On "How are you?"

In the Czech Republic, much like the United States, people often greet each other with a friendly "How are you." In the United States, we do this by saying "How are you?" In the Czech Republic, we do this by saying "Jak se máš?" "Jak se máš" is pronounced like so: "Yahk seh mahsh."

In the United States, it is customary to answer such a question with things like "I'm well" or "Great" or "Just fine" or "A-Okay" even if the responder is sad, tired, ill, in constant pain, or consumed with grief. In other words, despite how one feels, in the United States, one will tell everyone they are fine.

In the Czech Republic, it is customary to answer such a question with things like "Still surviving" or "So-so" or "Ehhhh" or "Ugh, who knows" even if the responder is feeling perfectly okay. In other words, despite how one feels, in the Czech Republic, one will tell everyone that life is pretty crap.

There is no judgment in this blog post. I think it's a very interesting difference in the two cultures. I also think it says a lot about two cultures. I think it probably has to do with history. In America, always showing your best side, standing up in the face of adversity, and being an optimistic underdog is basically part of the culture. It is something that is considered "good."

In the Czech Republic, however, there is a history of self-effacement. Of rolling over and taking orders in order to literally survive. This had to happen multiple times in the past 100 years here. When the Nazis rolled into power it happened. When the Communists rolled into power, it happened again.

Imagine this: You are the Czech Republic. Your allies are France and Great Britain. It is before World War II. Hitler is crazy and power hungry and everyone in Europe wants to avoid a world war somehow. France and Great Britain meet Hitler in Munich. They say, "Okay Hitler, we'll give you this part of Czechoslovakia and de facto control over the rest if you promise not to invade anywhere else." Hitler agrees (even though he'll later break his promise.)

So now, you've been sold out by your former allies. You can either face Hitler's massive army alone, or you can agree to the annexations.

Does that suck or what?

A lot of Czechs joined the Communist Party because they were the only ones who were fighting the Nazis. They weren't better than the Nazis, as proved later.

Jan Urban, the aforementioned Modern Dissent teacher, talks about how in times of crises, when nations are pushed to the brink, they shift toward totalitarian solutions. These totalitarian - basically extremist - government parties offer a shortcut. A solution. One leader to destroy a common enemy. And people will believe it.

And then, obviously, it fails and people suffer and the whole nation gets egg on its face.



Get this: It is basically considered indecent to ask Czechs what they did before 1989. There is a whole generation here who basically pretends they were born at the age of 35.



This entry really got out of hand. It started somewhere sort of basic and interesting, and ended with what looks to me like a sort of pat, simple answer to a very complex cultural, political, and ideological occurence that we're (and by "we're" I don't mean "Czechs." I mean "everyone in the world") are still feeling today.


So. Sorry for the civics lesson. I don't pretend to understand the complex history of Europe or the (in some cases) more complex history of the Czech Republic (even though I now realize that I actually am pretending to do just that...)


I hope it was a little bit interesting though.



I'll end with a fun fact from from my notes:

Ok, so the German Empire kicked France's ass in the Franco-Prussian war. Bizmarck used an economist to basically calculate how much reparations the defeated France could possibly pay and not be totally and utterly destroyed. Then he made France pay that. It was a way of winning, but not humiliating the enemy. Bizmarck would always have to contend with France's desire to avenge their loss in the war, but this was a smart way to not completely humiliate the defeated enemy. Right?

Ok, so fast forward. WWI has been going on for a while, and we reach a deal: The Treaty of Versaille which effectively ends the war. Now it's Germany who's on the losing end. They've finally been defeated, and in this treaty they lose some territory. Also, they are forced to pay something like 132 BILLION golden marks. That's like 500 billion U.S. dollars circa 2005. This is the opposite of what Bizmarck did.

So anyway, in 1923, the German economy is in the tank. This is one of the most prominent examples of hyperinflation. The money was actually worth less than the paper it would be printed on. I mean, people would instead pay for things with coal money. If you went to a coffee shop, you'd pay in advance. Know why? Because the cost of the coffee could triple right there while you were sipping it! I mean, in December of 1923 the exchange rate was 4,200,000,000,000 Marks to 1 US dollar! The rate of inflation was so high that prices were doubling every two days!

That's craziness.


So here's the best part:

It is now October of 2008. World War I ended in 1919. About 90 years ago. The last part of the German reparations ordered in the Treaty of Versaille will be paid from Germany to the United States in - wait for it - year 2010! Yeah, in many ways it's just silly symbolics and a sense of pride. But still. It's kind of funny. The first world war is not yet over.


The world is funny. Enjoy your day.