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Talking PointCzech national identity
October 28th marks the 85th anniversary of the foundation of
Czechoslovakia. Many say that the legacy that Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the
founder and first president of Czechoslovakia, bestowed on his nation was
one of democracy and not nationalism. But it was the birth of a sense of
nationalism or rather national identity that led to Czechoslovakia's
foundation - Czechs and Slovaks united in their opposition to
Austro-Hungarian rule, proud to be Czechoslovak and not just a small part
of a large monarchy. But what is it like today? With globalisation, and
the Czech Republic's expected accession to the European Union, is that
sense of national identity still as strong, visible, and important? Are
fears of a possible decrease in national identity legitimate? In this
week's Talking Point, Dita Asiedu talks to independent commentator
Vladimira Dvorakova, Civic Democrat MP Jan Zahradil, and Czech student
Lukas Pustejovsky, to find out:
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Press ReviewPress Review
A wide variety of stories jostle for attention on Monday's front pages.
There is coverage of tragedies at home and abroad: a deadly fire at a
disco in east Moravia that killed a seventeen year old girl and injured 61
young people, the train collision in Switzerland in which a young Czech
woman lost her life and Sunday's rocket attacks on the al Rashid Hotel in
Baghdad, in which at least one Czech national is reported injured.
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Current AffairsOldest Czech legionnaire was never able to clear tarnished reputation
The oldest Czech soldier to fight in World War I, Alois Vocasek, died at
the age of 107 on Saturday, the last survivor of the battle of Zborov in
Ukraine. He was one of thousands of Czechs and Slovaks who broke with the
Austrio-Hungarian monarchy to fight for the dream of a future Czechoslovak
state. But, later the soldier tarnished his hero's reputation when he
joined a Czech fascist organisation in the 1930s. Jan Velinger reports now
on the controversial life and times of Alois Vocasek - the man - and the
legionnaire.
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Current AffairsWith war the main topic in world headlines, an exhibit opens in Prague commemorating sacrifices in battle from an earlier period
With all eyes on the war in Iraq and growing apprehensions over the number
of casualties on both sides, the Czech Republic is resolute on one thing:
to provide humanitarian aide the length of the conflict and beyond. The
country has also pledged its elite nuclear, biological, and chemical unit
to come to the US-led coalition's assistance if Saddam Hussein were to
resort to weapons of mass destruction. Though in their hearts many Czechs
are against the war overall there is no question over their NBC troops'
necessity in the Gulf, and most applaud their dedication and courage. And,
strong commitment by Czech soldiers is nothing new: to remind the public
an exhibition now underway in Prague commemorates an equally difficult
period in which the conflicts and sacrifices were no less, the First and
Second World Wars, the time of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires, who fought
in some of the world's bloodiest battles for democracy and freedom.
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Current AffairsOctober 28th - No longer a common holiday for Czechs and Slovaks
Although October 28th marks the founding of the Czechoslovak state, Slovaks
do not recognize this date. In Slovakia, January 1st marks the date in
which a national holiday celebrates the founding of the state which took
place in 1993. Some might ask why is this so? After all, the first
republic of Czechoslovakia was the first time in modern history where both
Czechs and Slovaks had an independent state to call their own. I spoke to
Andrea Kundrova from Radio Slovakia and asked her first, how significant
the national holiday of January 1st is to Slovaks.
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Current Affairs84th anniversary of Czechoslovak independence
October 28th 2002, marks the 84th anniversary of Czechoslovak independence.
Although Czechoslovakia was split into two separate states - the Czech
Republic and Slovakia - in the so-called "Velvet Divorce" almost
ten years ago, the Czechs, unlike the Slovaks, still celebrate October
28th as a national holiday. Dita Asiedu looks into its history and the
importance it has held since 1918:
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