An important anniversary

On this day in 1968, Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia.  Their tanks rolled in to the cities if Prague, Bratislava and many others under the pretence of quashing a so-called 'counter revolution'.  The country had been a satellite of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics since the end of the Second World War, but this invasion was a very physical and disturbing manifestation of this evil empire's unwelcome domination.

In spite of some limited protests from the Czech people, and strongly-worded, but impotent, criticism from Western nations, the USSR  was to occupy and control Czechoslovakia until 1989, denying the people of this peaceful country the basic freedoms that we enjoyed in the West.  Private property was taken over by the State and people even had to apply for official permission to travel abroad.

Although there were many limitations, life went on. I am spending this weekend on the farm of my friend, Alice in the now Czech region of Bohemia, close to Veckovice, near Klatovy, who became her nation's women's waterskiing champion from 1967 to 1976, winning a total of thirteen titles in various events and disciplines.

I remember the invasion well, even though I was only 11 years old.  We were on a family holiday in Israel.  My father had heard the news on the radio shortly before we were to drive from Hertzeliya to the home of an elderly relative.  There was almost no television in Israel in those days and certainly no radios in cars.  As soon as we arrived at this old woman's house we crowded around the radio to find out what was happening.  My father was always interested in what was going on in the world.  And he gave me my passion for global current affairs.

Today, I feel very good about living in what is now the Czech Republic which peacefully ended its 74year-old federation with the now Slovak Republic in 1992. It's different from my home country of Britain, and I regrettably don't speak the language which is limiting, but I have a lovely home in the beautiful capital of Prague, have made some good friends here and live an enjoyable life.

There is a saying that "we learn from history that we don't learn from history".  How true this is in this part of the world where Czech TV interviewed young people on the streets to find many completely unaware of the events of 1968.

Alice told me that her mother-in-law went with flowers to some of the Soviet soldiers sitting on their tanks in Wenceslav's Square in the Centre of Prague.  She told them how she'd brought similar flowers in 1945 to thank them for liberating the City from the Germans at the end of the Second World War.  But Bozena Hovorkova, then 63,  explained that she felt very different this time as she dropped the flowers on the pavement and stamped on them.

It is easy to take life for granted.  I have always known freedom and never lived in a totalitarian regime.  It is hard to imagine what it must be like.  But I am fortunate to have known many who have shared with me some of their own difficult experiences.  I am impressed by their resilience, not wasting energy with self-pity.  These people are stronger and wiser as a consequence, and I admire them.  I just hope that the memories of these difficult times in Czechoslovakia will live on with new generations, so that we can be on guard against history ever repeating itself.

There are millions living in tyranny in other parts of the world today.  Thank God there is freedom here today with both the Czech and Slovak Republics members of the European Union.     

When you grow up, my dear Ya'el, I hope you will only know a world in which all people are free.


Grandpa Jonathan
Bohemia, Czech Republic

So much owed by so many to so few

Exactly 70 years ago today, British World War II leader Winston Churchill stood up and addressed Parliament to hail the efforts of the aircrew who were fighting overhead in what was known at ‘The Battle of Britain’.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," he famously pronounced in the midst of his speech.

History tells us that outnumbered British air power, including Polish, Canadian and New Zealand pilots among others, defied the odds to withstand the German Luftwaffe and a possible invasion.

When I was a child I remember my father listening to Churchill’s speeches on a gramophone record which he shared with us.  He made me aware of what a magnificent orator he was.  It was his speeches to the nation that maintained moral in pretty much the only country not to have been invaded by the Germans.

I was born 12 years after the end of World War II, and it already seemed like ancient history to me as I grew up.  But I now realise just how little time separated me from this terrible war.  Had we lost, none of us would be here today.

Goodbye Iraq

Seven years after the United States and Britain invaded Iraq, today the last American combat brigade in Iraq leaves the country, with our fighting forces having been withdrawn last month.  Troops from both nations will now play only a support role with the Iraqi army and police.

Although I supported the original invasion, on the grounds that its dictator, Saddam Hussein, had so-called weapons of mass destruction, I was dismayed to subsequently learn that there were no such weapons.  It is now highly questionable as to whether the overthrow of Hussein had been of any benefit to the country, the Middle East or the world.

