Recap of the 17th

While the evening was reserved for celbrating freedom, others used this day for advancing their own agenda. The socialists organized 2,000 people who rallied against the proposed radar base outside of Prague. Students complained that the transformation has been largely botched. And the Nazis ironically chose this day to mourn the death of free speech after being snubbed in their bid to march through Prague's Jewish Quarter to "celebrate" Kristallnact.

So they really ran the gamut, from opportunistic socialists to ill-informed students, to simply misguided radicals.

It is clear that while it is important to look back, this country has a lot of looking forward to do.

The Velvet Revolution Begins

Today marks 18 years since the official beginning of the Velvet Revolution. November 17th marks the day of intense protests in 1989 that led to the fall of communism in the Czech Republic.

The date became significant in 1939 when the Nazis suppressed a student protest, executing 9 organizers, imprisoning 1200 demonstrators, and shutting down the University system. In 1941, Great Brittan declared November 17th to be International Students Day. This is still the only Czech holiday with international significance.

So with communism falling all over eastern Europe, it was no surprise that the Czechs took to the streets in peaceful demonstration, filling Vaclávské Náměstí with about a half a million people shaking their keys, the keys to freedom.

It is an interesting story, and you can read about it in more detail here.