Czech Pride

Something that I have definitely noticed through my history class and through touring sights, is the need that the Czech Republic has to feel like they are a country of importance. I mean, don't all countries want to feel like they've done something important? In my first history class, Petr talked about nationalism and I think every day since then has demonstrated it in some way without even intending. Very often, he will explain the importance of a memorial or the preservation of some sight as being most important because it leaves the lasting reminder that Czechs did something good to help, or suffered, like other bigger power countries during the world wars. The Czech Republic definitely did make some big contributions and sacrifices for each of the world wars-- I'm not trying to take away from that-- but I think that it is interesting what a big emphasis there is on having these memorials and such for the purpose of reminding the world that the Czech is not just some little country sitting in Europe doing nothing. Petr admitted to these places being put there more so for political purposes.

I think that Petr, and politicians here, are right on when guessing the perceptions that nations outside of Europe may have of the Czech Republic though. It's kind of sad, but unless you've been educated well on the ins and outs of the wars it isn't really evident to outsiders that the Czech Republic contributed so much. Often, people just think of the big power countries around Czech. I will admit to not having know the extent to which they contributed and sacrificed.

On the other hand though, after being educated on it and after having been exposed to the political reasons for historical memorials, it can be really upsetting that the great memorials I have seen for people who lost and sacrificed so much aren't wholly there for the purpose of remembering and respecting what they had to give up. In the last few days I've visited some really depressing places. To go to a concentration camp or to a town that was completely wiped out by the Nazis is not an exciting thing. You don't go to these places all hyped up and you certainly don't leave thinking about how much fun it had been. The memorials are not there for that purpose, obviously, but with the amount of emphasis from locals on how these sights are used to build up views of Czech power, I've been bothered by it. I would be surprised if memorials in other countries I've visited don't have a similar purpose, but I guess it has just never been presented so bluntly and that is I think what bothers me about it. Politics have so much power over everything that a country does, especially a small one like Czech which constantly tries not to be forgotten by others. The whole thing just makes me really sad for the people the memorials represent though-- had politics not had such an influence on the construction and preservation of these places, would as much have been put into them? I like to think so.

While on the topic though, another thing that has bothered me, is turning places of worship and sights of horrific events into tourists traps. Katherine and I have talked about this a couple of times now, and it has become another pet peeve of mine. It started with the churches we visited last week. There are so many beautiful cathedrals in the area that massive numbers of people scurry to each year. So what has happened is that you have to pay to get in, and then all around the cathedrals are tons of little touristy shops and such that are reflective of the cathedral. I understand paying to get it, as it helps with the upkeep of the cathedrals, so that is justifiable to me. At what point though does this all become inappropriate through? A cathedral is a place of worship, but these ones have turned into a museum of sorts that tourists just filter through. What about the people who practice religion in these places? I wonder how they feel about it, and whether they feel bothered, or maybe even driven out to another church because of the tourism. And with all the memorabilia outside of the cathedrals, I just wonder at what point it becomes not about visiting a historically significant cathedral but more about making a profit. I did not attend church regularly growing up, but even from that kind of upbringing it has become something that bothers me.

Lastly, I was really kind of bothered yesterday when we visited absolutely devastating sights of Holocaust events, and there were little carts set up to attract tourists. Again, I just wonder when it becomes inappropriate. I understand all the little tourists shops at places that you visit more for the purpose of seeing because they are interesting in one way or another. In my opinion though, it's absolutely inappropriate at places in remeberance of people who suffered so much. I think that the "official" sights were on board with my view, because it was more so on the outskirts of the sights that I saw this. I just think that it's incredibly disrespectful and was really bothered by it.

Bottom line of this post, I think: I am realizing my strong dislike for the tourism industry and how it functions. I've been to so many amazing places before, but have never felt like this. I wonder what I would think of those places now with this realization.