Point of view

The old Klementinum, placed before the Charles Bridge piles historical, hundreds of years old books in undignified conditions, with the prospect of running definitely out of place in two years. The plan of the new national library Blob, which won the international contest and so should be already under construction so the librarians could finally be relieved of never-ending space problems, should have been their solution. But the matter is everything but solved. Klaus can be satisfied, though – he gets full media coverage, whenever he decides to drop a line on account of the award-winning project.

Vaclav Havel was a president of a different kind – the media just loved him, he made himself into a symbol of tolerance, peace, and liberation of ideas. He lost many years, health, and a possibility of conform live to communism, during which Klaus was already politically active, but on the other side. We know Klaus’ attitude for those long 20 years he has been at power; the only two topics he deals with are: Himself and critique of those who actually achieved something in the world.

When Klaus talks about himself, he praises. When about others, he throws dirt. Like this week, when he gave an interview for Grand Biblo: “I suspect a part of Kaplicky’s supporters of this bizarre project not because of love for the project, but because of hate for Vaclav Klaus, which is in the context of what could grow up in the centre, really an error.”

Allow me to now go through this sample a little bid. ‘I suspect a part of Kaplicky’s supporters’ – he refers only to a part, only a rhetorical device here ‘this bizarre project’ – the project won the international contest like e.g. the NATO central building, and it is bizarre? ‘not because of love for the project’ – who could love something he labelled as unfitting ‘their hate for Vaclav Klaus’ – me me me! Notice me, I am important! ‘in the context what should grow up in the centre’ – because of Klaus’ political pressure, there is high possibility the library (any project of the library) will be at the suburb, out of reach, which is just bad, but that doesn’t form a burden for him.

Klaus would like to shape the history, but the true is, a politician of his qualities will be forgotten as soon as he retires – he will leave behind no scripts like Havel, no schools like Masaryk, no great losses like Benes. This is Klaus’ greatest fear. History is written by winners, but to fight at local fights one starts is not the way it is done on presidential level of the 21st century. President is expected to fight for his country, not for his ego.

Added: How could I forgot! Of course there is something Klaus will be remembered for! During his era as The Finance Minister, when he reformed by privatization, the term ‘tunneling’ originated. So I apology, Klaus may be remembered for his failure as an ecconomist.

-point of view section doesn’t necessarily reflect opinions of the whole abcprague board

We are used to President Vaclav Klaus travelling the world, ready to start a speech about global warming, and that it is not caused by human activity. This time it won’t be him critisizing, but Matin Bursik of the Greens, contributing to global warming discussion. As we can expect, it will represent the official policy of the EU, one of the main protagonists on the world stage fighting the global warming.

Martin Bursik is an Environmentalist, not an Economist like Klaus. Which means we won’t be embarrassed as a country like the last time. And he was also invited for more important business in the area of nature protection; the American Governors invited him to a conference dedicated to climate changes as an important EU politician who sees into that matter, in search of some steps to solution.

In the light of reflectors, mostly 15-year-old models showed their catwalk, as the finals of Elite Model World 2008 took place. Those girls hope they would have the same fate as Cindy Crawford or Karen Mulder many years ago. The best three of them can look forward to few-million-worth contracts and especially fulfilment of their big dream.

Jennifer Messelier from France became the winner, Ymre Stiekema from Holland was second, Hana Jirickova from the Czech Republic was third.

The theme that is traditionally present wherever this contest takes place is anorexia. How thin is too thin? The 15 yo Peruvian Juan Cervera was clearly too much – shape of shoulder bones clearly visible, eyes deep in the face, thin hands… when watching the contest one can think bulimia and anorexia is not an illness, but a standard which is necessary to get to the contest in the first place. So no change there.