In your face, Peter Siska
Frank Bures
Copyright, 1994, U.S. News & World Report
All rights reserved.
U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT, JANUARY 24, 1994
FINDING ANOTHER WAY TO LIFT THE SPIRITS
Bill Clinton couldn't sleep. Night after night during his trip
across Europe and Russia last week, something other than nuclear
missiles and superpower relations was on his mind. Hours after his
mother's hastily arranged funeral in Arkansas, Clinton sat alone on
Air Force One, looking down at the gloomy Atlantic as he headed for
meetings with two dozen European heads of state and expecting
precious little time for moments of solace. Once, in a Moscow
church, he quietly walked over to a bank of candles and lit one in
Virginia Kelley's memory. It was, however, during a less solemn
moment that Clinton found what might be the best comfort he could
have hoped for.
Clinton had long admired Czech poet turned president Vaclav
Havel--Renaissance man, defender of principle, the kind of public
figure Clinton woud like to think he could be. But it was not until
the two spent a few intense hours together in Prague that Clinton
fully realized how much Havel embodies a certain nonconformist
spirit that Clinton finds appealing. He was especially taken by
Havel's private offices, drab institutional furnishings swept away
in favor of rainbow-colored art, modernistic paintings and varied
examples of popular culture. Clinton particularly admired a
painting with a jet-black background surrounding the haunting image
of a woman's face. Havel confided mischievously that during
difficult meetings, he sits under the painting,
unsettling his ornery visitors forced to sit across from it.
``Clinton came alive,'' says an aide who witnessed the scene. He
roamed the office like a small boy let out of school, indulging
himself in the unexpected trappings of individuality all around
him.
But the playfulness of a public man is not the important thing.
The greater lesson lies in the wisdom that Havel, once a political
prisoner himself, might impart to a baby boomer president reared in
relative security and ease. Clinton might get credit for
orchestrations he helped set in motion last week--the Partnership
for Peace, efforts to disarm Ukraine, renewed commitments to help
Russia--and those plans might yet help to make Havel's own
sacrifices, and those of countless others in Eastern Europe and
Russia, seem worth it. But Havel is able to see the irony in his
stately circumstances only because he long ago learned from his own
and his people's suffering--like few political leaders in our
time--that history has a tragic flip side.
Later on the night of their visit, Clinton joined Havel at the
Czech president's favorite nightclub for a few beers. The American
jammed on the saxophone with local musicians as his host gamely,
but without much success, tried to keep time to the music on an
empty glass. Clinton loved it, of course. But he could still learn
a few things about another kind of rhythm from Havel, a politician
who has survived difficult times with great serenity and achieved
great success without losing his soul.
BY KENNETH T. WALSH
--------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. Isn't it a pain in a bud (shouldn't you rather say "Pain in a
Zlaty bazant" or maybe Sarisska Desiatka, that's a REAL pain in a butt)
that Havel gets all the press and Meciar nothing...
--
Frank Bures, University of Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A1
Internet: fbu...@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca CompuServe: 71324,1515
Tel: (416)978-5257 Fax: (416)978-8775
Juraj Mlynar
>" --Essay: Clinton's private Europe
>Copyright, 1994, U.S. News & World Report
>All rights reserved.
>U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT, JANUARY 24, 1994
>
>FINDING ANOTHER WAY TO LIFT THE SPIRITS
--- deleted ---
>BY KENNETH T. WALSH
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>P.S. Isn't it a pain in a bud (shouldn't you rather say "Pain in a
>Zlaty bazant" or maybe Sarisska Desiatka, that's a REAL pain in a butt)
>that Havel gets all the press and Meciar nothing...
.. as well as other representatives of other postsocialist countries
participated on that meeting. I am not surprised. After several excellent
czech beers :-) ...
But seriously, Frank, I try to belive you mean your remark just as a
joke, don't you? Othervise ...
Juraj
Kamil Marcinka
(a beautiful essay deleted)
>P.S. Isn't it a pain in a bud (shouldn't you rather say "Pain in a
>Zlaty bazant" or maybe Sarisska Desiatka, that's a REAL pain in a butt)
>that Havel gets all the press and Meciar nothing...
I don't think this will faze Mr Siska. I'm sure he's got something
up his sleeve; perhaps he'll tell us how Meciar could take Clinton
for a few rounds and teach him about punching a guy in the nose...
