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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No surprises
Regarding Czech citizenship, nothing can surprise me ["20 years on, Afghan still rejected," News, Sept. 15-21]. I fought for three years simply to have my citizenship recognized, which was done only after higher authorities accepted my appeal of a Prague 1 decision. Now, one year after filing a complaint to the administrative authority over that office, I still am awaiting a response.
Steven Kohn
Prague
A free Cuba
I admire Vaclav Havel but I believe he is seriously misguided on Cuba and doesn't appreciated the ugly role the United States played in punishing over and over a nation that did what we did when we became the United States of America ["Cuba Libre," News, Sept. 15-21]. I find our actions continuing along the same shameless path as it began so many years ago. I urge a closer look at Cuba and a helping hand, something the United States has offered so many other countries and yet holds out on Cuba. Shame on us and shame on the high-living Cubans living in my country.
Jeri Rasmussen
Shoreview, Minnesota
It is a shame that Prague is used as an American tool against free Cuba. The United States is planning to invade Cuba and, in preparation for this, demonizes Cuba. Cuba has the best health care in all of Latin America. Havel is no democrat but a warmonger who wants a U.S. military intervention. The right-wing Cubans were also very active in trying to overthrow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Down with U.S. aggression against free Cuba and Venezuela!
Lennart Berg
Gothenburg, Sweden
Please do inform Vaclav Havel, Ivan Pilip, Petr Pithart, Cyril Svoboda, Josef Zieleniec and other freedom fighters from the Czech Republic that they are about to get even more work in the field of liberating people in Latin America. While the tyranny of Fidel Castro shows no signs of collapsing, another communist regime -- that of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela -- is consolidating in the region as it has been voted for by the majority of the population for the third time already (1998, 2000, 2004).
One thing the Czech freedom fighters could do is, once they are done liberating Iraq within the next 10-15 years, is invade Cuba and Venezuela and kill women and children there, the way their friend George W. Bush is doing in Iraq right now. All this liberating will keep them busy for a while.
A lot of luck, 'cause you guys are gonna need it!
Eugene Mordvinov
Lima, Peru (Prague 1994-95)
Just a short note to thank you for writing about the courageous Cuban dissidents that want to live to see a free Cuba! Our day will come and Castro will end up in the trash heap of tyrants who destroyed their own countries.
Jose I. Aguirre
Miami, Florida
Please convey my deep gratitude to the Czech government on behalf of all of us Cuban expatriates. There will come a time for transition. It is inevitable.
Henry Estevez
Orlando, Florida
I congratulate the Czech people for standing up for human rights. The most significant part of the ICDC conference was the fact that Vaclav Havel was standing together with Patricio Aylwin, former president of Chile who fought against the dictatorship of Pinochet, both working in support to the democratic movement in Cuba.
Javier de Cespedes
Miami, Florida
Please convey my gratitude to President Havel, the Czech government and all the international organizations present at the recent summit for democracy in Cuba. In Cuba, freedom of expression is impossible. If you openly voice any disagreement with the regime, you can lose your job, receive threats or be thrown in jail. Do you have to be deprived of your civil rights to enjoy universal health care? What good is literacy if you can't read "subversive" books? Democracy activists in Cuba need all the help they can get, and this support is welcomed and appreciated.
Marilu Del Toro
Miami, Florida
Hat's off!
Just a quick note to say I read The Prague Post on the way back from a business trip (via Czech Airlines) to Bulgaria last week: I was very impressed with the publication, very well written, lively and interesting. My only suggestions would be to have the occasional lifestyle piece (perhaps places to visit in the Czech Republic) and maybe the odd contribution from a visitor or traveler -- "to see ourselves as others see us," as Robert Burns would have said.
Mark Irvine
Edinburgh. Scotland
Looking inward
What a wonderful opinion article ["Where do we go from here?" Opinion, Sept. 15-21]. My parents were born in Czechoslovakia and were both Czech and Slovak. These published thoughts of the author really help me in better understanding my background and family history, as well as the history of this part of our world. My husband and I recently traveled to the Czech Republic, including Prague, and over to the border of Ukraine. What a wealthy experience we had in our travels marveling at the endurance and tenacity of local citizens. Since I still can communicate in the language, I was able to speak with many people from a variety of socioeconomic groups and local ethnic backgrounds. Thank your for most thoughtful article.
