I happened to meet yet another sweet person through this blog. Her name is Alenka and she and her parents immigrated to the US in 1985 – only 5 years before the Velvet Revolution. Her story is truly amazing. I woudn’t be surprised if they made a movie out of it one day! Here it is:
CZ: Tak se mi skrze Czechmate Diary postestilo poznat dalsi velmi prijemnou a zajimavou osobu. Jmenuje se Alenka a s rodici imigrovala do USA v roce 1985 – pouhych 5 let pred Sametovou revoluci. Jeji pribeh se jednou objevi na filmovem platnu- o tom jsem presvedcena. Presvecte se sami:
‘In 1985 I was just 5 years old and my father was planning the escape for over a year. They didn’t tell anyone. They obtained a visa to former Yugoslavia to go on a camping trip, My father welded a secret hiding spot for about $300 in the frame underneath the car. We were stopped at the border and my parents were interrogated, I was told to sleep and not to move, and I did pretend to sleep but felt how terrified my parents were.
They let us go and we made it to our camping spot. There we set up a tent for a few days and camped. Then one day we just left and crossed over to Italy through the mountains with some books, my dads chess set and a good bottle of wine. The wine was for bartering with any spys we may have encountered. Apparently a family was gunned down a couple of months before we left taking a similar route. My Dad found some fresh dog sh*t on a trail and my parents freaked!
We made it to Italy and my mom was a little drunk because they saved the little water they had for me and they started to drink the wine. I remember the moment my parents crossed into Italy. They just knelt down and began to sob. I didn’t know what was happening and that is when they told me that we were probably not going to see my grandparents and other family for a very long time, maybe never.
We stayed in Rome for about 9 months in a hotel for political refugees with other Czechs who also defected, waiting for a plane to the States or Australia. Some Czechs were waiting for almost 2 years. My mom says this was probably the best time in her life. Rome was very beautiful I remember. I also remember the hotel was next to a vineyard and working farm so in the middle of the night, all the Czech families would go out and steal grapes, watermelons, and peppers. Must have been an adventure for my parents.
In my opinion my parents pretty much isolated themselves here and it was tough for me growing up. My Dad’s a nuclear physicist and we were dirt poor and moved around alot for a few years before my Dad found a good job on Long Island in NY. My brother and sister were born here and pretty much grew up in the same house their whole lives so they obviously had an easier time.
All my family is in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately I don’t have much contact with them. I can understand Czech and read it a little but cannot write it. I used to speak it fluently but we began mixing it at home and my brother was having a tough time at school mixing it so we transitioned to mostly English. I still mixed it with English until I moved out at 24 and then I just stopped. I did go back when I was 16 and was able to pick it up with no problem so I know it’s still in me. I contact Roseta Stone just about every year to ask them to provide Czech as a language to learn. Anyway, I have been trying to reconnect with my Czech roots through cooking and baking. It has been great and I am so happy when I make something that my husband and 3 year old baby boy like. My son helps me grind those poppy’s so I am glad I am passing some traditions along to him. I think I will also try to plant some currants in my yard this year.
When I asked Alenka what she remembered from the Czech Republic while she still lived there as a little girl, this is what she said:
‘My most vivid memories from Czech are of my grandparents, my cousins and playing with the two little boys that lived in the same building we did. I remember going to my grandparents summer house and eating currents and raspberries from the infinite amount of bushes bearing these fruits. I also have very distinct memories of the food, especially the kolacky and dorticky and anything with dumplings. Oh and Christmas was the best with buying live carp and keeping them in the bathtub. I would sit there for hours watching them swim. Also Ježíšek instead of Santa Claus brought me my presents.
When I went back in ’96 I was very excited to see my family. I was mixing Czech and English at the time and picked up the language almost immediately. But I noticed I could not carry a long conversation and I had no knowledge of any czech slang so as a 16 year old girl it was difficult speaking with other teenagers. We visited the mountains and so many beautiful castles. We stayed in my grandparents house in Prague and it was the most beautiful city I had ever seen. I also went to my first Discoteque in a small village called Smidary which was definitely an experience.’
~Alenka
DO YOU HAVE A SIMILAR STORY? SHARE IT WITH US! (contact me and I will post it)
MATE PODOBNOU PRIHODU? PODELTE SE S NAMI O NI! (poslete mi ji a ja ji zpublikuji)
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My mother escaped the same way through Yugoslavia and into Italy in 1982. She forgot to get back on the bus. Czechoslovakia in the 1980’s was rough. I just hope that with personal stories like this will change the attitudes of the Czechs who did not leave. Continually people ask me what did my parents and grandparents do wrong (criminally speaking) for them to leave. The only crime was not wanting to live under communism. They do not realize how tough it is to start from scratch with nothing. Alena its not too late to learn the language. What you are doing with your son is awesome, there are vocabulary lessons on Czech American TV and song CD’s. You will not ever forget it. Maybe there are language lessons in your area which you can attend. Just a thought. On facebook we have a group called Czech Parents, First Generation American, it is small, less than 10 people but we share the same experiences of having either been born in the CSSR and emigrated to the US or Canada with our parents or grew up in the States with Czech parents.
