Václav Havel passes away - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

GirlySports · 12-18-2011, 07:25 PM

Vaclav Havel died earlier today in the Czech Republic.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/commentisfre...e&type=article

It's still amazing to me that a dissident playwright helped usher out communism in Czechoslovakia.

Slava · 12-18-2011, 09:17 PM

I'm glad someone started a thread about him. Havel was a brilliant person and a politician who emphasized truth and fairness in life as well as politics. Maybe its lost on most North Americans, but he had an enormous impact on the world. Perhaps the best quote I read on his passing was that "he was as important as most playrights think they are".

Puppet Guy · 12-18-2011, 10:24 PM

the world would be in better shape if there were more leaders like him.

troutman · 12-18-2011, 10:33 PM

Zappa Fan.

Puppet Guy · 12-18-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Zappa Fan.

Zappa fandom = sense. I guess if you can make sense of 200 Motels, then transitioning to a democratic, capitalist system is a piece of cake.

HOZ · 12-19-2011, 12:28 AM

The world has lost a great leader, intellect and human being in Vaclav Havel. We are all the poorer for it.

Vulcan · 12-19-2011, 02:39 AM

I'm sorry to say I get Havel and Aleksander Dubcek mixed up. Both were great patriots for the Czechs and Slovaks. When Dubcek led the Prague Spring, it was another nail in the Soviets rule although they crushed the movement by invasion.

This was followed by the Czechoslovak Hockey Riots when they beat the Soviet team in the 69 World Championships. They hated the Russians more than we did.
RIP Vaclav Havel, another era is passing.

Itse · 12-19-2011, 07:49 AM

Leaders with such a strong belief in democracy are unfortunately very rare, even in so called western democracies.

RIP Václav Havel. He was one of the good guys.

EDIT: BTW Puppet Guy, I'm so using that quote.

Suave · 12-19-2011, 08:57 AM

Some great quotes from Mr. Havel.

“Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred”

"The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less"

"Without free, self-respecting, and autonomous citizens there can be no free and independent nations. Without internal peace, that is, peace among citizens and between the citizens and the state, there can be no guarantee of external peace."

"Even a purely moral act that has no hope of any immediate and visible political effect can gradually and indirectly, over time, gain in political significance"

RIP Václav Havel, you will be missed but never forgotten.

FlamesAddiction · 12-19-2011, 09:10 AM

There is actually a long list of Czech activists who proved that activism works when done properly, and Havel was one of the greatest.

I didn't agree with all of his policy decisions as a politician, but there is no arguing that he had a positive influence in Eastern Europe and around the world.

Flames Draft Watcher · 12-19-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

the world would be in better shape if there were more leaders like him.

Agreed. Read some of his philosophy from the communist era and it is brilliant. Surprised when people who actually deserve to lead get the chance to.

Bunk · 12-19-2011, 03:42 PM

Sad his passing will be overshadowed by Kim Jong Il.

Table 5 · 12-19-2011, 05:18 PM

I've had one of his plays (The Garden Party) sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now without having the chance to read it. I guess this is a good time as any.

Definitely sad to hear. But considering the guy was only give a couple of years to live in the mid 90s (believe he had lung cancer due to his heavy smoking), his tenure was longer than it could've been.

Flame Of Liberty · 12-19-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

There is actually a long list of Czech activists who proved that activism works when done properly, and Havel was one of the greatest.

I didn't agree with all of his policy decisions as a politician, but there is no arguing that he had a positive influence in Eastern Europe and around the world.

His media portrayal and image in the Western world largely overstates his role in Czechoslovakia, both before and after the fall of communism.

I didn't agree with most of his policies either, but having said that, he was a man among (mostly) mental midgets.

RIP.

GirlySports · 12-19-2011, 09:01 PM

North Korea "is one of the most staggering human-rights and humanitarian disasters in the world."
- Vaclav Havel

KTown · 12-19-2011, 09:06 PM

If Havel led the revolution earlier, there is a good chance we would have never ran away from Czechoslovakia in 85. Thanks to him I don't have to worry about the rest of my family back in Prague.

Flame Of Liberty · 12-19-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTown

If Havel led the revolution earlier, there is a good chance we would have never ran away from Czechoslovakia in 85. Thanks to him I don't have to worry about the rest of my family back in Prague.

Oh please. Worried in 50s and 60s - absolutely. In the late 80s? Nope.

KTown · 12-19-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Oh please. Worried in 50s and 60s - absolutely. In the late 80s? Nope.

If you are gonna make a statement like that, please enlighten everyone. I forgot how much we loved the communist regime to not run away........

Flame Of Liberty · 12-19-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTown

If you are gonna make a statement like that, please enlighten everyone. I forgot how much we loved the communist regime to not run away........

Any country under a communist regime is a crappy place, but you implied you would be worried, for their safety I suppose?

Emigrants during the 80s were economy emigrants. Nothing wrong with that, but they weren't people running because they were worried about their safety.