On this day in 1968, Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia. Their tanks rolled in to the cities if Prague, Bratislava and many others under the pretence of quashing a so-called 'counter revolution'. The country had been a satellite of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics since the end of the Second World War, but this invasion was a very physical and disturbing manifestation of this evil empire's unwelcome domination.
In spite of some limited protests from the Czech people, and strongly-worded, but impotent, criticism from Western nations, the USSR was to occupy and control Czechoslovakia until 1989, denying the people of this peaceful country the basic freedoms that we enjoyed in the West. Private property was taken over by the State and people even had to apply for official permission to travel abroad.
Although there were many limitations, life went on. I am spending this weekend on the farm of my friend, Alice in the now Czech region of Bohemia, close to Veckovice, near Klatovy, who became her nation's women's waterskiing champion from 1967 to 1976, winning a total of thirteen titles in various events and disciplines.
I remember the invasion well, even though I was only 11 years old. We were on a family holiday in Israel. My father had heard the news on the radio shortly before we were to drive from Hertzeliya to the home of an elderly relative. There was almost no television in Israel in those days and certainly no radios in cars. As soon as we arrived at this old woman's house we crowded around the radio to find out what was happening. My father was always interested in what was going on in the world. And he gave me my passion for global current affairs.
Today, I feel very good about living in what is now the Czech Republic which peacefully ended its 74year-old federation with the now Slovak Republic in 1992. It's different from my home country of Britain, and I regrettably don't speak the language which is limiting, but I have a lovely home in the beautiful capital of Prague, have made some good friends here and live an enjoyable life.
There is a saying that "we learn from history that we don't learn from history". How true this is in this part of the world where Czech TV interviewed young people on the streets to find many completely unaware of the events of 1968.
Alice told me that her mother-in-law went with flowers to some of the Soviet soldiers sitting on their tanks in Wenceslav's Square in the Centre of Prague. She told them how she'd brought similar flowers in 1945 to thank them for liberating the City from the Germans at the end of the Second World War. But Bozena Hovorkova, then 63, explained that she felt very different this time as she dropped the flowers on the pavement and stamped on them.
It is easy to take life for granted. I have always known freedom and never lived in a totalitarian regime. It is hard to imagine what it must be like. But I am fortunate to have known many who have shared with me some of their own difficult experiences. I am impressed by their resilience, not wasting energy with self-pity. These people are stronger and wiser as a consequence, and I admire them. I just hope that the memories of these difficult times in Czechoslovakia will live on with new generations, so that we can be on guard against history ever repeating itself.
There are millions living in tyranny in other parts of the world today. Thank God there is freedom here today with both the Czech and Slovak Republics members of the European Union.
When you grow up, my dear Ya'el, I hope you will only know a world in which all people are free.
Grandpa Jonathan
Bohemia, Czech Republic