I would not call it escapes….We simply managed to get out, some people tried to escape and were shot to death..I am proud to be sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment for illegally staying in West and refusing to serve in communist Czech army. It was quite an experience when 2 weeks after the “Velvet” revolution I was allowed to visit CSFSR. I was crossing German-Czech border in Rozvadov during a midnight time…
A huge gate (similar to that in Jurassic Park movie) slowly opened giving unpleasant squeaking sound .
2 soldiers with automatic weapons aiming at us were wishing us a good luck and they welcomed us to Czechoslovak Socialist Republic … I was so afraid, that something will happen and the huge gate will never ever open again and I will get stuck in the Jurassic park for live …..
Yeah both my parents got prison sentences two years, though. My dad threw his notices in the trash. I don’t what you would call it but people did what they had to do to leave and some people escaped in a trunks of cars. I had a professor whose parents and the professor were separated at the border and there was some intense moments. My parents just view their lives as a prison and you can only escape. We had family members in Jachymov serving sentences so we were black listed.
Finding this blog has been somewhat of a blessing for me because I have finally joined facebook after so much reluctance and reconnected with my family in the Czech Republic. I have even been communicating in Czech with them. I am using an on-line translator for help and I am shocked at how much I still know. I am even correcting the translator as it does not know if I am speaking to a female for example. Jana V, I am not familiar with Czech American TV, is it on Satellite? I will check out Czech Parents on Facebook, Thank You! That is a great idea to get song CD’s. I do have “Broučci” which I listen to for pure nostalgia: “A bylo Jaro…..” but I always end up in tears.
As I told Taňa through e-mail, I cannot believe how socialism is creeping into this country and families risked not only their lives but the lives of their children to come to this country. I can only hope and pray that people read more history If anyone wants to read an AMAZING BOOK about the most important American defector from Communism then read Whittaker Chambers: A Biography, By Sam Tanenhaus. A fascinating read on how communists infiltrated the US State Department and the Alger Hiss Trials. (Alger Hiss: that jerk that basically gave Czechoslovakia to Stalin at Yalta because Roosevelt was unconscience and drooling)
I will be reading The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek
I will probably get my ass kicked for posting this here and I don’t mean to make anyone angry, but don’t confuse the word socialism with communism. There is no need to make any regime a tyrany. Anything taken to extreme is bad. There has to be a balance. Germany has been living the Marxist theory for decades and people are quite happy there. I’m a brainwashed capitalist, I like money I guess, but the truth is that there is a lot to be said about being able to just go see a dentist when you need to, or have the operation you need or attend a university (and not have to work while you’re there, because you get a stipend) or not to have to pay for school books… there are so many things I remember from Czech rep. that we all took for granted, which, if I mention to our American friends, would make them think we’re made it all up. I think if I had to choose I’d say I am a republican, but I voted for Obama, so maybe it’s just the Star Warz fan part of me ;))) Great things can happen here, we just can’t be afraid to change some laws. Judges are terrified to rail outside the lines of prescedents that none are broken and no progress is made, because everyone is so afraid of loosing their job, they forget to do their job. The US Constitution is one of the greatest legal documents on this planet and it’s open to changes and addititions, the grandads of American made it so, we just need to be more willing to embrace change when it’s for the good of the nation and sometimes, perhaps, even take steps toward making that change happen. All right, I’ll shut up now. Just leave you with a brave thought I’ve always admired Victor Frankel for: No One Can Ever Make You Think Something You Don’t Want to Think – your thoughts are your thoughts only. So if there is something you don’t like, you can either make an effort toward a change or zip up ;))
Vlastimil, I would loooooove to get stuck in Jurrasic Park! Whoohoa! Love that film.
What a beautiful sight seeing all the brontosaures walk across that gorgeous untouched by human hands scenery ( yes I know it’s all greenscreen ‘)
Tanya – omg all those English mistakes I made above! I’m itching to correct them. You need ‘edit’ buttons cara mia.
Oh, one more:
Do you know who the scariest type of dinosaurus is? – It’s the Doyouthinkhesarus
MariKo – don’t worry about the mistakes, who cares! We know what you are saying here so that’s all that matter.
PS: posli mi zpravu pres ‘contact form’: http://czechmatediary.com/about/contact-page/
Alenko, definitely check out the ‘Czech/Slovak moms living abroad’ category at:
http://czechmatediary.com/category/czech-and-slovak-moms/
– you find bunch of practical stuff like free song downloads, or YouTube videos of Czech fairy tales you remember from your childhood.
Also, I have a couple of CDs for sale that you might be interested in (folk songs and lullabies):
http://czechmatediary.com/2009/11/09/wonderful-christmas-present-czech-cd-with-traditional-czech-music/
– BTW, I looked up F.A. Hayek – did you know that guy lived 93 years? He has probably seen it all….
