Vaclav Havel has passed away. To the vibrant Czech heritage community of Chicago, I can only imagine the feeling of loss. He was one of the most amazing men I have ever watched change the world, and he will always be a hero in my eyes. Vaclav Havel led without bloodshed his Czechoslovak people through the velvet revolution of 1989, shedding communism from their midst. With his leadership he returned great hope to his beloved country after domination under both the Nazis and the USSR. His steadfast moral strength led them back to a thriving democracy. He was a wonderful writer; my favorite is Summer Meditations with his timeless thoughts on how to build a better world through authentic and honorable public engagement at every level accompanied with recognition of a higher moral purpose for us all. He has now met his maker, who no doubt guided Havel’s words.
My husband Roger and I were very fortunate to have been with him twice in October 2011 at the American Friends of the Czech Republic festivities centering around the restoration of President Woodrow Wilson’s statue at the Prague railway station. He spoke eloquently about the importance of democracy and the long friendship between the American and Czech people. As I look at our nation’s predicament with distasteful political partisanship and a lack of working collaboratively and honestly towards the common good, we can only hope that somewhere in our political midst will arise many individuals who will lead in the manner in which Vaclav Havel did for his country at a time when it mattered most. May he rest in peace and be celebrated for his contributions to a better world.
— Joanie Schirm, Orlando, Fla.
