in the world market.”

H.C.