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So-Much-Makes-Sense-Once-We-Get-the-Connections2

Updated on May 20, 2020
Beata Stasak profile image

Beata works as a qualified primary school teacher, a councillor for drug and alcohol addiction and a farm caretaker for organic olive grow.

From Melbourne to Prague and Back

 Melbourne's shiny streets are full of carefree people looking for bargains. It is Australia's most popular cultural destination.
Melbourne's shiny streets are full of carefree people looking for bargains. It is Australia's most popular cultural destination.
Twenty years ago, demonstrators in Prague staged the Velvet Revolution - a series of peaceful protests that helped bring down the communist regime. Since emerging from the sombre shadows of a one-party rule, the City of a Thousand Spires was reborn.
Twenty years ago, demonstrators in Prague staged the Velvet Revolution - a series of peaceful protests that helped bring down the communist regime. Since emerging from the sombre shadows of a one-party rule, the City of a Thousand Spires was reborn.
In Melbourne on any weekday, people are locked in their office to earn money for a shopping spree. Or maybe a night out at the theatre, cinema, restaurant, bar or cafe.
In Melbourne on any weekday, people are locked in their office to earn money for a shopping spree. Or maybe a night out at the theatre, cinema, restaurant, bar or cafe.
Prague's ancient cultural statues survived under a uniform grey Communist rule. The Vltava River flows under the Charles Bridge.
Prague's ancient cultural statues survived under a uniform grey Communist rule. The Vltava River flows under the Charles Bridge.
A typical evening in Melbourne - people are getting ready for a busy night in the liveliest city in Australia. The main square has the SBS TV station in the distance
A typical evening in Melbourne - people are getting ready for a busy night in the liveliest city in Australia. The main square has the SBS TV station in the distance
Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque buildings flank Prague's Old Town Square. After the fall of Communism, the grey old buildings received some new colour.
Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque buildings flank Prague's Old Town Square. After the fall of Communism, the grey old buildings received some new colour.
A traditional Australian wedding is held in one of many city parks. There is a variety of religious and cultural weddings most weekends in this multicultural, free spirited metropolitan city.
A traditional Australian wedding is held in one of many city parks. There is a variety of religious and cultural weddings most weekends in this multicultural, free spirited metropolitan city.
Some of the Communist grey buildings still stand in the middle of Prague, reminding the Czech people about the past.
Some of the Communist grey buildings still stand in the middle of Prague, reminding the Czech people about the past.
The James Cook cottage (copied from the one in England) is the oldest building in the history of white Australia. It's also a big reminder for the First people, of the violent past.
The James Cook cottage (copied from the one in England) is the oldest building in the history of white Australia. It's also a big reminder for the First people, of the violent past.
Despite  of foreign invaders, Prague's Old Town Square has remained virtually untouched since the 10th century. Standing there, you can almost feel the walls of the Rococo Kinsky Palace, the Gothic Cathedral and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church fall.
Despite of foreign invaders, Prague's Old Town Square has remained virtually untouched since the 10th century. Standing there, you can almost feel the walls of the Rococo Kinsky Palace, the Gothic Cathedral and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church fall.
In Melbourne's shiny and greedy corporate world, money rules.
In Melbourne's shiny and greedy corporate world, money rules.
When the sun sets, avoid the east of Zizkov - a former industrial suburb and the epicentre of Prague's rough-and-tumble nightlife.
When the sun sets, avoid the east of Zizkov - a former industrial suburb and the epicentre of Prague's rough-and-tumble nightlife.
The ANZAC Day celebration takes place in the middle of Melbourne. Memories of heroic Australian soldiers in World Wars are part of the nation's cultural identity.
The ANZAC Day celebration takes place in the middle of Melbourne. Memories of heroic Australian soldiers in World Wars are part of the nation's cultural identity.
Roughly the size of seven football fields, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Built and renovated over 13 centuries, the complex includes churches, gardens, alleyways and royal residences that would take days to appreciate.
Roughly the size of seven football fields, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Built and renovated over 13 centuries, the complex includes churches, gardens, alleyways and royal residences that would take days to appreciate.
Standing on Melbourne's wild ocean foreshore, you could forget that you live in the capital city of Victoria. Where else on the world could you feel the spacious loneliness while feeling the business of the metropolis behind.
Standing on Melbourne's wild ocean foreshore, you could forget that you live in the capital city of Victoria. Where else on the world could you feel the spacious loneliness while feeling the business of the metropolis behind.
Under communist rule, authorities arrested more than 250,000 Czechs and shot 327 others dead, as they tried to flee across the border. They were harshly prosecuted for their religious beliefs.
Under communist rule, authorities arrested more than 250,000 Czechs and shot 327 others dead, as they tried to flee across the border. They were harshly prosecuted for their religious beliefs.
Melbourne's Flinders Street Train Station is busy, but Australian people like to rely on their own cars for transport or on taxis at night. Public transport is not something Australians are proud of, or rely on much.
Melbourne's Flinders Street Train Station is busy, but Australian people like to rely on their own cars for transport or on taxis at night. Public transport is not something Australians are proud of, or rely on much.
Prague's public transport system is excellent. You can use a cheap travel card covering all bus, metro and tram services. However, pickpockets operate throughout the day - particularly in crowded areas like public transport.
Prague's public transport system is excellent. You can use a cheap travel card covering all bus, metro and tram services. However, pickpockets operate throughout the day - particularly in crowded areas like public transport.
Melbournians like to wander around the many tropical parks, enjoying their lunch hour during the busy working days.
Melbournians like to wander around the many tropical parks, enjoying their lunch hour during the busy working days.
An ever-changing cast of musicians, protesters, dance troupes, punks and vendors make the square as colorful as the buildings that surround it. In addition, somewhere close by, is the hidden entry to the quirky nightclub housed underground.
An ever-changing cast of musicians, protesters, dance troupes, punks and vendors make the square as colorful as the buildings that surround it. In addition, somewhere close by, is the hidden entry to the quirky nightclub housed underground.
People relax by the Yarra River which flows through the middle of Melbourne.
People relax by the Yarra River which flows through the middle of Melbourne.
Enjoying the peaceful surroundings - free and happy to live in a country where it is not an offence to sit on a lawn in a central city park.
Enjoying the peaceful surroundings - free and happy to live in a country where it is not an offence to sit on a lawn in a central city park.
Happy to be living in a country where you can smell flowers in the middle of the city in a casual dress and have no one think any less of you because of that. You are allowed to be who you are.
Happy to be living in a country where you can smell flowers in the middle of the city in a casual dress and have no one think any less of you because of that. You are allowed to be who you are.

