THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN OPINION
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE B-SIDE
PAGE 7A
Images of socialism, capitalism intersect in Czech Republic
SAM HOPKINS
shopkins@kansan.com
I had the pleasure of traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, this spring break. Prague is a cosmopolitan city of historic buildings, legendary hockey teams and the most Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants I have ever seen in my life. It has not always been so.
After the Allied defeat of the Nazis in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1945, the American and Soviet governments engaged in a battle of politicized goodwill gestures, money and fear to win over the locals.
Prague's Museum of Communism details the rise and fall of Marxism in Czechoslovakia, within half a floor of space next to a casino and above a McDonald's. The irony is evident as pictures of rejoicing roulette players and Big Macs flank Joseph Stalin, an icon of forced equality whose antithesis was American avarice.
I toured the exhibition: a mockup of a Czechoslovakian schoolroom complete with a Russian lesson on the board; posters exhorting factory workers to higher productivity; and videos of the massive demonstrations in 1989 that took place just outside the museum where I stood, bringing Prague's communist era to a close. Then I went to find the men's room.
To their great benefit, women do not know what urinal cakes smell like. I will try to explain here, and please endure my description for the sake of the metaphor that follows.
If you took an Altoid mint the size of a hockey puck, dunked it in chlorine bleach, and then urinated on it, you could approximate the smell of what is unfortunately called a urinal cake. I do not know if Prague had this chemical technology before 1989, but the whiff I got in 2005 was overpowering.
Now, the metaphor: Human urine does not carry a pleasant aromas but urinal cakes do no more than add a different, slightly toxic odor, which itself is nauseating.
I stepped out of the bathroom hoping that I would be able to keep my lunch down. Again, the juxtaposition of McDonald's and the casino next
to the socialist imagery I had just seen was unavoidable.
The signs pointed in different directions, giving the visitor a choice of venue: Either a glance at the gloomy past or immersion in the glitzy present. The Czech and Slovak masses had made their own decision, and outside old men who might have been members of the secret police in a former life begged for money on the busy pedestrian mall among all the shoppers and moneychangers. I'm lovin' it!
The past is often foul compared to a rosy-smelling future. The Soviets foresaw a world of abundance without poverty, but they stifled freedom in their drive to achieve that goal. Capitalism, for its part, has the lamentable tendency of amplifying individual desire to the detriment of universal need. The American Dream is a nightmare for many.
We should not be content to mask one putid smell with another until the fresh becomes rotten and we start all over again. Flush the toilet and think hard about the source of the problems and possible remedies, and then think again about the consequences of those remedies.
The Cold War period affected the American psyche to the extent that the very word "communism" can still stir deep patriotic fear and rage. The Soviet-Czechoslovakian propaganda that I saw casts a similarly evil image of capitalism.
The truth is that Marxism, Leninism and Stalinism — just like American democracy — is an attempt to eradicate humanity's stinky leavings, but in the end it left the mess and created a new stench. Americans are free to write cheeky opinion columns, but many go to bed hungry each night.
There is an ideological and practical balance somewhere between Wal-Mart and Stalin's Five-Year Plans, and both our children and their noses will thank us iff we work harder to find it.
❖ Hopkins is a Prairie Village senior in linguistics and international studies.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Supreme Court ignored its ownrole, let Schiavodie without true justice
"Equal Justice Under Law." How ironic that the Supreme Court, whose building boasts these famous words, would deny Terri Schiavo her constitutional right to life, her freedom of religion by not permitting her to be given last rites, and allow her to be starved to death.
As she took her last breath — yes, she could breathe on her own — Thursday morning, I was reminded of my recent trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Life, where I witnessed Terri's parents asking the crowd for support in their fight. I was appalled that our government would allow this. I also find it quite suspicious that her husband, Michael Schiavo — who for the record, already has a fiancée and two children — stands to gain Terri's inheritance following her death.
It is ridiculous and disgraceful that a handful of judges determined the fate of this woman's life. As it stands, there are absolutely no checks and balances on the judicial system. When the legislative and executive branches intervened, a judge accused them of acting "in a manner at odds with our Constitution."
It seems to me that by denying Terri her basic constitutional freedoms, our judicial system is acting in a manner at odds with the Constitution.
Also look to our Pledge of Allegiance, which concludes "with liberty and justice for all." Where was the justice for Terri and her family?