Dorothy Kratka-Schneider
San Francisco, California
Contemptible attitude
The U.S. State Department is a completely nonfunctional agency staffed in great part by incompetents with no knowledge of the real world ["Shuttle diplomacy," News, Sept. 22-28]. Their attitude toward honest Czechs wanting to visit the United States for legitimate reasons is nothing but contemptible. I would welcome a dialogue with anyone, including the ambassador, on this matter.
Martin Smith
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I could not agree more that the United States simply has to address simplifying the processes of applying for visas and of appealing against refusals. The Czech Republic and its people have demonstrated a commitment to be a loyal ally of the United States. To have an arrangement whereby U.S. citizens do not need visas and Czech citizens have to secure short-stay visas is simply unfair and clearly confirms to Czech citizens that they are "second-class" citizens in the U.S.-Czech relationship.
Rick Volbrecht
Highland, Indiana
Jefferson's wall
I would be amused by Carl Kocis' letter ["A Nation under God," Sept. 22-28] equating God with American liberty were it not so absolutely incorrect. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and the other founding fathers knew that the United States would not survive or rise above the despotic regimes of Europe from which its people had fled if they endorsed a theocratic system of government. Thus "God" is mentioned nowhere in the U.S. Constitution, whose First Amendment demands "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." As Jefferson said, a "wall" existed between the new American government and religion. But even now, the United States is in danger from those who would impose their irrational belief system on the entire nation.
Peter Holste
North Oaks, Minnesota
Straight talk on U.S.
As a longtime resident of Prague and having lived and worked all over the world, I decided to wait a few weeks following the elections in America to read and digest the comments of government officials, the man on the street and Americans living overseas. I would now like to make a few observations.
It is clear that governments and their people, beginning with France and Germany and including all of the former Eastern bloc, did not seem to mind at all when America was liberating them from tyrannical leaders and oppressive regimes while offering democracy and self-rule. All of the ridiculous conjecture regarding America's oil objectives pale with the revelations of the "food for oil" program benefiting everyone from the family of the secretary general of the United Nations to the leadership in most major European countries. Those countries most opposed to America's continuing fight for democracy were opposed due to their deep financial involvement in Iraq in direct opposition to the sanctions of the UN for which they all voted: hypocrisy at its highest level.
My last wish is to clarify how ridiculous it is to report how Europeans might have voted in the American elections. Why worry about how the Czechs would have voted -- actually, they wouldn't have voted, as they couldn't even muster 20 percent of their population to vote in their last national election. President Bush's victory is proof positive that America, which was founded on freedom, continues to value this right first and foremost.
More than 1 percent of the eligible population of America died in World War II to allow so many to have the freedom to vote. But for what?
Perhaps it is time for a little history lesson combined with a lesson in gratitude for our "friends" in Europe.
Notwithstanding the inaccurate and unfair daily negative barrage from the liberal media -- the people of America saw through it all. It's time for the press to recognize that the freedom of the press belongs to the people and not to the press. A continuation of their bias will see a continued demise of those individuals and organizations that have been entrusted with the sacred responsibility to objectively report rather than attempt to manipulate. Never underestimate the wisdom of people who value freedom above all else.
Edward L. BarnerPrague 2
Plzen pride
It would be wise to adapt the Pilsner brand only to beers from the Plzen region ("Marketing on long historical tradition," Business, Nov. 17-23). Do like the wine producers! Plzen is like Bordeaux!
Bjarte SolheimStavanger, Norway
Wealth of nations
When I visit former Eastern bloc countries I see marvelous public transport tram systems and graceful low-rise architecture that allows for people-scale street activities ("After the fall," News, Nov. 17-23). Of course the West wants to remake your wonderful people-friendly cities to resemble ours in the United States, with buildings so tall that the entire block of a city center is used for the foundations, creating bleak streetscapes. And the malls are already popping up in East European cities, to encourage consumerism. In the United States, our government brainwashes us to be consumers. They convince us that we were born to shop, consume beyond our means, and then charge on our credit cards and get our average of $8,000 [184,800 Kc] in debt. With high interest, paying the minimum payment each month that amount will come to about $35,000. It is so sad that I see the innocent people in the East falling into a terrible pit of consumer greed -- all plotted and planned by corporate profiteers using the medium of advertising. Capitalism is a bitch. By the way, I enjoy your articles, obviously. They stir me up.
