The United States of America today is saddened by the passing of Vaclav Havel, the Czech Republic’s first democratically elected president and leader of the Velvet Revolution.
Vaclav Havel was born on 5th of October 1936. He was a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, and dissident.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Mr. Havel’s death is a loss for the Czech Republic and for human rights defenders around the world. She said he was an inspiration to me and I was proud to call him a friend.
“He once said that his hope was for history to remember him as having done something useful. President Havel spent his life removing chains of oppression, standing up for the downtrodden, and advancing the tenets of democracy and freedom.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton noted that when communism threatened the peace and prosperity of our world and covered Eastern Europe in a cloud of hopelessness, he wrote plays so powerful they changed the course of history and created new democratic opportunities for millions.
“And when the people of the Czech Republic were finally allowed to express themselves freely, they overwhelmingly chose a man who never wanted to be in politics.” – Ms. Clinton
Secretary Clinton said Mr. Havel did something more than useful, he did something extraordinary, and history will remember it.
“Today, a black flag hangs over the Prague castle in honor of his life and commitment to a better world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the people of the Czech Republic, and all those who are committed to advancing human rights.” -Ms. Clinton
Havel died on 18th December 2011 at his country home in Hradec. His death was met with tributes from prominent world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
According to Wikipedia, “A week before his death, he met with fellow dissident and longtime friend, the Dalai Lama, in Prague; Havel appeared in a wheelchair. Within hours Havel’s death was met with tributes from numerous world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Polish President Lech Wa?e;sa. Merkel called Havel “a great European,” he should have been given the Nobel Peace Prize.”