Vlastimile, I assume you did not have to actually go to prison for 5 years? Did you just get a letter like Jana’s mom saying if you ever go back that is how you are going to be punished?
No one is confusing anything. Just because one is a soft tyranny doesn’t make it different. We are talking about our freedom. You can go to the Dentist, a Surgeon, a University and you will have to pay for it because guess what, it’s your RESPONSIBILITY. Brainwashed Capitalist? Republican who voted for Obama. Are you serious? By the way the dentist and the surgeon are Businesses that make money so they can support themselves, their families and Oh My Gosh…make a PROFIT. I worked in the medical field and people who did not have money for whatever reason can see a doctor. It’s the doctor that gets screwed because Medicaid or Medicare dictate how much is payed if services are rendered. That payment comes months and months down the road and its pennies. Why even enter the profession then? Because you are such a great person and you want to share in the sacrifice. Give me a break.
My parents were assigned Doctors in Czechoslovakia. My Grandfather died because his assigned doctor refused to treat his prostate cancer. I will not sit here in this country and let the US Constitution be treated like a piece of toilet paper. I am not going to be told how to take care of mine and my families health by some beaurocrat who rides his bike to work. Wake up! Oh and Germany is laying low right now because its just too soon for World Domination again.
Alena, you are so right with your comments and I completely agree with you. All the comments are great.
My great grandfather, at the age of 17, stowed away to come to the USA in 1890. He was from Moravia. I cannot even begin to understand how someone could leave behind their family and go to a foreign country across the ocean. Such brave people and they worked hard to make a living to survive. I am so proud of my Czech heritage. I feel a special connection to my gr-grandfather when I visit his grave even though he died in 1910 and I never knew him. I wonder what he would think of our current affairs in the US today.
Thank you, Tanya, for your special blog. You are truly a blessing.
Alenka, great comments regarding socialism/communism and great stories from your childhood. For re-learning your language, check out http://www.myczechrepublic.com and search for online czech resources. There’s a comment there that lists several of them. Having the background and former first hand knowledge of the language, you can learn it again in no time without Rosetta Stone (btw, thanks for writing them, I’ve wished they would come out with it for some time now).
For Everyone here, check out the movie White Nights. It’s an old movie but I just got a chance to watch it last week and my husband says it’s very telling of living under communism. My husband and his ex-wife defected with a yong child (2 yrs old) about 6 months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. I love hearing the interesting stories of how people defected.
Marika,
“Victor Frankel : No One Can Ever Make You Think Something You Don’t Want to Think – your thoughts are your thoughts only.”
Frankel earned his wisdom the hardest way imaginable. If the quote is indeed his than the context of this saying matters, not the quote itself. Any man (good or evil) in position of authority can alter thoughts of other human beings given enough power and time. It would be an interesting experiment to ask yourself how many original thoughts you have had today. So concerning our thoughts, the difference lies in what they are about and if they are consistent with the truth about ourselves and the truth about the world we are living in.
“Judges are terrified to rail outside the lines of precedents..”
Judges do not make the laws; their job is to interpret them only.
Alena,
welcome amongst your tribe… 🙂 Though by now I’ve spent the bigger half of my life in the States, I still appreciate some things Czech.
For example, I’m sorry that my daughters (born in the USA) missed “Broucci” and “Povidani o pejskovi a kocicce”. Though my wife is an American, she encouraged me to teach them Czech, but I dropped the ball – no excuse. They do know few words, and sometime tell me that knowing Czech would be fun.
I’m with you as far as tyranny goes. I don’t care about the degree of it, when the push comes to shove, you, the citizen, are expected to slave and obey.
I know the story of Whittaker Chambers, but did not read this book.
I can recommend “The Black Book of Communism” published in 97 in France, and for an interesting take on Czech history “The Coasts of Bohemia” by Derek Sayer.
And if you have not found a good recipe for kolace, my wife’s got one that goes back to Texas Czechs!
Ahoj
Tanja, I did not get the letter, my parents got it and then I knew I was in trouble :)) Of course I did not serve the sentence, I wanted to go back and defend myself, but then, remember what happened to Mr. Jan Hus ? I had no desire to get my own momument :)))
Jana V
diky za upozorneni na FB stranku First Generation Czechs – uvidime jestli dcery zaberou..
A Tano, diky za tve blogovani – ve stredu statu Connecticut moc sanci tak cesky porozpravet nemam.
Czech American TV is free on the web http://www.catvusa.com updated weekly.
I am going back to school and trying to be certified to become a teacher and I have paid for by student loans, grants, and scholarships all by myself with no help from my parents. I appreciate it and I have been blessed to have instructors and professors who were passionate about their subjects. Even in middle and high school I had influences by teachers.
I think in the US Republicans are quick to say they are experts at identifying socialism. If you know what it is fine talk about but if you are just throwing it out there to intimidate and scare people then its going to bite you in the butt later. Yes communism and socialism are two different things. The people who died while in gulags and prison work camps are being disrespected. It is tough to get the truth about the STB and their practices when most of the people just continued on and were in the same positions after the Velvet Revolution I think there is a segment of our population in the US who are scared about people having equality and having the same access to health care. I have been on the side of growing up not having health care and then breathing a sigh of relief that I got a job where I had health insurance.