Thomas DuttonAtlanta, Georgia
Save the lamb
Having traveled in Bohemia many times, I have enjoyed the traditional Czech cuisine in many restaurants, especially the pork roast, sauerkraut seasoned with caraway seed, and the wonderful dumplings ("Our house," Night & Day, Nov. 24-30). Goulash with potatoes and the roasted duck dinners are also favorites. Those are meals that are Old Bohemia and not meals that are trying to compare with high-priced hotel cuisine featuring exotic touches. Frankly, the [description of the Czech House] restaurant turns me off and I do not intend to dine there on the tender lamb dinners, whether the lambs come from New Zealand or are raised locally. In fact, I do not eat lamb at all, because I have a tender place in my heart for those beautiful, innocent, little animals. I respectfully request that "Our house" consider featuring other cuisine rather than encouraging the slaughter of lambs for the purpose of a pricey menu.
Lillian BodkerIndependence, Ohio
Call to action
Congratulations on the clearly and courageously worded analysis ("A nation divided," Opinion, Nov. 24-30). If this article is widely read by Czech citizens, they cannot fail to see that it is a call to action by them. Democracy is always subject to apathy; only vigorous and constant participation can save it.
Anthony J. KossHarvard, Illinois
Culture and religion
I found it quite interesting how Muslims have been generalized into one category, which is "terrorists" ("West Meets Middle East," Opinion, Dec. 1-7). I understand why the writer is concerned about the differences in culture between the two, but aren't also Buddhism, Shintoism, and Hinduism [different]?
An interesting point I found out is how selfish the writer was when he said: "Intellectuals uttering attacks on Islam may seem distasteful to many but they help spur debate that can ultimately be healthy." While he stated earlier: "France has taken some steps, seeking to train responsible imams who will teach a version of Islam that is respectful of the republic." Now I agree that some imams need to be removed if they do spur revolution, but in Western society today any imam (or any Middle Easterner) can be easily jailed/deported if he/she says anything against the residing country. That is for the simple reason that Islam is viewed as a danger by Westerners. In my opinion, the only way to fix the problem between the two cultures is for us to accept that we are all humans regardless of our religions.
Brian O'ReillyBoston, Massachusetts
Why does Jeremy Hurewitz mention the fact that Pim Fortuyn's murderer was an "animal-rights activist?"
Volkert van der Graaf's concern for animal welfare was not relevant to his actions. During his trial he said he killed Fortuyn because he believed that "he was an ever-growing danger who would affect many people in society," and that he was concerned about the way he exploited anti-Muslim feelings to build his career.
Van der Graaf was, indeed, passionately concerned about animal abuse. This is just what one would expect from someone with a lifelong commitment to defending the weakest members of society. However, he killed Fortuyn not because of this, but because he was a human-rights activist.
The mainstream corporate media have used van der Graaf's concern for animal rights as an excuse to rubbish the movement. Please investigate the facts a bit more closely before making cheap shots.
Paul KailPrague
Ukrainian democracy
It is high time, not just for President Bush, but for all EU countries to show the strongest possible support for democracy in Ukraine ("Calling Kyiv," News, Dec. 1-7). Corrupt countries such as Russia and Belarus must be made to understand that the free world will not tolerate political oppression.
Nestor WolanskySan Francisco, California
Gratitude
As a Slovak, and hopefully speaking for most of the Slovak population, I'd like to say thank you for your help ("Czechs send aid to ailing Tatras," News, Dec. 1-7).
Peter StanekVancouver, Canada
Wholesome beer
Having lived off and on in the Czech Republic for the past 14 years, I was proud to serve Budvar at our parties ("Breaking with tradition," Business, Dec. 1-7). The travels back to Karlovy Vary and Brno with my Czech wife and children were special because of the wonderful culture. Now that I know that Budvar wants to use profanity to appear more British, we have stopped buying or recommending it to our friends and business partners. Let's keep the country wholesome and to hell with trying to make an extra crown! Give me a Staropramen or Starobrno after this!
Alan BookerMiami, Florida
Nonsmoking, please
What an exciting proposition ("Anti-smoking bill sparks anger," News, Dec. 1-7)! When I lived in Prague in the mid-1990s, my choices of nighttime activities were always severely limited by the thick amounts of smoke in the pubs, since I am allergic to smoke. As a lover of Czech beer and music, I was certainly saddened by this state of affairs. Pass this law and I'll certainly be back!
Leslie HendersonKingston, Tennessee
Visa facts
In response to the several letters to the editor published in the Oct. 6-12 edition of The Prague Post ["Visa woes," Letters], I thought that your readers would appreciate some facts about the visa application process at the U.S. Embassy in Prague.
•During the past 12 months, Embassy Prague issued non-immigrant visas (NIV) to about 90 percent of applicants.
