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Letters from our readers Laughing at history To the Editor: Theodore Schwinke's "Czech history for dummies" [Dec. 29-Jan. 4] reads more like "A history of Czech dummies." I do not know where Schwinke comes from, but his contempt for the Czech people is obvious. As for The Prague Post's publishing such ridicule, perhaps disguised as a spoof, a reader must wonder whether it is really the Czechs who may be holding such a low opinion of their ancestry and history, or just the publishers of The Prague Post. F. Mayne Toronto To the Editor: I regularly read The Prague Post online as it keeps me in touch with my Czech heart and mind. I had the best laugh of last century reading the article "Czech history for dummies" [Dec. 29-Jan. 4] as it was written in the best Czech satire, which could be our greatest gift. Thank you, I feel much more at home in the world now. Concrete proposals needed To the Editor: Why is Martin Jan Stransky complaining ["Toward a real democracy," Dec. 29-Jan. 4] that in response to public protests, opposition leader Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Milos Zeman tell protesters to "shut up or offer a better solution?" The tone should be ignored and the invitation for dialogue should be seized as a great opportunity. If Impulse 99 or the "Thank you, now leave" appeals are to have meaningful, lasting impact, it is incumbent to move beyond well-meaning abstract protestations and defeat Zeman, Klaus and Co. by offering concrete and specific proposals, i.e. "a better solution." Why should one group of political leaders who were, for the most part, once considered well-meaning and sincere, be replaced by a similar group based on their abilities to simply point out the shortcomings of the former group? This could become a self-perpetuating cycle leading nowhere. As for the claim that "atheism is incompatible with democracy ...because of the importance of understanding the principles of faith and belief" -- says who? There are many successful democratic European countries whose leaders and populace tend to be agnostic or nonpracticing religious observers, if not outright atheists. Many people of faith and belief and goodwill have no affiliation with any church, synagogue or mosque. This religious push by Czech intellectuals and leaders seems to be based too much on a sort of "how to become a better communist" mentality by acting, thinking and talking like a true communist of former times. David B. Brown Chairman, School of Legal Studies Anglo-American College Prague More Christians than Muslims To the Editor: In an otherwise excellent article by Magnus Bennett about Czech Muslims' need for official recognition ["Among the believers," Dec. 22-28, 1999], two major errors crept in. The headline calls Islam the "World's most widely practiced religion," and the second paragraph of the story describes Islam as "the most widely held faith on earth." However, Christianity is still the most widely held faith on earth. According to David B. Barrett, a sociologist of religion whose studies on Christianity and Islam have been published by Oxford University Press, Christians now number nearly 2 billion, whereas Muslims count close to 1.2 billion. Of course, both religious traditions have adherents who do not "practice" their faith and for whom their faith may be only a cultural facade, which is regrettable. Wesley H. Brown Roztoky The Prague Post responds: While the whole body of Christian believers may count some 2 billion, Islam as a single, monotheistic faith based on the Koran is arguably the globe's most widely practiced organized religion, as stated. The numbers issue remains a debated point among religious scholars. |
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