News: The Prague Post Online

To the Editor:

On Havel and NATO

I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly with [your] editorial ["Havel's Russia house," Postview, May 16-22], but it nonetheless ignores a basic detail: Havel, in his anti-Russian sentiments, is neglecting Russia's security concerns. These are quite legitimate when one begins to realize that the absorption of the East European countries occurred because Russia did not feel secure after the 1917 revolution.

I wonder what the Czechs would say if they were honestly asked if they prefer a Russia that feels threatened or one that is safely contained within an alliance of mutual respect. France faced the same dilemma in regard to Germany after World War II. The answer then was not NATO, but the ECSC (European Coal & Steel Community) -- a precursor to the current European Union.

Reliance upon military alliance creates tension that can lead to cataclysmic results. Mutual security relies upon disarmament and the building of bridges of trust, understanding and dialogue among individuals, groups and nations.

Boris Civic

Prague 3

Court of dwarfs

Thank you for the funny article about our "beloved" Cavalier Berlusconi ["Bohumil Berlusconi, where are you?" Opinion, May 23-29]. Many Italians will need an extra dose of humor in order to endure him for five years -- a self-made man with a court of dwarfs, singers and lawyers, not to mention an array of clowns acting as TV journalists, on his payroll.

I want to point out that what you called "invisible political support" was everything but invisible. In 1985, Parliament prevented Berlusconi's media empire from being broken apart into several pieces, an event recorded in our history as the "Decreto Salva Berlusconi" (Save Berlusconi Decree).

That was actually the beginning of Berlusconi's "resistible" success and the decree is still remembered today as one of the most glorious pages in this banana-less Banana Republic called Italy.

Flavio Casetta

Modena, Italy

Religious progress

It was quite a relief to read the article on Muslims ["Proposed faith law gets mixed reviews from Muslims," News, May 23-29]. It was about time somebody addressed the issue and emerged with a clear sense of direction. As Islam is widely accepted and preached in most of the countries worldwide, including the immediate neighbors of Czech Republic, it would be almost impossible to think of a Prague without a mosque, especially as it prepares to enter the European Union.

Amjad Deen

Prague 5-Smichov

Ugly Americans

I'm afraid Jaroslav Hus of Minneapolis paints with a mighty broad brush ["Backing a code," Letters to the Editor, May 30-June 5]. Because Americans are mostly European children, he says he feels sorry for all Americans and is horrified at what has happened to us. As an American, I say many complimentary things about my European kin and friends, but he says, by implication, that I am "irritating, obnoxious, stupid and impolite" for doing so. I agree, some of my countrymen are irritating, impolite, and so on -- but so are some of his.

I am often grateful that my attitudes and demeanor are founded on European principles and try to say so in a relatively acceptable manner. Apparently that's not good enough for Mr. Hus. I guess I'll have to try harder.

Curtis Parham

Brno

Bar raids

Police have a right to enter any bar, straight or gay, if they have a probable cause to prevent a crime ["Lightning police raid nets youth 'pimps,'" News, May 23-29]. It is no secret that male prostitution and drug-selling take place in the gay bars -- both are illegal. It's not the fault of the police that gay clients are embarrassed.

Alexander Weiss

Queens, New York

Straus and Stoppard

It really does not surprise me to find out few Czechs know of Jozef Straus, or of his achievements in life ["Jozef who?" Business, May 23-29]. Recently, I went to dinner with two Czech friends who were visiting London -- all graduates of Charles University, so no dolts there -- and my Czech wife.

During the conversation I was astounded to learn that not only did my visitors not know who Lord Stoppard is (for the record, Tom Stoppard, one of the English language's greatest living playwrights: Shakespeare in Love, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, etc.), but they had no idea he was Czech-born.

Yet they knew well the name of each member of Plastic People of the Universe! Insular -- moi?

Mike Goddard

London

Hagibor hockey

Question: Is a third hockey arena in a city that already has two international-size hockey stadiums a super luxury, an expression of hockey federation arrogance, civic government stupidity or a combination of all three? ["Finland 1, Czechs 1 on venue," News, May 16-22]

I don't know of another city, including those in hockey-crazy North America, that would "sport" this kind of indulgence. Take Montreal. Population almost three times that of Prague, hockey dynasty "Canadiens," with 24 Stanley Cups. It took years to justify the viability of a new "Molson Center" stadium. The old Montreal Forum has been refurbished for other uses and the city still has only one major venue for hockey.

For Prague, to build another rink seems like an awful waste of money and resources that could be used for other improvements benefiting residents. One would think the building of monuments would be considered part of a past that ended in 1989.

John Kotera

Calgary, Alberta

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