My dad always was for the truth and TGM is a hero. It is all in the way you see things.
In theory communism is an extreme form of socialism. It controls economy AND politic AND religion – that’s why it does not work in the real world.
As far as socialized health care goes, I agree with Alenka. I don’t know what your relatives/friends back in Czech tell you but from what I hear, Czech doctors don’t make much money (unless you have a private practice) and a lot of them just don’t care about their patients. Unless you have a doctor in your family it is hard to get a good treatment.
Tanja, you wrote IN THEORY communism ……..
If it were only in theory, who cares? It was damned real…. Communists killed more people than nazis…
Tanja, truly the comments section of your blog is fantastic. What a community! It is so interesting to hear all of the comments from people who are first generation immigrants to the U.S.
Wow, I missed a lot by not coming back or not checking off for reply notices. Tanya, you know I love ya girl, but the truth of it is if a judge dares to set a new prescedent, he is, in fact, changing the law. By daring to change a prescedent, a common law can, in fact, be changed.
FYI: I hate politics and very rarely will you see me comment on anything political, it leads to nowhere.
I studied law and I studied International Relations and actually did well in those classes, but I hate politics with a passion. I tend to concentrate on things that make me feel good, not bad.
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Alena writes:
No one is confusing anything. Just because one is a soft tyranny doesn’t make it different. We are talking about our freedom.
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Except, that the word freedom seems to be in the mind of the beholder. ALL political parties use it to their advantage and everyone defines freedom diferently. Ghandi spoke about freedom and I think even Hitler used the word here and there. So what is your point? Dramatic effect? Are you waving the flag as you say this? 😉
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Alena writes:
A brainwashed Capitalist? Republican who voted for Obama. Are you serious?
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Sure I am. Or maybe I’m a conservative liberal democrat… is that better? Labels mean nothing.
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Alena writes:
You can go to the Dentist, a Surgeon, a University and you will have to pay for it because guess what, it’s your RESPONSIBILITY.
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Why are you caping dentist or surgeon, university?
Who decides who pays what under your regime? Who sets the cost? YOU? Medicine and education need to be accessible to all.
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Alena writes:
By the way, the dentist and the surgeon are businesses that make money so they can support themselves, their families and oh my gosh…make a PROFIT. I worked in the medical field and people who did not have money for whatever reason could see a doctor. It’s the doctor that gets screwed, because Medicaid or Medicare dictate how much is payed if services are rendered. That payment comes months and months down the road and it’s in pennies. Why even enter the profession? Because you are such a great person and you want to share the sacrifice? Give me a break.
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Working in the medical field somehow qualifies your reasoning? It’s your way or no way? I’m a doctor’s daughter. My father was a pediatrician. He died with a clear conscience. There are doctors who want to help all patients in need. Yes, you’re right, it is a business. I don’t believe medical care should be a business. I certainly don’t trust a doctor who stands to make money on me being sick. The medical oath has turned into a joke, in fact, I heard they no longer take the oath. We are looking at this issue differently and I understand that. I respect that your feelings are different, but I will ALWAYS believe in socialized medicine. Many on this blog agree with you, but I’m not a sheep. I don’t follow the crowd. THAT is the freedom I came to seek in the US. Free speech without being bombarded with put downs matters to me. Therefore, your arguments leave me lonesome on that subject and I’ll agree to disagree.
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My parents were assigned Doctors in Czechoslovakia. My Grandfather died because his assigned doctor refused to treat his prostate cancer. I will not sit here in this country and let the US Constitution be treated like a piece of toilet paper. I am not going to be told how to take care of mine and my families health by some beaurocrat who rides his bike to work. Wake up! Oh and Germany is laying low right now because its just too soon for World Domination again.
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I think that is exactly what you are doing by hoping medicine remains a business, you’re just unaware of that fact. It seems to me that you’re paraqueeting someone else. From your story I can assume you were too young to understand first hand what medicine was really like back then in CZ and you see this through your parents eyes. Granted, I for one have no intention to convince you of anything. I have a live and let live approach to life. Yet, I must say you need not be rude with ‘comments like give me a break and wake up’.
If you come from a family of doctors, surely you were taught how to argue with tact.
I am certain you have your reasons for believing what you say, but there is such a thing as blind patriotism. When determinations are rooted in tradition, education, history and sense of pride, I find it commandable, but when it comes from a world of hurt and experiences that may have derailed balanced thinking, I have a very hard time taking it seriously. When presented with a dignified argument, I am more willing toward discussion, but even then, I weigh the subject at hand, then, like Frankel, think what I want to think.
Smarya! Sorry za tak dlouhy post Tanyo ;(
MariKa, I love politics, but I hate politicians, left and right 🙂
MariKa, I think you were a little bit mean …. 😉 Alena wrote what she thought and hopefully believed in.