•NIV applicants here choose their own appointment dates from a set of available times.
•NIV applicants here currently are granted appointments within the week and this recently was as little as three days. In some U.S. embassies that wait exceeds 100 days.
•NIV applicants spend an hour or less in the embassy, and they come only once, not multiple trips as in the past. They do not stand in line on the street unless they arrive before their appointment time.
•NIV applicants are told the results of their interview at the time of the interview.
•Czech NIV applicants do not pay an issuance fee for tourist/business (B1/2) visas. Citizens of some other countries do.
•Each NIV applicant worldwide pays a $100 processing fee. This is collected whether a visa is issued or not.
•My employees are courteous and polite. Recent surveys reflect high satisfaction on this point among applicants whether refused or issued visas.
•About 20 percent of current NIV applicants here are replacing valid visas taken away by Czech authorities when replacing expired/voided passports. The U.S. Embassy would prefer that those 5,000-plus applicants did not have to spend about $600,000 per year to apply for new visas. I'd prefer to deal with new applicants with that time.
Richard Appleton
Consul General
U.S. Embassy
Prague
Iraq connection
A great direct story. I hope to see more of these in the Post in the future ["Officer reflects on Iraq duty," News, Oct. 13-20]. I hope you continue with your efforts in Iraq. We do not get this type of reporting in our media.
Jerry Nehring
Thousand Oaks, California
I found the article extremely interesting and enlightening. According to our present administration, things are going well. If it is going so well, why is there so much of our young and precious blood being spilled in Iraq? This article answered some of that question for me. Thank you.
Geraldine Skorepa
Cleveland, Ohio
Spritzer's spotlight
Great stuff ["Silly, yes. Scary? Not a bit." News, Oct. 13-20]! I am glad to see that The Prague Post isn't yet "for sale" to the highest bidder (unlike some Czech newspapers I have seen). Keep up the good work in revealing and publicizing government corruption!
George Coppedge
Prague
I am a Canadian citizen who has recently moved to the Czech Republic and I have to say that I find Dinah A. Spritzer's articles about politics exciting and informative. I really enjoy the parts about Stanislav Gross and the reactions of the citizens toward that particular matter. It is quite essential for the people of foreign countries to get these "insider views."
Dustin Wheeler
Brno
Perle's 'wisdom'
Your interview of Richard Perle is amusingly ironic ["A hawk's view: Perle speaks out," News, Oct. 27-Nov. 2]. As a primary architect of the Iraq war, Perle is directly responsible for more harm and economic damage to American citizens than Saddam Hussein. According to Perle's own theory of preemptive defense, anyone who poses such a clear threat to American lives and treasure is clearly eligible for termination with extreme prejudice -- even if this were to take place outside of the boundaries of the law. If I were Perle, I'd be watching my back awfully carefully. You never know what can happen when people start taking your words at face value.
Colin Shea
Prague 4
Hail Rail!
Contrary to the author of a recent letter ["Hungry for answers," Letters, Oct. 20-26], I simply adore your reviews and they have become the main reason for my subscription to The Prague Post. I do not share your passion for Meduza but, otherwise, I find your opinions being right on spot in all cases. Also, your style is so outstanding, your love for the detail is expressed in such a skilled and beautiful-to-read manner that it makes it impossible to read any other restaurant reviews. Keep it up!
Florence Danek
Cologne, Germany
Economic growth
This is good news for the Czech Republic since most developed nations are losing manufacturing jobs to cheap labor markets ["Industry spurs economic growth," Business, Oct. 20-26]. However, it may be only a temporary comparative advantage since Skoda Auto could decide to move most production outside of the Czech Republic as they grow in different markets. The Czechs are going to have to look to technology and innovation to sustain economic growth in the long term.
James Hrad
Vancouver, Canada
Visa woes
After spending most of June of 2003 in the Czech Republic and considering it one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life I was shocked that the United States did not offer Czech citizens the same welcome afforded me ["Shuttle diplomacy," News, Sept. 22-Sept. 28]. Thank you to the beautiful country of my forefathers for a great visit.
Ed Mashek
Ft. Worth, Texas
The article is rather disappointing in that it reads more like a worn-out whine intent on feeding Czech disgruntlement rather than addressing the practical aspects of how a greater percentage of visa applications might be approved. The comparison, that Americans don't need visas to visit the Czech Republic while Czechs do need visas to visit the U.S., is superfluous. Surely income derived from tourism, whether it be American dollars or the G8 currency, is a welcome benefit to the Czech people as a whole, and no forward-thinking government would obstruct such opportunities. On the other hand, the U.S. has a severe illegal immigration problem and seems to be governing under a state-of-siege mentality, so that even well-[meaning] people wanting to visit America can be caught up in the attendant quagmire.
