tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post3127402111221620056..comments2024-01-18T20:50:28.629+01:00Comments on Czech Off the Beaten Path: Jan Palach Martyr PatriotSherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-44947797912466869802011-04-24T13:23:04.061+02:002011-04-24T13:23:04.061+02:00@Karel,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and in...@Karel,<br />Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights about Palach's sacrifice and your subsequent escape. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for you to leave as you did. However, it sounds like you've done very well.<br /><br />I hope you have a great visit when you come to Prague! The places you've mentioned sound very interesting. I've not had a chance to visit, but will probably try to this summer. I especially love places that are "off the beaten path."<br /><br />I know exactly what you mean when you say it is strange to come back to your homeland. You feel 50% native and 50% tourist. This is exactly how it feels when I go back to visit my family in the US. I feel like a foreigner in my own country :0) It is a feeling that I never thought to have! But living overseas, away from your home country, has that affect. <br /><br />Anyway, I hope you have a great time when you come back to visit the Czech Republic!<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-41958066961368149162011-04-14T13:59:11.508+02:002011-04-14T13:59:11.508+02:00It is hard to describe how I feel about Jan Palach...It is hard to describe how I feel about Jan Palach and his self immolation. I still remember the deep disappointment and anger when the Prague Spring ended and the Soviets arrived with their tanks. And one can wish that his extreme act of desperation would have had some effect, someone change... But it did not and ultimately it was just a waste of a young life. So it's difficult to feel thankful for what he did "for us" as the price was was just too high. Personally, it was in January of 1969 that the seed was planted that I would escape and maybe Jan Palach contributed to that. I just know that within five months I managed to get both the entry visa into UK AND an exit visa to leave Czechoslovakia. And I found the money to buy a plane ticket...not a mean feat in retrospect.<br />I am coming to Prague in late May, first time after three years. It will be the usual round of school reunions. It's an odd sensation...when in Prague I feel 50% native and 50% tourist. Exactly! I belong yet I don't. This time I'd like to visit places that are not on the usual tourist schedule. Jachymov, the Czech hard labor mines/prisons, Oscar Schindlers factory in Brnenec and either Auschwitz or Gross Rosen in Poland. Cesky Krumlov might be more fun, but I can do that too...take careUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00921113415092842508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-57711669562535857882011-04-13T08:44:11.370+02:002011-04-13T08:44:11.370+02:00@Karel: This is a PS to your comment!
Jan Palach...@Karel: This is a PS to your comment!<br /><br />Jan Palach is a subject that hit me pretty hard when I first moved here. I was too young to remember this being reported in the US. I'm sure it was, but we were also in the midst of some very turmoil at the time. So, when I moved here and heard about Jan Palach's sacrifice, it hit me very hard--that a such a young man would sacrifice himself in a horrendous way to try to "wake" the Czechs up and get them to act against the regime. <br /><br />I've seen the videos of his suffering in the hospital--that one famous interview before he died. Watching that was very hard. <br /><br />I admire what Jan Palach did, and believe he did accomplish his mission, for he is remembered by Czechs every year, and stands as a permanent reminder to stand up against totalitarianism. <br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-6529517875866353832011-04-13T08:34:54.859+02:002011-04-13T08:34:54.859+02:00@Karel: Welcome to Czech Off the Beaten Path! It&...@Karel: Welcome to Czech Off the Beaten Path! It's funny to hear you live in the US--we've done an exchange of homelands, with me being in Czech :0) <br /><br />Thanks for your positive comments about my blog. It's great to hear when readers find something they can relate too and enjoy.<br /><br />I'll be sure to stop by your blog, too! It sounds like it might be a nice balance to Czech Off the Beaten Path!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-47181592248703811502011-04-13T01:47:33.387+02:002011-04-13T01:47:33.387+02:00I just stumbled on your blog and found it very enj...I just stumbled on your blog and found it very enjoyable! It's always interesting to read how Americans perceive the life in Czech Republic and how they adapt to the various challenges it offers. I was born Czech and I emigrated when I was 18 years and three days old in 1969. I remember Jan Palach well - in fact I attended his funeral along with thousands of other students. Since 1969 I've lived in the UK for number of years and since 93 I've lived in Southern California with some time in Nevada and Arizona. I do not have a blog per se, but my web site is http://bouncingczech.com where I post stories dealing with cultural differences and various national oddities in the countries I know well, mostly with a humorous angle.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00921113415092842508noreply@blogger.com