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--- lb:opinion:masaryk.letter [2025-09-19 09:33:17] – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
+++ lb:opinion:masaryk.letter [2025-09-19 09:37:16] (current) – [Trivilinks] ninjasr
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+====== Criticisms related to the event surrounding the opening of Masaryk's Letter ======
+This will be short, because I'm writing it very quickly.
+{{tag>opinion}}
+===== The Point =====
+The event was very sensational: an hour was dedicated to it and they spent most of it just yapping about all kinds of stuff. They had the President present, living relatives of [[lb:tg Masaryk|Masaryk]] and so on. They asked everyone what they thought of Masaryk and what they'd have hoped was in the letter – a lot of “peace and understanding” and “times are tough right now, so we'd really need something to remind us to put aside our differences” and whatnot. I find it hilarious that, now that we know what was in it (supposedly), their hopes were dashed.
+Anyhow, the first 40 minutes of the event were just yapping. It was only during the last 20 minutes that the letter was opened and it's here where I have the most issue.\\
+First, they decided to have an archivist – Milan Vojáček((:ref:irozhlas-letter>[[https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/zive-otevreni-tajemne-obalky-tgm_2509181000_nel|‚Jsem nemocný, je konec, ale neobávám se.‘ V tajemné obálce bylo 5 stran převážně v angličtině – iRozhlas]]))((:fn:>Incidentally, I had attended a lecture that he made and I was //very// unimpressed. Actually, not happy at all. Though this is this and that is that.)) – and a historian – Dagmar Hájková((:ref:irozhlas-letter)) – analyze the document. To check for authenticity and whatnot. I have an issue with this because it was done so fast, but let's put that aside. The reason they decided to do it like this was to make sure they wouldn't be spreading misinformation...right? I mean, they say that they don't think it was written in 1937, but in 1934...so that's a big plus, right?\\
+Well, they also determined that it was written primarily in English...and then decided to read it...by having the historian translate it in real-time. This is the bit I have a massive issue with because they promised to read it and that meant //reading the contents exactly//. They didn't do this and, thus, I am going to patiently wait for a transcript to be released – if it //is// released at all.
+Anyhow, the contents of the letter (the translated contents as we understand them from the event) were unremarkable. It was mostly him commenting on his funeral arrangements, but there were two things I found interesting. First of all is the fact Masaryk referred to a Slovak politician as an ‘idiot’ (hlupák) and the fact he also said the Germans will steal from us. I may have misheard, but the implication I got was that he suggested //we steal from them first before they try anything//. Besides that, he also commented on the importance of education.\\
+In that regard, I think the letter is kinda hilarious because it showed people that, no, Masaryk wasn't about peace and tolerance. For goodness’ sake, guys, he was a Czechoslovak nationalist who spent much of his adult life actively planning rebellion against a state that arguably treated Czechs really well.
+===== Trivilinks =====
+  * You can watch it [[you>zQN1oXK1saY|here]], though keep in mind that it's entirely in Czech.