In Havel’s understanding, it was the “arrogant anthropocentrism of modern man, who is convinced he can know everything and bring everything under his control,” which plunged humanity into its present condition. Along with everything else, Havel wears the mantle of a prophet whose salient message, communicated through essays, speeches, letters, and early plays, is not abstruse: Our world is in a state of crisis, and we must not remain indifferent to both its symptoms and its causes. My intent here is to add yet another accessory to Havel’s already bulging wardrobe. Havel is an enchanting but elusive figure who has been interpreted in a variety of ways – depending on whom you ask, you will find that Havel wears a different suit: prison garb or uniform, toga or tux, hand cuffs or cuff links, cap or crown. Václav Havel will always remain the principal symbol of this important European revolution, which has joined the annals of history as one of the few that contained no bloodshed. Before the year was over, the Communist leaders relinquished their grip on power, and Czechoslovakia has embarked on a challenging journey towards a democratic future. Ten days later, hundreds of thousands of Czech and Slovak citizens gathered in city squares to participate in a two-hour nationwide general strike that called for the abolishment of the leading role of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. This event supplied the needed spark that lit the flames of courage and hope for non-violent political protests across the country. On Novemin Prague, a heavily armed riot police squad harshly suppressed a peaceful student demonstration that commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the killing of the Czech medical student Ján Opletal by the occupying Nazi forces. This week marks the twenty-year anniversary of the beginning of the “Velvet Revolution” (or the “Gentle Revolution” as referred to by the Slovaks), which led to the rapid demise of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia.
That´s why we are joining today a worldwide event organized to commemorate 50 000 Jews deported to concentration camps from the Bubny railway station in Prague. In his speech held at the Stockholm International Forum on Holocaust in 2000, Václav Havel said: „It is my conviction that the tragedy of the Holocaust victims must be remembered again and again.“ I would like to use this opportunity to highlight one topic which was particularly close to him: the Holocaust remembrance. This exhibition shows the continuous relevance of Václav Havel´s ideas on various issues of our time: challenges for the European Union, situation in our Eastern neighbourhood including Ukraine, worldwide threat of dictatorial regimes, etc. I served on President Havel´s team for several years, and it was not only an honour but also a great pleasure. It´s not so often that one has the opportunity to work for a politician who is humble, witty, and capable of self-irony. Today, we gathered here to commemorate the 80th anniversary of birth of the late Czech president, dissident and playwright Václav Havel. The speech delivered by the Ambassador Jiří Šitler: This performance was held within the event Drumming for Bubny, which commemorates the first transport of Jews that left Bubny railway station in 1941.Īt the end the visitors had an opportunity to taste delicious goulash cooked according to Václav Havel's own recipe.
It was prepared by The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes together with Czech Centres and Václav Havel Library.Ī part of the vernissage program was also a drum performance of Antonín Juračka. The exhibition Václav Havel: Politics and Conscience connects Havel's quotes with photos of current events around the world and by this commemorates Václav Havel especially as a thinker – an author of interesting thoughts that are timeless.
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