Regarding our president B.H.O., I think some people that voted previously for Republicans might have voted for Obama in thirst for change. This kind of people are opportunists they simply look for opportunities to have a good live at the cost of somebody else’s sweat.
Alena did not write: “A brainwashed Capitalist” , you did. By voting for Obama you are helping the evil to get even more evil. On the other hand I admire Obama for his persistence and will power.
Health care and education problems could have been solved a long time ago… It is simply a subject that politicians know they can win votes if they talk about it and Obama is a really good orator. Why would politicians fix something that keeps them “useful” ? Healthcare insurance industry is broken and driven by greed. The problem is, if the healthcare will become socialized, it will be even worse, because the government is greedy like hell.
Amen.
PS: Tanya your post is beautifully written.
“Victor Frankel : No One Can Ever Make You Think Something You Don’t Want to Think – your thoughts are your thoughts only.”
Frankel earned his wisdom the hardest way imaginable. If the quote is indeed his than the context of this saying matters, not the quote itself. Any man (good or evil) in position of authority can alter thoughts of other human beings given enough power and time. It would be an interesting experiment to ask yourself how many original thoughts you have had today. So concerning our thoughts, the difference lies in what they are about and if they are consistent with the truth about ourselves and the truth about the world we are living in.
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Let me just add (this is not directly to you Tanya) that politics and even religion is the opium to the masses where sadly not many people come to conclusions based on balanced information, but instead follow the crowd. How many Hindus read Seventh Day Adventists literature? How many republicans make it a point to read books written by die hard democrats or vice versa? Let’s take the news for example. Is there a balanced voice in the news? What do you watch Fox or CBS? Who runs that? CNN? What about the newspapers? Can you pick up 3-4 and find something different in each one? I lived half my life under communism and the other half here. In both places, I find good people, good experiences, good opportunities. What you hear and read is not set in stone, unless Moses himself hands it to you, then 😉 take him at his word. Use your own head and for goodness sake don’t shelter yourself by taking a onesided view on things. Be open to hear things you may not want to hear and read things you may not want to read, because you can learn something from both. Only then can you claim to be well informed. Othervise, all you get is more pudding to top off the one you’re already chumming down. What changes then?
Vlastimil
April 22, 2011 at 6:45 am
MariKa, I love politics, but I hate politicians, left and right
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Hahahaha! Awesome. You’re growing on me Vlastimil.
Martine, jsem v CT jestli se chces nekdy pohadat 😉 – Kecam, to vis ze pres pivo, a slusne.
Akorat ne tet, zlomila sem si nohu minuly tyden.
MariKa, how can you say that Alena is not thinking for herself? How do you know this? I’ve heard that same accusation from both sides over and over. It seems to me that when discussing politics, the first person to accuse the other person of “following the masses” or “not thinking for themself” wins the debate. The issues are all the same so of course some of the “argued” solutions are going to be the same. I say, stop being accusative and simply discuss the issues.
As for socialized health care and freedom it’s as simple as my 19 year old son living in my home. I tell him all the time, “You may be grown son, but I pay the bills so what I say goes.” It’s simple, allow someone else to pay for something and you lose control. If we allow our government to support us in healthcare then we must relinquish control of our health care to them. Before long they’ll RIGHTFULLY be able to tell me how many Big Macs I can eat in a month because after all, it’s their dime paying for the effects of my diet.
If you’re for nationalized health care, then by all means, wave your flag and cheer for it from the rooftops. But don’t be alarmed when you stand alone trying to say it doesn’t come with a price because it does, and that price is freedom.
And btw, an intelligent person doesn’t have to live in something or personally experience something to learn from it. He/she can learn from his/her parents or others who may have gone through it. It doesn’t mean they don’t know what they are talking about. Why bother reading history if you’re not going to learn from it?
My very ast post was not intended for anyone in particular, more like everyone everywhere.
Not free? Are people not free in England or France or Germany or Australia or well, almost everywhere? Everyone has the right to healthcare. Sure if you want bigger boobs or a nose job you may have to wait, but what matters is taken care of and no, you should not eat Big Macs at all!! I hope you don’t! Jezis!
When you leave a hospital in Brittain, they give you money for the cab. I’m pretty sure the Brittish are happy being Brittish.
Before any more attacks come my way – I re read my post, I get how you may think I sound definsive and argumentative, but I was reacting to the ‘wake up’ and ‘are you serious’ which I found mean. I think that given the givens I contained my anger like a lady and simply stated my opinion in return. Great. no a tet si musim dat kafe abych se citila trosku lepe.
“you should not eat Big Macs at all” – that statement proves my point precisely. You thinking I shouldn’t eat Big Macs. Well whether or not I eat Big Macs should be my choice. That’s freedom. I should have the right to eat them if I want and I will pay the health consequences, including paying for my high doctor bills due to my health problems. However, if you are paying for my health bills then you rightfully can tell me I can’t eat Big Macs. That’s how national health care takes away freedom. Plain and simple.