Who is Rebiya Kadeer?

Who is Rebiya Kadeer?

I asked myself while watching

'The 10 Conditions of Love'

that my Czech friend had invited me to see.

"You have to see this controversial documentary about her life."


So I attended the Melbourne premiere one Sunday night.

With popcorn and a coke in hand,

I expected some excitement at least.

Black and white images of ancient Sunni Uighurs

in their embroidered caps singing in Turkish

about their oil-rich empire appeared onscreen.


They twirled about in their long dresses in front of my eyes.

Then colourful images came in the fifties

when the People's Republic of China reclaimed the rich land,

taking their golden caps and leaving the robbed Uighurs in a swirl of dust.

"Look! Rebyia is coming,"

my Czech friend laughed excitedly.


"We call her the fearless Grand mum 'in my homeland, in Prague."

A tiny woman with smooth silver hair under her embroidered cap appeared on the screen, shouting at a Chinese official that her homeland is called the 'East Turkestan'.


I forgot all about my popcorn, seeing her rising from the dust

to become the richest person in China, then return back to the dust.

Leaving the Chinese Parliament to join her countrymen in a rotten jail,

and then being exiled to Washington as an outcast.

And finally, being nominated for a Nobel Prize.


We left the cinema feeling confused,

passing through the joyful Melbourne streets

full of carefree people. We felt a bit of guilt.

"They hacked into and shut down the Film Festival's website,

because of her. The Chinese did." My Czech friend exclaimed."


I think you have forgotten all about growing up

in Communist Czechoslovakia," I smiled at him.

All those accusations and lies."

"And then came the Velvet revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall."

nodded my Czech friend. "Which divided us even more."

"Before, we were countrymen, brothers in arms..." I laughed.

"Now, we are foreigners.

I stayed home, listening to the old folks praising the Communist past,

while the young people chased the Western ideals

of hard cash and greed which will not last.”


My Czech friend smiled at me: “And you, my poor Slovak cousin,

left for an easy life, here in Australia. Are you satisfied?"

I looked at the Melbourne sky:

"Let's talk about Rebiya's 10 Conditions of Love.


The first one is independence,

because everyone has the right to decide and find their own path."

"Then the second one is connecting with others,"

my friend added: "Rebiya travelled far and wide

to find her soulmate for life and fought."


"The third one is continuity," I quickly said.

"Do you remember that she had six children to pass her knowledge on to?

Although two of them are rotting in jail."

"Then the fourth one is strength of mind," my friend nodded.

"How, otherwise, would a mother manage to sacrifice

her own children for her countrymen."


"The fifth one is strength of body," I managed to say:

"There were at least two attempts on her life."

"The sixth one must be culture," my friend said,

thinking about his 'thousand spirals in Prague'.

" She is fighting for 1,500 years of Uighur knowledge,

trampled on and destroyed by thugs."


"The seventh one is homeland, then" I exclaim:"

Everyone needs to belong and feel home somewhere.

20 million Uighurs lost their rights."

"The eighth one is non-violent fighting,"

my friend laughed: "The Chinese fear her.

She does not need a gun."


"The ninth one is her fearlessness," I said, trying to sound wise:

"Who would like to have been an international symbol,

paying such a terrible price?"

"The last one must be her patriotism." my friend ended cleverly:

"One has to admire her relentless campaign at least.

When most of us would choose to disappear in Washington and forget about the past."

"Are you looking at me?" I laughed, pushing my Czech friend aside.


"Come on, my lost countryman," he took my arm:

"At least you understand why I cannot nominate you for a Nobel Prize.

"We skipped along the noisy street, full of neon’s and cheerful smiles.

We felt less guilty and happier to be just ordinary people - grateful to be FREE AND ALIVE.

working

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