Brittani Boyd Le Mars, Iowa, freshman Music education and political science
Ten Commandments don't represent the legal framework in United States
In Ray Wittlinger's column "Ten Commandments should unite, not divide Americans." he tells us that the presence of these commandments near a government institution is "offensive only if you let it be."
Really? I didn't know that we have a choice as to what offends us.
The bottom-line is that these religious displays are offensive to non-believers and to others that do not identify with the Judeo-Christian system.
Listen up homosexuals: Being called a "fag" and experiencing discrimination are only offensive if you let them be.
While Wittlinger's intentions seem to be sincere, it is wistfully absurd and offensive to think that, of all the moral codes available, we should unite under the one that just so happens to be in line with the majority's religious preference and that includes very few of "our country's most fundamental laws."
They are a source of alienation and a blatant violation of the First Amendment.
In order for people of all creeds to unite, we must do so under rules that revolve solely around the good of humanity instead of keeping days "holy" or worshiping the "correct" ghosts.
In fact, only three of these 10 are actually part of our laws.
Ryan Stringer Ottawa senior Psychology and philosophy
HIGGINS' PERSPECTIVE
Paige Higgins/KANSAN
GUEST COMMENTARY
John Paul II took papacy in right direction in 26 years
On Easter Sunday, my family and I spent the morning with thousands of others in Rome, at Mass in St. Peter's Square. My husband, Wayne, noticed the red banner under Pope John Paul's apartment window.
PATTY NOLAND
opinion@kansan.com
Wayne said the pope would probably give the final blessing. He was right.
Although the pope's deteriorating health prevented him from reading the blessing, it was still spiritually moving to see him in the window, making the sign of the cross. The experience brought tears to my eyes and uplifted the spirits of all those around us. A group of school
around us. A group of school children nearby started chanting "Il Papa, Il Papa." Italian for "pope."
I am teaching for the School of Journalism in Italy this semester, through the Consortium of Universities for International Studies. This has been an incredible experience made more special by the opportunity to witness Pope John Paul II's final public appearance.
We returned to St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, March 30, because my dawdard bad to count the
cultural barriers with his message of peace, love and understanding.
about issues and church policies, but we can agree that his stewardship during the last 26 years has positively changed the papacy, taking him on hundreds of trips across the world and making him a global leader.
Pope John Paul II spoke several languages and crossed
On Friday, my own language barrier prevented me from understanding the breaking news about the pope's condition.
The television news reports were only in Italian
Catholics don't always agree with the pope about issues and church policies, but we can agree that his stewardship during the last 26 years has positively changed the papacy, taking him on hundreds of trips across the world and making him a global leader."
Once again, we heard John Paul II's blessing and saw him in the window. His appearance sparked an energy and optimism that was almost palpable.
number of altars at St. Peter's Basilica for her social studies class back home. We saw the red banner and the crowd gathered in the square. A news photographer told us the pope was to appear in a few minutes.
Catholics do not always agree with the pope
reports were only in Italian in Assisi, the city we were visiting on the day of the pope's death.
This made it difficult for me, a news junkie, to figure out what was going on. When I heard Pope John Paul II had finally passed away, the news came via my cell phone, from my brother in Kansas City.
Although John Paul II's time as pope has passed, I believe all of us, especially college students, can still learn a great deal from his life, his example and his words.
Mv 13-year-old son
My 13-year-old son bought a biography at the Vatican bookstore, "John Paul II: Pilgrim of the World." The book includes an excerpt from one of the pope's speeches to students. "Youth is a marvelous gift of God. It is a time of special energies, special opportunities and special responsibilities...use well the gifts God has given you."
- Nolan is a lecturer and Career Development Coordinator in the School of Journalism.
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
I'm sick of people handing me stuff on Wescoe Beach. They're basically saying "Here, have something to throw away."
I would just like to know why the Payless Furniture Outlet commercial is so freaking white trash.
+
So Allen Fieldhouse is on fire again.
You guys at McColllum think you're cool for sneaking in kegs, and you think you're cool for sneaking puppies into Oliver, but we just had two strippers on Lewis 5 so eat it!
I smell like strippers and I didn't even have to leave Lewis 5. I love college!
Would somebody please tell me why McDonald's needs a searchlight on top of their building?
Celebrate commitment, value tolerance, vote no to the marriage amendment April 5.
Kansas: as bigoted as you think. Change this, vote no to the marriage amendment on April 5.
Hooray for the Colorado Rockies!