Ten freedom o kterem ty mluvis pohadka v comunismu i v capitalismu.
Chces mi fakticky rict ze zde si o vsem informovana? Jsi presne tak controlled jako jaky koliv puppet v comunisticke zemi. Jedna strana je ta sama a to same democrat, nebo republican.
Vis kolik crap je v jidle co denne jis, so tak zvane USDA chvali jako ‘edible’ a jeste ti i rika v trojuhelnicku kolik toho mas jist?
Viz ze skoro kazdy veterinar (krome tech holistickych) ti cpe Hills Diet pro tve zvire, i kdyz vi ze kocka si na kukurici na poli nikdy nepochutna a jen z toho dostane diabetes? A to je jenom veterinar, nedovedes si ani predstavit co se deje lidem v nemocnich, o cem nemas ani potuchy. Ja zde nikoho nebudu predsvecovat nebo tahat na muj nazor – to je ten FREEDOM o kterem mluvim ja – ale informovana bys mela byt co v tom Big Mac je NEZ si ho rozhodnes dat. Tim ze ti rikam ze bys ho nemela jist, nerikam ze ti rozkazuju, rikam ti ze to je crap, a v zemi kde mas mit freedom of information – by information of tebe nemelo byt drzene.
Scheize! I forgot I wasn’t speaking in English and now I don’t feel like translating, so you guys are right about everyhting. I’m the bad girl. Hate me. Bye.
The freedome you speak of is an illusion in comunism and in capitalismu. It’s all the same. Just like republicans and democrats. Stupid labels that mean nothing more than where the cash is coming from.
Do you seriously think you’re being informed about everything? You’re controlled the same way as in communism, it’s just that you don’t know about it here, it’s not being advertised as big brother watching out for your good.
Do you know how much crap is in your food, that the so called USDA deems ‘edible’ and in fact, offers you a little triangle telling you exactly how much of the poisoned food you should eat.
Almost every veterinary doctor pimps out Hills Diet to animals because he is well paid by those companies. Even tough a cat would never munch on corn or grains in the wild.
Animals suffer of chronic diseases and become chronic patients, fattening the doctor’s diets.
And those are just vets, you have no clue what is happening to people in hospitals. Do you know how many needless gallblader surgeries there are? Instead of a decent detox and better clean food?
I’m not trying to convince anyone to think my way. I am simply stating that I am aware, that politics sucks, that no one will find a balance until all the truth finds itself to the table.
The freedome I am speaking of, the one MY parents RISKED their lives for is freedom of information.
Sure I want to be the one making the choice of eating a big mac or not – BUT – I want to know the truth about WHAT IS IN IT just the same and that is freedom of information.
Scheize! I forgot I wasn’t speaking in English and now I don’t feel like translating, so you guys are right about everyhting. I’m the bad girl. Hate me. Bye.
There. I translated it. Now I need another coffee and I think I’m done defending my thoughts too.
Animals suffer of chronic diseases and become chronic patients, fattening the doctor’s wallets.
– not diets 😉 maybe by extension, yes.
Don’t forget that as true US citizens it is our duty to question our government, to change the laws if the majority deems it right and to demand being well informed. You can have your Big Mac, but know what’s in it. It’s not fair to say it’s okay to promote crap, but let’s make schools unaffordable and keep people stupid, so they don’t know what the Big Macs are made of. That’s all I’m saying.
Just because medicine is privatized, it doesn’t mean doctors won’t be greedy. Greed is human nature – read G. B. Shaw’s book Man and Superman.
MariKa, I would say: Everybody has right to everything, but nobody is entitled to anything .. That’s how it works and actially should work…..
Again, there is no such thing as a free lunch…
MariKa, I am sure you drink a cofee participating in a Fair Trade? That “Scheize” shouldn’t it be “Scheiser”? I am confused 😀
Samozdrejme ze ano Vlastimile. Kamoska ma web site ‘Solutions’ a veskerou informaci na guilt free food.
Jo takhle to scheiser pise! Ja Nemecky mluvim, ale pisu jako krokodyl.
To vis ze ty DULEZITE slova v zadnem slovniku nejsou.
Kam se ten edjumication hrouti, vid?
Videl si to video na youtube, kde ta zenska rika ze dnesni mladez neni edumicated? ‘))
I agree with Marika. It is aour duty as US citizens to question whatever those brothers in DC are doing and we should question what shit they put in Bic Mac. I love hamburgers and I usually buy those made bufallo meat and ostrich meat … They more pricey but so what…. Also, FDA is a corrupt organization and should actully ban corn syrup and any corn sweeteners. I am free to pick my food, but if I want to avoid corn syrup, then I have to drink only water and beer from Germany. What a diet!!!.
Nevertheless, people in US are more free than we were under commies .
BTW, watch Jamie Oliver Food Revolution…….shocking truth about corrupted school district in LA ….
