I’ve really got to get out more, but things have gotten so comfortable out here in Blackbridge that I’ve gotten rather sluggish. I’m content to go as far as the balcony during the day, then take a short walk as I accompany Jitka while she rollerblades (my skates need new wheels – I’ve been too lazy to buy them, let alone put the effort into changing them).
Whipped by lethargy and evil heat, it’s been an effort to knock out a few lines for the blog, let alone translate. As for fighting the good fight on behalf of CzechTek, I’m content to do my little part by posting links and opinions. Going downtown and pumping my fist in the air and chanting slogans is too much goddamn work. Besides, I’m not 100% devoted to the cause – perhaps because I read too much, surf too much, and watch too much TV.
It’s been a while since current events, especially in the Czech Republic, have grabbed my interest like this. For years the media has demonized the Technokids (what do they call themselves these days – Technoheads? Tech-heads? Tekkies? Teknoids? Crusties? Damn, I feel oldâ?? I like the sound of CzechTekkies), now they’re making the Czech fuzz look like the bad guys.
When they’re attacking a crowd full of wasted people with water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades and batons, then, yes, they’re bad. But there are always two or more sides to any story, something that I failed to acknowledge in yesterday’s little tirade.
It took this illumination of the obvious to stem my vitriol a little:
[Political scientist Bohumil Dolezal] compared the police corps to a dog whom someone “beats” all the time.
Such an animal does not become a fierce dog, but a “neurotic bag of nerves which becomes incapable of doing anything reasonable at all.”
It’s easy to side with the CzechTekkies – they’re hurting no-one, all they’re asking for is a plot of land to enjoy themselves on for a few nights. Big commercial festivals take up as much space, if not more, and do as much, again if not more, damage to that space. The difference is, ka-ching, the almighty koruna.
However, Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan does not sound like an unreasonable man when he’s talking about the incident. I admit that when I first read that he was “convinced that the police proceeded correctly,” I was outraged.
However, he is backed up by Deputy Police President Vladislav Husak’s account of the crowd’s “aggressive” behaviour. The police side of the story is that the CzechTekkies started it “by throwing bottles and other items” at them. So, to say the CzechTekkies were unarmed is not exactly true. I backed off a bit, and now I’m thinking, Well, he’s got a point, and he goes on to make a few more good points.
Then again, I find it difficult to swallow Husak’s claims that the policemen “were standing by calmly” before they were attacked. Also, the force that the cops used was undeniably excessive.
Of course this could all be handled with clear communication and willingness to compromise. The politicians and the cops need to shed whatever preconceived notions they have about CzechTek, while the festival organizers need to respect the law and operate within the bounds of it, even if that means collecting donations from all those involved with the festival: organizers, sound systems, vendors, and the partiers.
Sighâ?? This is all great documentary materialâ?? if only it weren’t so cozy here in Blackbridgeâ??
Aug 2, 10:05 (Filed under: Prague events, Personal )
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