My parent's names were on "the list".
By the grace of God, we escaped to the West. With the sponsorship of relatives in the United States, we were granted asylum and we assimilated in a wonderful country called the United States.
It wasn't easy. My parents knew some English but not me. Both had to take thankless jobs. We had tons of gov't paperwork and interviews. We had the help of our Czech community and they gave us new rules to live by:
(1) Learn English (2) Forget your former country, you are now Americans (3) Work hard. Don't be a bum. (4) If you want to make friends, learn to love baseball (Cubs specifically)
Assimilation was hard but rewarding. In school, I was mocked for my poor English and heavy accent (long gone now). In high school, I was called a "commie spy" and picked on but it was worth it because I was free.
We took up American names, listened to that "decadent rock and roll music", became Cubs fans and went to sporting events regularly. Both parents, after many years of paperwork, night school and help from the Czech community got re-certified in their professions.
We were living the dream.
Dad died a few years ago. My mother and I revisited the Czech Republic recently to see how things have changed (mom cried a lot). As a reminder/souvenir, I have our family's arrest order framed and displayed at home.
With recent developments of "quasi-Amnesty" and "Obamacare" I sometimes wonder about my new home. We obey the laws and play by the rules. Is that too to ask these days?
I only wonder...
There are lots of problems in the Republic right now. Let’s try to fix what we can. Your contributions are critical, as they have been since you arrived over four decades ago.
Words of caution don't seem to fall on the legislative ears that are needed to quash the encroaching tyrany
Wow....amazing story.
Thank-you for posting, I appreciate it.
Well you could always go back...
This country is what it is, with its problems and all, most find it the best place on earth.
btt
I’ve read articles here and there about how the former Iron Curtain countries of eastern Europe have become very freedom and liberty-minded.
With the collectivization of the US starting with the first commune, founded by British industrialist Robert Owen, in New Harmony, Indiana in 1826, and then accelerating during WWI and afterwards, I might be inclined to encourage you and/or your children to emigrate back to your homeland.
OTOH, there really is no place to run anymore from the collectivists, so I would encourage you to stay and try to change it here.
Bless you for posting. Too many people take freedom for granted. The lessons of the relatively recent past are not taught to young people. They don’t know what communism is or means. Thank you for this reminder.
God love you, ak.
We had a friend in the UK who escaped East Germany for a better life. He left all of his loved ones. Hid in the woods and managed to escape (with help from the underground). He was working on his master’s degree at the local uni.
Three weeks after I left, the Soviet tanks rolled in.
As a kid our regular babysitter was from Czechoslovakia (she was the best), we sat and watched on TV as the tanks and troops took over Prague. We were well aware of the evils of communism. I now have neighbors who grew up in communist Poland. When I discussed this with them, they said the Russian army tanks and trucks passed through their town night & day for 2 or 3 days straight. As kids, it put a fear in them also. They have stated as well that they see how our country is becoming more like the one they grew up in and left.
Go Cubs
One of my favorite articles:
“Born American, but in the Wrong Place”
http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/onprin/special/schramm.html
by: Peter W. Schramm