I am against socialized healthcare , because now it is quite bad, and with socialized healtcare it will not get better. Whoever will reach age of 70, will be entitled to participate in Green card Lottery :)))
Whoever will win the green card (I can imagine how corrupted it will be) , will be allowed to live another 10 years. Whoever will not win, well, he will make the ultimate sacrifice and his Social Security Money will be donated to the corrupted Federal Reserve Bank to cover the ever mounting debt caused by corrupted goverment…
Scratch that – that would be beer only.
Water is being poisoned. Buy it in glass bottles and pref. the expensive kind.
Sad ;(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3y8uwtxrHo&feature=related
See the funny pictures in this video! 😉
http://www.youtube.com/user/BrewedStrange?blend=6&ob=5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2SNVXZsfg&feature=watch_response
Jeste jednu linku sem pridam ktera mi taky vadi. Informace o tom v novinach neni, ale zajimave.
Nemame to vedet? Asi je to jako ten Big Mac
A az onemocnis, doktor te necha v bolesti jak nejdyl si ty visitky muze vypocitat, aby z tebe udela chronic pacienta a dal si pekne do kapsy. A kdyz ne on, doma, v jeho praxi, tak ta nemocnice kde pracuje.
Big Mac by nemel byt argument for healthcare anebo dictatioralship. Nikdo na svete by to nemel jist, ne protoze goverment rika at to neji, ale protoze je i bota ma vic nutrition. Jenze hloupi lide, kteri nemaji na skolu to nikdy vedet nebudou.
Vlastimile ‘ortrich?’ wow. Kdyz jsem prestala jist zvirata tak sem lidem rekla ze mi to trvalo 5 let, jedno zvire za rok. Lidi mi porad rikali: timpadem je jen pet zvirat??
Tak ja odpovedela: Hm, no zirafy jsem nikdy nejedla… ( all the while thinking, are they nuts asking that question?) I guess with you, Vlastimile, I would have to explain why only 5 😉
I’m not going to eat it, but what does it taste like? In comparison to other meats? Turkey?
Ostrich is very tasty, and it does not feel dry… Not far from me one guy has an ostrich farm, I will try to buy some eggs..Maybe 1 will be enough 🙂 I may agree with you regarding the food. It is possibly part of a dictatorship and corporate fascism. You see, many huge “food” corporations are also owned by the same people as pharmaceutical companies. Does it ring a bell? I defected to West so I can try to contribute to building better society . I am absolutely for capitalism, and quite a hard one . But I would like to see a new form of capitalism, an “ethical capitalism”…. People say, it does not go together, I say, if people change their values, it is possible. Still, I love money, the more the better. But we should not forget what is our purpose in live. I simply would not feel happy being rich and surrounded by misery, which unfortunately is happening …..I am not rich yet, so don’t blame me 🙂
Kdyby pod tvou post tet byl “like” jako na Facebooku, tak bych tam dala “like”. Jsi inteligentni clovek. Prestan jist maso, a budes premyslet jeste s vetsi clarity. Tobe patri pure food, yoga retreats and a dobre knihy pri desti!! (I kdyz ten dest uz kvuli chemtrails je vic acid nez normalni dest 😉
Ja miluju maso, lidi jsou dravci, yogu jsem zkousel jeste za komunistu a malem jsem si zlomil krk ….
Mam rad maso syrove, takovy tatarsky biftek je pohadka …. zeleninu moc nerad, kvuli tem pesticidum, po kterych se blbne 🙂 Ja detem rikam, jestli po sobe nic v zivote nenechate, tak je vas zivot promrhany …
Nerozdeluji lidi na komunisty a anti-komunisty, rozdeluji lidi na dobre a spatne…. A prave proto lidi utikali z komunistickeho raje, protoze tam vladli lide spatni. Vrazi a zlodeji,,,, Po manzestrakove revoluci se moc nezmenilo, mozna uz nevladnou vrazi, ale rozhodne vladnou zlodeji….Videtli jsme to nedavno prece na YouTube 😉
@Vlastimil – hating politicians and loving politics is like hating women and loving romance.. 🙂 Can’t have one without the other! Why don’t you run for office? From what you’ve written on the subject of politics, I’d not only vote for you, but I’d volunteer to go door to door giving out people a brochure with your mug on it.. Having an ostrich/emu farm used to be my wife’s dream, but supposedly the bottom fell out of this market.. too bad.
@Marika – first of all, quick and complete recovery! As far as your view that “freedom” is a meaningless word; maybe when used in some totalitarian agitprop. There will always be slaves who think that all things considered, they are doing OK – but they are not my kind of people. I understand your frustration with the Left/Right labeling; liberal Republicans can do more damage than your standard left-wing Democrat. However – when I can’t vote “For” for someone, I can always vote “Against” someone.
I agree that people should watch what they buy and eat, but it’s really none of my business to boss them around. (Kdo chce kam..) Anyway, who wants to live forever? 🙂
I’d be delighted to get together sometime – just last week I was in Hartford, CT at a fun rally. 🙂
(http://youtu.be/Ru46gqs_bBs)
Shoot me an e-mail, or check out my Czech blog at http://www.oamerice.com.
