Anti-America

I had a particularly lovely day today. I walked through all the Mala Strana gardens and went to the Kampa Museum next to the Vltava. Today was a particularly hot day outside so I headed toward Cafe Slavia to get an ice cream Sundae. As I was about to cross the street, some police officers cut me off telling me I could not cross.

Around the corner came a flood of people waving flags, blowing whistles, and shouting a variety of things in Czech. Things I could not understand. Most of the flags said peace, but a few had pictures of missiles with X's through them. I shivered. I knew this was about me and my country.

Bush wants to build a radar site in the Czech Republic. The administration claims it is innocent enough. They just want to expand their positioning through Eastern Europe. But Eastern Europe knows better. The CR has a perfect positioning between Russia and Iran. The positioning of a radar base here is nothing more than a power play telling these two ever-threatening powers that America will still kick your ass if you try anything. It's all a big power play and the CR is nothing but a pawn.

It is completely understandable why the Czechs are so up in arms as well. This country has been bullied around by its fair share of world powers. The Austro-Hungarian empire set up shop in Prague Castle. Western powers essentially handed over a huge chunk of Czechoslovakia to Hilter without consulting any Czechs and then the Nazis marched right into the rest of the country a few months later. Soviet tanks periodically drove in and out of Prague to remind everyone that they were in charge. So, yeah, maybe this country is a little sick of being pushed around by big bully countries which is all America seems to be lately.

With so many problems within our own country, it seems illogical for our leaders to be spending almost all their time intimidating and invading sovereign nations. American imperialism is way out of hand and all in the name of freedom. What the fuck is that anyways? Just some people talking, right? But, at the same time, it is not necessarily fair for Czechs to walk down the streets with American flags that read "We Hate You" on the back side. I didn't vote for Bush. I don't support America's actions in the CR, in Iraq, etc. In fact, it seems that most Americans are not with our president. Our media lies to us about situations abroad, people's homes are illegally searched in the name of patriotism, in anyone should understand our frustrations Eastern Europe should.

Instead, Bush arrives in a week, and I find myself in situations like the one today where I am made to feel ashamed of my homeland which I do miss dearly. I would love to stand with the Czechs in Wenceslas Square and protest the Bush visit. But, frankly, I'm a little scared to.