The Velvet Revolution 35 years on
On 17 November 1989, demonstrations at Prague University and Wenceslas Square marked the beginning of the virtually non-violent end of the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia: the Velvet Revolution. Thirty-five years on, how do things stand with the ideals that so many fought for back then?
It's all about butter
Hospodářské noviny comments:
“On this holiday we should stop telling ourselves lies. Thirty-five years ago our goal was something other than freedom and democracy, something more mundane. What we wanted was the quickest way possible out of the material hardship of real socialism and into a consumer paradise. We can see proof of this fact, which has not yet been fully acknowledged, at a time when full-fledged democracy may perhaps be starting to melt away without our noticing it. ... And the reason is once again quite mundane: the dissatisfaction of the majority of voters with their material living conditions. ... What is the hottest political topic on this year's anniversary? The quality of democracy? No way. It's the price of butter.”
Democrats must stand together
The editor-in-chief of Aktuality.sk, Peter Bárdy, appeals to the media and civil society to show commitment especially in these politically difficult times for Slovakia:
“Democracy and freedom don't automatically bring comfort, wealth and happiness. These require hard work, personal commitment, courage, determination and perseverance. We must stand up for them, not in times that are good for democracy and freedom, but precisely when they need our support and protection. Václav Havel did not say that truth and love would triumph over lies and hatred. He said they must prevail. ... And we have to do our bit to help this process.”