Just a few thoughts

To explain the context, I am mentioning above – in October 1939, when Czechia was being occupied by the German forces, there were many anti-occupation protests throughout the country. These protests were forcefully suppressed - Jan Opletal, a medical student, was killed. His death sparked another wave of protests, and on the 17th of November, after Jan’s funeral, the Reich Protector had dissolved Czech universities and sent many students to Sachsenhausen. On the 17th of November 1989, on the 50th anniversary of this event, people were protesting against the socialist one-party government and Soviet occupation. These protests have sparked the Velvet Revolution and resulted in the conversion to democracy.

Now, 30 years after the Revolution, one may find themselves asking what have we accomplished, and if we have reached the goals, we dreamt of at that time. Are we living in a free society? Do we have democracy? Did we free ourselves of the communist/socialist ideals that once ruled over our nation and caused a great deal of harm to our country? These questions feel even more relevant in the light of recent global events in Hong Kong, Chile, Bolivia, Iran, China, USA, Russia, or Kashmir. The world seems to be going south - destabilising. It appears that freedom (if we ever had it) is slipping away once again and we are returning back into the darkness of oppression and autocracy.

I have long pondered on whether there is anything that I might do to help the situation and make the world a better place. Is there anything everyone could do to help? I believe that people (myself included) are often waiting for a saviour that will solve the issue at hand for them, but that rarely happens. It is those times when every single one of us takes action into their own hands, everyone becomes the saviour together, when extraordinary things can and do happen. For that to happen, we must have a clear vision of what it is we desire. What are our goals? Is it democracy? Is it freedom? Is something beyond? Who knows?

First, we must formulate our own values and ideals, we must discuss and debate, for “democracy is a discussion” as said by T. G. Masaryk, a great philosopher and the first Czechoslovak president. In today's age, when everyone seems to be connected at all times yet isolated, we need to listen to one another, share ideas, viewpoints, values – talk to others, debate. Discussion brings understanding and perspective, and sparks change.

If freedom is what we desire, we must accept responsibility for our lives, as being responsible for oneself is the price of being free. We have to take action in our hands and stop hoping that someone will bring freedom to us; or that just because we are free now, we will be free forever. Liberty requires constant attention and sustaining. Otherwise, it will slip away as it seems to be slipping away right now. Let us honour our ancestors who fought for our freedom by fighting for the freedom of our children.

We must take action – who if not us; when if not now? Please, do start to care about the world around you, have your opinion, express it, discuss it with others. Do not remain silent. Later might be too late.