Mike Rehak
Prague 4
I remember a few years back a Dutch reader wrote to The Prague Post about how badly and in what an undignified manner the American officials had treated his Czech wife, who subsequently decided that not visiting the United States was the better option, if "allies" are treated like enemies. I had much the same experience years ago before I got my current (non-visa) citizenship. But if you have ever spoken to a U.S. official, you will immediately see where the problem lies: Those people are the most ignorant people you are ever likely to meet and have an IQ barely high enough to open a can of baked beans.
Lukas Kratochvil
London
It may be shocking that the United States requires citizens of some other countries to have a visa for entry. But it is more shocking that today's Czech government still, after 11 years of democracy and freedom: 1) forcibly prevents "some" political refugees to the U.S.A. and Canada from holding their native Czech citizenship merely because they did not acquire either U.S. or Canadian citizenship at the time when dual citizenship was possible; 2) refused to settle the justified restitution claims of hundreds of former victims of either the Nazis or communism on the basis of purported "absence of Czech citizenship;" 3) Has not allowed 500,000 native Czech citizens who live abroad to vote by absentee ballot, thus depriving these citizens of all their Czech native human and civic rights. Since 1994, Czechs abroad have been struggling and petitioning for a remedy to this uniquely Czech discrimination.
Those who would ... compare the procedures of the American government with the visa "inconvenience" for some Czech citizens (who, after all, are for the United States exactly what [the] Czech government calls Czechs in the United States: "foreigners") should avail themselves of the information documented at
http://www.czechinfocenter.com/e.mag/fuchs/index.html.
Jirina Fuchsova
Los Angeles, California
We would like for readers of The Prague Post to know that both the American Friends of the Czech Republic and the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) are well aware and very concerned about the visa situation, particularly as it impacts the Czech Republic and other newer NATO allies.
In our first meeting with Ambassador William Cabaniss in Washington last November before he went to Prague, this was one of the subjects of discussion. We recently met with Czech Ambassador to the U.S. Martin Palous and a Capitol Hill lobbyist to discuss ways to bring about change in the visa situation.
I trust that people are aware that the real sticking point is the Congressional Act that ties the visa requirement to the percentage of refused applications, rather than merely a matter of policy. That is why our efforts are directed to Congress rather than to the State Department.
Our experience is that people in the State Department are rather supportive of changes but their hands are tied by the legislation.
We are aware of the problems that the visa requirement creates in academia, in business, in family relations, in tourism and are working to bring about changes.
Michael G. Rokos,
Vice President
American Friends of the Czech Republic
As an American and substantial investor living in the Czech Republic for nine years I have watched, with some embarrassment, the process required for a Czech resident to obtain a U.S. visa. I am often ashamed of the lack of common courtesy and attitude of the Czech and American employees at the U.S. Embassy in arbitrarily denying visas without even reviewing the underlying documents required and presented. Further, I am embarrassed at the high fees charged by the U.S. embassy simply for the application rather than only when the visa is granted.
Having said this, one must also understand the difficult requirements of the Czech government for foreigners to come, work and/or invest here. I have lived and worked in many communist countries but I have never experienced the personal abuse and disregard for human dignity demonstrated by most of the Czech bureaucrats dealing with foreigners who wish to come and be productive members of this society.
Fairness would require a review and serious changes in attitudes, systems and requirements in both systems.
Edward L. Barner
Prague 2
What right?
It sickens me to see the U.S. bully around my country ["Pardubice firm no mere blip on radar," News, Sept. 22-28]. The Czechs don't tell the United States to whom to sell or not to sell. So what right do the Americans have in telling the Czechs anything? I wish the Czech government had more backbone and told Bush and Co. what the majority of Czechs think of them and their pressures on legitimate businesses of the Czech Republic.
Tomas Budesinsky
Tucson, Arizona
The property of all
I think Respekt Editor-in-Chief Tomas Nemecek is absolutely right by insisting that the selling of state properties is to be [duly] reported and investigated by the press and the background of potential investors revealed to the public ["No respect," Business, Sept. 15-21]. After all, a state property once belonged to the whole people and therefore the people have the right to know what is going on.
Paul Zellman
Pasadena, California
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