The Little Czech Primer is in wartime colors.
I’m really angry about this war. I know that war doesn’t have anything to do with learning Czech. I know people don’t come here to hear what I think about politics. But I’m really angry, and I had to do something.
America has taken a very dark, dangerous path since George W. Bush’s installation as president, and this war is the lowest point yet. The United States has attacked another country, invaded it, just because they weren’t doing what we wanted them to. I know Saddam Hussein is an evil man. I know his is a repressive regime. And I know that left to his own devices, he would re-arm and become a threat to his neighbors. But I don’t think this is justification for invasion. I think the United States does not have the right to unilaterally wage war on other countries without direct provocation, particularly in the face of near unanimous world opposition. I don’t believe George W. Bush ever made a serious effort at diplomacy. I think he wanted this war, and he did everything he could to get it.
I know that the Czech Republic is part of the ‘coalition of the willing,’ along with several other Eastern European countries. I regret their decision to take part in this attack, but I don’t blame them for the decision they’ve made. Regardless of the convictions of their people and their leaders, it’s hard to stand up to the United States, particularly when you’re trying to stand alone as a nation for the first time in 50 years.
I hope that some good will arise out of the evil that is this attack. I hope efforts will be made to prevent such a disaster in the future. I hope that America will soon return to the path that once made it worth loving.
And I hope you all will forgive me for this rant, and be patient with me until the Little Czech Primer can return to its normal self.
Thanks,
Owen
You’re right. But don’t forget that Americas decisions in the past were right.
Generally I agree with you, but it’s very easy to and criticise. We are really a little nation and you, emigrants, can’t judge us for cowardice, ok?
Sadly I have to agree. Please remember that many of us in the US do not agree with the war and we have been marching, writing and speaking out against the Bush policies. We are looking forward to visiting your country in a few weeks.
I respectfully disagree. The reason the US went into this war is because of the ineffectiveness of the UN to effectively control this regime. People always talk about people dying in war. Guess what? Thousands of people, and especially the children, of Iraq have been dying of starvation, and rotting in jails. Why? Because the regime has been allowed to continue, and the Food for Oil program was a joke. People are dying now, and I’m EXTREMELY sad, but when all is said and done, the number of dead will have at least have a stopping point, instead of endlessly continuing under the world’s nose.
Sometime peace requires war. I am thankful that Bush, Blair, and other leaders are willing to finally take care of this long-existing problem. True leadership is never easy.
Thank you.
I respectfully disagree. The reason the US went into this war is because of the ineffectiveness of the UN to effectively control this regime. People always talk about people dying in war. Guess what? Thousands of people, and especially the children, of Iraq have been dying of starvation, and rotting in jails. Why? Because the regime has been allowed to continue, and the Food for Oil program was a joke. People are dying now, and I’m EXTREMELY sad, but when all is said and done, the number of dead will have at least have a stopping point, instead of endlessly continuing under the world’s nose.
Sometime peace requires war. I am thankful that Bush, Blair, and other leaders are willing to finally take care of this long-existing problem. True leadership is never easy.
Thank you.
we all have different opions on the war.but what we have heard from people who live in iraq it is justifed.the beatings & torture is very daming.i don’t like war,but if we as people can not stand up to saddam & his group of people we might as well give up in everything we beleave in.give up our rights as peolple who live in a free country. i live in australia & i have czech blood in me both my parents & some of there friends had to run from the communist.s who destroyed the country.i’ve been home to see the family as most of them live there & will return again & again.
Im not Czech nor do I have any Czech blood that im aware of. However I did stumble upon this site while trying to learn Czech. Im from America and support my president and the war effort. I my self think that the point that Monica made in her post is the number one thing people are not taking into account. That while people will die in war, this war does bring a point in which the deaths caused by Saddamm will and has ended. I also agree that the UN has failed in its mission to bring about peace. The problem with the UN besides its lack of leadership is its irrational and stubborn aproach to international security. The UN believes that war can never bring peace, when the sad and harsh realitys of the world is that war is the only true thing to bring about lasting peace. As for Lauras comment, that is far from the truth. Most of us in America while we hate war as does everyone, we realize that it is the only option in many cases to bring about peace. The few who while I disagree with I do respect, that protest do not represent the majority of America.
Thank you
Seth, I think you should learn spelling and grammar in your own language before you try to learn Czech.
I am from Michigan, USA and plan to visit Prague in June. Here in Detroit, my husband and I work together for dialogue and peace between Christians, Muslims, and Jews. I believe war is morally wrong. I believe that we have been given great intelligence and creativity to practice non-violence in the traditions of Christ, Gandhi and ML King, Jr. and many others who have followed in the way of non-violence around the world. If all the money this war cost was spent on empowering the people of Iraq in creative non-violence, there would be “not even one window broken,” as was said of the great non-violent resistance in Poland. War is ignorant and beneath human dignity. I look forward to visiting your beautiful country. This will be my first time to visit any country other than Canada and I am very happy to know I may meet peace loving people everywhere in the world.