Peace!
Videli jste nekdy tenhle film? Tet sem to nedavno videla. Zajimavy…
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10153547429-sicko/20938146143/
Michael Moore is a psycho….is is an Idiot
No to vim. I knwo that. I only said I saw the film, I’m not a fan.
PS: I also watched Little Otik, such a cool film! Everyone here should see that.
US insurance business is screwed up. I know, I worked for them….
Mr. Moore is looking to make some bucks…That’s it. He is not my friend. I think all the current US system of I don’t know exactly of what, will collapse, as USSR collapsed , as Roman Empire collapsed (well the Roman Empire did not collapsed, they are still thriving….the Vatican is successor of Roman Empire…) ..and if I will continue …if I will continue to say what I think I will be accused to be an Anti-Semite…..I have a palestinian christian friend…he told me what was and is happening , well it is another story…you see, everything is so interconnected, average people don’t simply know… on the brighter site, I just bought a Double Cross vodka, it tastes so good.It is filtered through diamond pulver and it is not cheap …..It comes from Slovakia and you can buy it only on NY and NJ …. That’s where those rich people live that our president Obama II thinks should share their wealth with freeloaders …
Cheers!!!
Extra Dry Grey Goose martini shaken very hard with three olives!
I like dirty martini,,,,,,as dirty as possible,and yes with three olives :))
MariKa, let’s meet up. I will bring the olives, you will bring the Saphire 😉
MariKo, Martine a Vlastiku – omlouvam se, nejak jsem zapoostala ve vasi diskuzi. Mrkla jsem se ale na Mariccin link a musim jenom podotknout ze Michaela Moora absolutne nesnesu. Je to liberalni trdlo.
Tanja, Michael Moore is a talented idiot.
Michael Moore = a skilled propagandist. If you don’t mind some bad language though, take a look at his character in the marionette movie Team America (The World Police). 🙂
Capitalism has been pretty kind to him so far, but that’s his right not to show any appreciation.
Yeah. I haven’t seen the last film, the Lova Affair with Capitalism or something I forget what it’s called.
I review movies for fun as you guys know if you click on my name, but I have not been able to see any in a over a month now. The last two I saw were Osama ( very powerfull film) and Little Otik which totally rocks if you study filmmaking. It’s just a fabulously made indie and the artwork is way cool. Still have not found time to post on my blog. (Maybe because I post here too much Tanya!)
Look Michael Moore loves controversy, and he found a way to get his name noticed. I don’t think he would get too far making Epics or Merchant Ivory type films. He founf his niche.
As for the regimes we’ve discussed, it’s all the same for us folks watching the cards being dealt. I love American history, I love what it stands for and I’m proud to be here, but I keep ALL my TRUE feelings private and my thoughts to myself. In a nutshell, I write a lot of bullshit online. In fact, I sometimes can’t even believe the shit I write as I write it 😉 It’s stupid, in a way, because I probably should just stay off chat rooms, but sometimes, you provoke the best arguments out of people. It makes you think differently about issues as well. I often contradict myself online and on purpose. It’s not lying, it’s more like thought provoking and it’s interesting to read what people respond. Clearly, that’s why blogs were invented I guess.
With that, I offer my apologies to Alenka, if I was harsh. I really don’t think I mean half the stuff I wrote.
I don’t want people to know what I think, or believe. You shouldn’t either. I don’t understand why people pour their hearts out online. Perhaps, I am wrong to think that. Perhaps, I shouldn’t be engaging in conversations at all….but what fun is that?
I feel like what I read or didn’t read, what I learned or haven’t learned, all that is my business.
In college, I didn’t show up for a class one semester at all. I would fail that class if I don’t. I didn’t fail, but why have an all A transcript? Unless you plan on grad school or med school, why? Why tell people what you learned and what you haven’t learned. If I take an IQ test online, I fail the first time on purpose, then I take it for real. I don’t want anyone judging me by what I say online or what I do online, that’s why even with films, videos etc. I keep a balanced interest. You know how banks ask you for your mother’s maiden name, they say it’s for security purposes, I put VilaAmalka or Fikova. Am I generation paranoia, because my parents were immigrants? Eh, maybe or maybe, I just tired of people peaking under the ‘poklicka’ or maybe this entire post is whack and I just had way too much vodka. C’est la vie. I live and let live.
You can’t control your life, you can only control how you look at it, or how much you let ‘life’ affect you.
If there you have faith in something grater than you and can truly clearly believe there is something greater than everyone and anyone making your life happen, consider yourself lucky. It’s one helluva breather.
MariKa, you wrote ” I keep ALL my TRUE feelings private and my thoughts to myself”….
I am the opposite. Beauty of America is, that you can say whatever you want and you will not be persecuted.
Not now, not yet….Apropos vodka, one of the best vodkas is Slovak vodka Double Cross. Filtered through diamond powder . Where did all the vodka go??? Don’t understand the bottle is empty..it must have evaporated :))))
Oh my gosh, this makes me want t cry…