It was amazing to stand in Wenceslas Square, where the streets were once crowded with people wanting freedom from the communist reign. Seeing all of the stores and tourist shops, it is hard to compare it to what I knew took place there less than thirty years ago. We had posed the question, how Wenceslas Square was transformed or commemorated the events of the Velvet Revolution. That being such a significant part of their history, I was surprised they only had a grand picture of Vaclav Havel as any sign the revolution even took place there. Havel being a major leader throughout the revolution and their first president, his commemoration shows the utmost respect for what he has done for the country, however there is nothing more to remind the people or to tell the visitors the importance of that location.
Often times I think people want to forget all the bad things that have happened to them. This attempt to move past the communist way of life to the democratic lifestyle, I believe, is the most significant impact upon citizens of Czech Republic. Prague has been modernized with few remembrances of its past. It took until recently for them to publicly commemorate Jan Palach; the communist museum we went to was next to a casino and above a coffee shop, the location of arguably the most impactful historic event in Prague's history has little to show its significance. Prague is trying to move forward, and to do that they also must acknowledge their past. The people hold onto their freedoms, and the government does not want to overstep the freedoms. They're so afraid of their history repeating itself, but it's by learning from history that lasting changes can take place.
I was intrigued to learn Vaclav Havel invited Radio Free Europe to Prague, but I was not surprised. Havel having a background in playwrights allowed him to understand the power of words. Before the revolution he used his works to criticize communism which brought him under surveillance by the secret police. Post-revolution, freedom of speech and press became fundamental human rights in the Czech Republic. This is one of the many changes Havel helped bring about and the reasoning for the respect the Czech people have for their first democratic president.
After reading the first article we were assigned before going into the British Museum, I'm excited to go to another museum. There is certain ettiequte we feel we have to follow in museums, but that article made me realize no one can tell you how to view art. I went to the Louvre and pushed through the crowd to see the Mona Lisa, yet in seeing the rather small painting that is known as one of the greatest artworks, I was strangely disappointed. I was told that I would love it, that is what you're supposed to go the the Louvre to see but looking back I wish I spent more time in the Middle Eastern section of the museum. That article helped me break through the notion that I have to act a certain way in a museum. I'm not about to go run around and touch all the paintings, but maybe just sit on the floor and look up at these masterpieces while tuning everyone out with headphones.
Overall, I am coming out of this trip with an amazing experience. There is so much we learned in three short weeks, yet it only scratched the surface of the history of these countries. I am very happy I learned more about communications past and present. Looking at a printing press I cannot fathom setting every letter by hand. As I type this, the speed at which my thoughts can be put into words is unparalleled to that pace. Even so, I would not be able to do this without each advancement from the printing press to binary and everything in between. I've never travelled to places with a specific concentration of study. But I think it helped me learn more about each place not only in that field of study. I am excited for my next opportunity to travel abroad and learn through a different lens.
Sydney Harris