--Kamil Marcinka, tkm...@chevron.com
Jan Gajdos
> Zlaty bazant" or maybe Sarisska Desiatka, that's a REAL pain in a butt)
> that Havel gets all the press and Meciar nothing...
>
>
> Frank Bures, University of Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A1
> Internet: fbu...@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca CompuServe: 71324,1515
> Tel: (416)978-5257 Fax: (416)978-8775
Hey, Czech friend ! This is Slovak-l !
Please, send such contributions to Czech-l.
Jan Gajdos
Juraj Mlynar
>Frank Bures writes:
>
>(a beautiful essay deleted)
>
>>P.S. Isn't it a pain in a bud (shouldn't you rather say "Pain in a
>>Zlaty bazant" or maybe Sarisska Desiatka, that's a REAL pain in a butt)
>>that Havel gets all the press and Meciar nothing...
>
>I don't think this will faze Mr Siska. I'm sure he's got something
>up his sleeve; perhaps he'll tell us how Meciar could take Clinton
>for a few rounds and teach him about punching a guy in the nose...
>
>--Kamil Marcinka, tkm...@chevron.com
Dear Slovak-L participants,
I do not like boxing as a sport very much. But still I know, that a
BOXER must be a strong man able to give away as well as to receive hard
punches IN FAIR PLAY! In open game! Not under table! In this message Mr.K.
M. have joined western propaganda, especially British style, that try to
dehonest Meciar this way, describing him as a boxer.
By my meaning, title "boxer" is, generally speaking, in fact a HONOUR.
The honour, that belongs to Meciar for his playing open game. He
hates (as far I know) corruption, that is typical for majority of
politicians in general, regardless country and system, include current
slovak political scene. He is not good (means "undertable") diplomat. He
use to use more force than it is necessary, that causes a problems and a
troubles for Slovakia. BUT! On the other hand, in many cases he is true.
For example that question of Gypses in Slovakia (a long time discussed
Meciar's speech in this list). You, guys, go to eastern Slovakia and you
live with Gypses. And THEN evaluate, what Meciar said. Not 7,000 miles far
away, from behind of safe Atlantic. And not even 20 miles. Just go there.
If you wish to have more details, I can write here a several pages, even it
is an "old story" in this list. Or ask Czechs living in exposed areas.
They can explane you pretty much, too.
Try to see Meciar from this angle. Difficult?? Just leave a
very bad general habit of this list "to clear the manure to the had of the
others" and try to criticize constructivelly, based onto trying to
understand situation and trying to understand each other.
And if anybody of you will try to dehonest somebody, do not use for
this purpose incorrectly term "boxer", as it is doing the western political
and informational "high society".
P.S. 1/ Boxing is not my favorite sport.
2/ Let's be more fair and friendly in this list
3/ Let's be less offensive, less impertinent and less insultable.
4/ Do not be offended by what I wrote above. Just think of it.
5/ I do not defend Meciar, but I am against his absolute negative
evaluation.
With regard
Juraj
JERRY PUCHYR
...A typical example of Nationalist's ignorance...(and hate)
>
>
> Jan Gajdos
BORIS RAJEK
: Hey, Czech friend ! This is Slovak-l !
: Please, send such contributions to Czech-l.
: Jan Gajdos
Looks like somebody is volunteering to be "The" Moderator.
I can just guess, who may be next on the list of
"no contributions from you, please!"
Hungarians, Gypsies, Jews, and last but not least "zaryti
Cechoslovakisti" a "Slovenski zapredanci".
I hope I am mistaken!
Boris
Jan Gajdos
>
>
>: Hey, Czech friend ! This is Slovak-l !
>
>: Please, send such contributions to Czech-l.
I do apologize for that. I forgot my own advice
(First think, then post).
It was not my intend to exclude from here any kind
of people. I only thought that Czech president is a
nice person, but is a Czech.
Jan Gajdos
JERRY PUCHYR
What exactly did you mean by that statement? I thought that you said something about exclusion. Hmmm.
>
>
> Jan Gajdos
Jan Gajdos
That Slovak-l is devoted to discussion of Slovak issues
as you can learn from LISTSERVer at Buffalo.
Jan Gajdos