Today are the Mayoral Elections here in Prague. For the last month I have witnessed more and more of the city become like a college campus during rush week. People constantly thrusting fliers, key chains, muffins, beer with their political party's picture and agenda on it. Rallies were held, complete with bands trying to prove how hip and young each party is. From ska and reggae bands to a bad Czech U2 wanna be, I could hardly go anywhere in Prague these last few weeks with out some affront to my eardrums. Add to that posters with each party's candidate for mayor also seem to litter the city, especially that of mayoral front runner Zdenek Tuma. It seems I can't go anywhere without either his stern, yet concerned, brow expressing concern for his beloved city (I mean after all he is often photographed in an i <3 Prague shirt under his blazer) or him smiling out, showing his friendly approachable demeanor.
As to the people running against him, I know there are at least 3, but I can't really tell you much about them, except they are hell bent on making sure the wildly popular member of the TOP09 party (that would be Tuma) doesn't get elected. I have yet to figure out how they are going to accomplish this. He is really all about trying to clean up city hall, end the corruption of local politics, etc. etc. etc. However, as much as Mr. Tuma seems to be a man of the people. One of his stances, which in the last three weeks seems to have disappeared from his platform, is his desire to make Prague a modern city buy getting rid of some of the older buildings and replacing them with modern architecture and statuary. This is the only thing I can find I don't like about him, and it is enough to make me almost despise him. However, let's stick to the point.
As someone who comes from a country where the right to vote has been a political mainstay for over 200 years it is exhilarating to watch this sort of passion about politics happen. I guess now I take my right to vote for granted. Whereas people here in the Czech Republic seem to understand how amazing it is to have the right to have any say in what every level of their government does, no matter how corrupt Mr. Tuma would lead us to believe it is. Most of the schools were closed today, parents rushed to polling booths, and it was amazing. Coming from a place where Communism was nothing more than an abstract idea of some evil which lay in a land far to the East, it is impossible for me to imagine living under the terrible oppression that existed this beautiful place before 1989/199. It was a place where the civil liberties I have always known and taken for granted were unimaginable to them and it seemed corruption reigned supreme.I talked to an old man today on the bus who lived here before the "dark times" as they are sometimes referred to, and mentioned the corruption that happened then and is happening now. It was strange to hear a perspective of someone who remembers what it was like before Stalinism, saw parts of it during the Cold War and has returned to see it now. I loved it. He didn't seem to believe in the healing power of time. However, in someways, when I read what Mr. Tuma has to say about ending corruption in City Hall, I think they maybe heading in the right direction. Still doesn't mean I like him.
As to the people running against him, I know there are at least 3, but I can't really tell you much about them, except they are hell bent on making sure the wildly popular member of the TOP09 party (that would be Tuma) doesn't get elected. I have yet to figure out how they are going to accomplish this. He is really all about trying to clean up city hall, end the corruption of local politics, etc. etc. etc. However, as much as Mr. Tuma seems to be a man of the people. One of his stances, which in the last three weeks seems to have disappeared from his platform, is his desire to make Prague a modern city buy getting rid of some of the older buildings and replacing them with modern architecture and statuary. This is the only thing I can find I don't like about him, and it is enough to make me almost despise him. However, let's stick to the point.
As someone who comes from a country where the right to vote has been a political mainstay for over 200 years it is exhilarating to watch this sort of passion about politics happen. I guess now I take my right to vote for granted. Whereas people here in the Czech Republic seem to understand how amazing it is to have the right to have any say in what every level of their government does, no matter how corrupt Mr. Tuma would lead us to believe it is. Most of the schools were closed today, parents rushed to polling booths, and it was amazing. Coming from a place where Communism was nothing more than an abstract idea of some evil which lay in a land far to the East, it is impossible for me to imagine living under the terrible oppression that existed this beautiful place before 1989/199. It was a place where the civil liberties I have always known and taken for granted were unimaginable to them and it seemed corruption reigned supreme.I talked to an old man today on the bus who lived here before the "dark times" as they are sometimes referred to, and mentioned the corruption that happened then and is happening now. It was strange to hear a perspective of someone who remembers what it was like before Stalinism, saw parts of it during the Cold War and has returned to see it now. I loved it. He didn't seem to believe in the healing power of time. However, in someways, when I read what Mr. Tuma has to say about ending corruption in City Hall, I think they maybe heading in the right direction. Still doesn't mean I like him.
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