April 2010: Husák on Facebook

26. 4. 2010 / Boris Cvek

I could never imagine that I would someday strongly agree with Milan Valach, but his article "Nonsense and obscenity exactly defines my feeling. I personally consider many rigth wing thoughts inspirational and I would highly appreciate if the Czech political debate had a similar spirit as it is currently the public debate in Britain between Cameron, Brown and Clegg.

In my opinion, that kind of debate happened between Klaus and Špidla and could once again happen, this time between Špidla a Kalousek (as we could see on the latest Sunday politics' TV show from Václav Moravec) or even with other politicians. Former Social Democratic premier Jiří Paroubek, however, (and center right former Civic Democrat's premier Mirek Topolánek helped him well with it) moved our politics back to Normalization-era type of mouthiness and populism. His speeches, specially older ones, sound like they came straight from a communist apparatchik from the 1980's.

Nonetheless the real problem is not Paroubek, or else it would still be allright. The actual problem is the continuity between Normalization and our present days even when it comes to youngsters around 20 years old. That's where I agree with Valach's words:

"Unfortunatelly, people who like the vulgarity and arrogance of Zelenka's [right wing propaganda] videoclip, were raised by their parents, who taught them exactly that. There was a discontinuity between generation in Czech society. Basic moral values, without which life in society is not possible, were not passed on by parents to their kids. And that is one of the main causes why respect for others and the quite elementary sense of mutual belonging have been disappearing from our society."

Appropriately, I am writing this article after a full day of ongoing racket done near my home, in the middle of the woods, by some person who is building a house there -- and who makes true hell of our recreational area on Sundays. I've often written here on Britské Listy about how we do not respect basic norms and rules of civil decency, coexistence and respect for our natural heritage.

A week before least I went pick up raspberries rather far away from the forests' pathways when I was passed by two boys on motorcycles with terrifying roars and stench. Old people, our past, nature, family etc. were not valued already during Normalization, though.

Not long ago I was talking to some of my former students, today medical pupils on the 4th year, about our politics and society. One of them is a member of center right Civic Democrats and he told me about how much cynicism and disillusionment he learned inside his political party, how everything ends up being only about money and how those biggest idiots and con-artists go up the party ranks thanks to their friendships and contacts. About other parties he doesn't have the slightest of illusions, for even they did not manifest even leftovers of some idealism.

I realized that, when I discuss about various bad things that happen in the business sphere with a good friend of mine who is a businessman, born in 1979 and right-wing, that when we get angry at all that, how we are actually naïve, clean, idealistic souls in comparison with today's youngsters.

I've already written on BL before how primary school children are materialistic, addicted to their belongings, basically living in an emotional aridity. That is not right-wing --- it is like the Normalization-days mindset...

For authentic right or left-wing persons there are some social values, which they consider more valuable than anything that can be stolen, misused or fabricated... Among those values belong honor, truthfulness, personal integrity, responsibility, diligence, empathy (even right-wingers generously help charities and are involved in philanthropy -- what they mind is how governments actually help more themselves and those who misuse the system instead of those who are in actual need).

These are all values without which it was almost impossible to have a career during Normalization. Those who made a career back then and still today are in charge of our State left behind a still existing moral desert.

For some from my generation, just the discovery of Havel, Masaryk or Patočka, the discussion around the new system, the ideals of democracy etc. gave us a sensation of cleansing and brought us faith in a better world.

When I had a profile on MySpace (when Facebook became a phenomenon, I was already no longer interested in those social media tools) I used to chat with young Americans. If I compare it with discussions with young Czechs what I see is a Husák-days type of emptiness of spirit, which destroys us like acid.

The right-wing propaganda agitation videoclip by Zelenka is only a more glaring example of such mentality. It is a tumor that has already taken over the whole body.

I consider that clip one of the most important moments of our last years in politics. In comparison with that clip all Zelenka's films seem trivial. It is like from Hegel -- the clip wanted to be on the side of those who were hurt by communism, but instead ended up being itself communist-like.

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