Owen:
I’m sorry to say that you couldn’t be more wrong about the war in Iraq. To say that the U.S. invaded Iraq “Just because they weren’t doing what we wanted them to” is such an over-simplification that it doesn’t make sense.
The U.S. invaded Iraq because for 12 years, they failed to comply with U.N. regulations. Diplomacy WAS attempted, time and time again. Thousands of innocent Iraqi people have been starved, tortured and murdered by Saddam’s regime while the (demonized) U.S. tried to provide humanitarian relief. Would you have preferred that this incredible loss of innocent life continue? Thanks to the U.S., the Iraqis have been liberated with a minimal loss of human life. We have probably prevented thousands of Iraqs from suffering and dying and yet you consider the attack on Iraq evil??? What would have happened if the allies in WW2 did nothing about Hitler? The U.S. has been blamed for knowing too much and doing too little.
Sharon from Michigan, you need to quit living in fantasy-land. Nobody likes war. It would be great if all problems could be solved in a Christ-like or Ghandi-like fashion but that’s just not possible. The Hitlers, Stalins and Saddam Husseins of this world don’t think that way. So sometimes it is actually more moral to wage war to prevent a greater loss of life and to preserve what is good in this world like human dignity and freedom. PLEASE GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD: NOT EVERYONE IS CHRISTIAN, NOT EVERYONE EMBRACES PEACE & LOVE – it’s self-destructive to take that approach with certain people or cultures. That dreamy, idealistic, liberal attitude is rapidly destroying the U.S. from the inside; it’s absolutely dangerous.
Owen – The U.S. is STILL a country worth loving. Maybe you and Sharon would have realized that if you had gotten all of the facts straight before voicing your opinions.
My family is Czech (from Moravia) and I still have living relatives who suffered in WW2 and under communism. I can’t believe that Europeans of all people don’t know an oppressive regime/dictator when they see one.
Didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but your misinformation and unrealistic ideals are frightening and potentially very destructive.
I’m learning Czech and loving it! Just back from Southern Moravia – Krazny!….The world is full of fools regrettably some of them have power. I have friends drafted to Iraq, I know Iraqi’s.
50 years ago Europe and America allowed a certain Mr A Hitler to annexe the Sudaten lands, Czech land. We did nothing, at the end of the war we let the comunists take Czech lands. They actually executed Czech pilots who fought against the nazi’s because they were scared of them.
What I know is that the Czech people came back from all of that and have my respect and admiration. The Iraqi’s will too.
Whatever the published agenda of the war, Saddam was a ruthless killer of his own people and the Czech people stood with Britain and America to get rid of him – unlike the yellow French who went belly up at the first sign of a swastika and don’t seem to have changed.
I respect my Czech friends for standing up for others the way the west never stood up for them.
I don’t care if big moustache had a big bomb or not. I’m not a great lover of American foreign policy or Bush but this cruel dictator who lived in palaces while his people starved – he had to go.
Owen, You are more correct than you can possibly imagine. The U.S. cares nothing about freedom or the suffering of other peoples. Most all of the brutal regimes around the world have been supported by various U.S. administrations. We care only about stability, and leaders open to helping us loot their country’s resources and their people. We invaded Iraq to: 1) test our weaponry; 2) as a reward for large political contributors who will now “rebuild” Iraq; 3) for control of their oil; 4) to intimidate the Palestinians and force terms more to Israel’s liking; 5) to scare the hell out of everybody.
I’m reading here references to Hitler. This is so absurd it doesn’t merit a reply–these are people whose understanding of history ended in grade school. I also see references to the ineffectiveness of the U.N. Israel is in violation of twice as many resolutions as Iraq–shouldn’t we invade them first? This invasion by the U.S. is also in violation of the U.N. Charter–George Bush should immediately kill himself.
The world for the U.S. has just become a much more dangerous place. Now everybody hates us, and with good reason. I am embarassed to acknowledge I am an American.
Owen,
I agree that Bush wanted this war. But I think it was appropriate at this point in history. America did Iraq a favor. With all the terrorism in the world, it is time we(the USA) starts stomping out those who cannot get along well with others.
na schledanou
Zdenek Navratil
Owen, I am a United States Marine. I just returned from fighting in Iraq. You couldn’t be more wrong my friend. The United States was prevoked into a war on Terror. If you remember, days after Sept 11, President Bush stated if you support terrorists you are an enemy of the United States. Saddam is an evil tyrant who supported terrorists and needed to be dealt with. He got what he deserved. I respect other peoples opinion and thier right to disagree with the government but you people who are ashamed to be an American, JOHN!!! Do us all a favor and get the hell out. Leave! I don’t care to risk my life defending some crybaby liberal punk who sleeps under the very blanket of security that we as a military provide, and then bad mouths us for the way we provide it. You make me sick and I hope that if we ever meet in the future I can tell your girlfriend she sleeps with a @&$$#.
Don’t worry John, Tommorrow I will wake-up and defend the country for you.