As for Iraq, it seems that stability remains elusive with continuous attacks from insurgents and an absence of government, even though there was an election a while ago.  The Middle East continues to harbour many uncertainties.  The invasion of Iraq arguably enhanced the power of neighbouring Iran, which poses a serious threat to Israel's security.  And it is difficult to see what the world has gained from the seven-year occupation.  It has cost both the US and Britain many lost lives and billions of dollars in costs, and no one can possibly say that the world is a safer place as a result of this.

History will be the real judge.  By the time you are my age, the current US President Obama and UK Prime Minister Cameron will be long gone, as certainly will their predecessors George Bush and Tony Blair, who took our troops to war.  But I hope that you will know only of a peaceful Iraq – the country which was home to the Garden of Eden.

The parents of those soldiers leaving Iraq today will rejoice in the knowledge that their sons and daughters will be out of harm's way.  My wish is that it is the beginning of the end of our leaders' often-misguided view that military action provides solutions.  Enough warfare.

Women's right to vote

It is  90 years today since the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote.  But it was not until 1928 that woman were allowed to vote in Britain.

Women in both countries had protested for many years for voting equality with men.  They were known as the suffragettes.  It seems incredible that women were sent to jail for fighting for equal rights.  There were woman who insisted on going to polling stations to vote who were arrested for what now is a basic right for everyone over the age of 18.

I remember learning about Emmeline Pankhurst at school.  She famously founded the Women’s Franchise League in Britain in 1899 to campaign for equality.  It was to take her nearly 30 years to succeed.

Unfortunately, there are many people who have been denied the right to vote throughout history and even today, either due to their sex or race.  And there are countries that are not yet democratic, where nobody has a vote.  It is shocking to think that people are denied equal rights because of their gender or the colour of their skin.

Voting is a privilege.  It is important to use it.   Right now, you have the right to vote at 18 years old in Israel, which is the same in most democracies.  In Britain, it was not until 1969 that they reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.  Maybe the age will be reduced.  But I do hope that you will always use your vote, and remember those who were not so lucky.

Grandpa Jonathan

Prague, Czech Republic

Summer, please stay

Tuesday was an uneventful day which I used for catching up on work.  I’m sorry that I didn’t write my blog yesterday, but I got waylaid with calls to the United States – so I will post two today.

I am especially fond of summer and always hate the thought of it coming to an end.  So I wasn’t very happy to wake up to a rather chilly start to the day.  It reminded me that August does sometimes bring a few hints of Autumn.  I really want summer to last a while longer.  So my wish for yesterday was for summer to go on and on and on and on

You have much longer summers in Israel where August is a month when many people complain that it’s too hot.  But it is different in northern Europe where we get all-too-little warm weather. 

Of course, I shouldn’t be complaining.  Weather conditions across much of Pakistan remain terrible with more rain forecast which will just increase the suffering of those struggling to survive the floods.

Grandpa Jonathan

Prague, Czech Republic

Poverty and wealth

It has rained a lot here in Prague, but that's nothing compared to the terrible floods in Pakistan.  About one fifth of that nation is under water with some 20 million people now homeless.  Aid organisations are now worried that water born diseases will cause widespread epidemics.

Why is it so often the poorest countries on earth that all-too-commonly are victims of the worst natural disasters?  It is the most impoverished people who are suffering.  They lived in very basic conditions before the flood, most without electricity or running water.  Now they have lost everything.

Live, 24-hour television news enables us to see people's suffering from the comfort of our own living rooms.  It highlights the unacceptable gap between rich and poor.  I hope you will grow up in a world which succeeds in eradicating poverty.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague

Gave our today for your tomorrow

Sixty five years ago today marked the end of the Second World War.  The anniversary is officially known as JV Day(Victory in Japan), as this is when Japan conceded defeat by the Allies.

Charles, the Prince of Wales -- eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and next in line to the British throne -- together with Prime Minister David Cameron, laid wreaths at a memorial service held at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall. 

30,000 British and allied young men died in the Far East during the Second World War, many in terrible Japanese concentration camps.

I watched the ceremony on TV at home in Prague, where I returned last night (sorry for not blogging yesterday), and was particularly moved by hearing the famous quote: "We gave our today for your tomorrow".

Had these lives not been lost and Germany and Japan allowed to win the war, it is unlikely that we would be alive today, unlikely that Israel would exist, and unlikely you would have been born.  We must salute them and never forget.