Thursday, August 28, 2008

Woke up this morning feeling fine...

At last. I'm back to feeling like myself again. I can eat, drink hot tea, swallow and speak without pain. And I never want to go there again. One of my regular (and witty) commenters suggested that my affliction sounded like "Blue Tongue", which I haven't looked up yet, but I will. Whatever it might be, it can't be more disgusting than my tongue was. I'm still not showing it to anyone, but the improvement is quite dramatic.

Now of course, I've got a lot to catch up with. I haven't visited any of my favourite Blogs, and I expect some of my Blogging buddies will think I've dropped off my perch. Not quite yet. I have listened to a lot of radio and read a lot of books, inbetween sleeping and moaning (with pain I hasten to add, not complaining). One of the interesting things on the radio has been the 1968 "Day by Day" news, which reminds us of what was happening 40 years ago. 1968 really does seem to have been a watershed year. I particularly remembered that on 21st August 1968, when the Russian tanks invaded Czechoslovakia, I went out and bought my first ever copy of The Times, because I wanted to know the truth about what was happening. This seems a trifle naive to me now, but back then I believed that The Times would give me a fair and balanced view of events in Prague. And I believe it did just that. Poor Dubcek - he was, in the commentator's words, "Too nice". He believed and trusted the Russians who, as it turned out, had been planning the invasion for months because they didn't trust Dubcek to get the country "under control". Dubcek was a decent man, and genuinely didn't realize that "Communism with a human face is not possible." It was a tragic misunderstanding, and a dramatic and exciting time for those of us who were observing - but it must have been terrible for all those Czech people who believed that they were about to be freed. The 'with hindsight' view was that it was a "successful invasion, but a political disaster". The 1968 uprising was about Idealism and National Unity, but November 1989 was different - they no longer wanted Socialism with a human face, they simply wanted their Freedom.

Of course, I have a Foreign Student here from the Czech Republic. He is 19 and knows nothing of those days. Even his parents, who are both 43, remember nothing. Yet they are all children of that Revolution, and now live normal, untroubed lives in relative freedom - thanks to all those who suffered and died, who protested and were imprisoned. They know nothing of the people of Prague who had no guns, but who stood in front of the Russian tanks and pleaded with the soldiers to leave them to their hard-won independence. They were truly heroic and I remember still the black and white photos of those people in Prague, dwarfed by the Russian tanks, but not defeated. It was impressive then, and it is still moving now.

16 comments:

aims said...

Yes - I remember it too! What a time of defiance and spirit!

Glad you are feeling better. Blue tongue huh?

Donna said...

I also remember....awful! But I had a giggle at your young and endearing "trust and faith" in the Times...little did we know, then.
I'm SO glad you're back and feeling better!!! Happy night sweetie!!!hughugs

Expat mum said...

We have just made the kids sit down and listen to Barak Obama's democratic nomination acceptance speech for the same reasons. This is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's speech and I swear Obama's will go down in the same sort of history. Whatever one's political keanings, it's a big thing that he is up for Prez.

Expat mum said...

"Leanings". I meant Leanings. But don't you thing that "keaning" is an apt word for the Bush travesty?

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Aims, it's so nice to be back in the land of the living - and lovely to hear from you. Still haven't checked on Blue Tongue!! M xx

Hi Donna, lovely to be back and to hear from you again. Yes, it was real piece of history wasn't it?
Have missed you all. M xx

Hi Expatmum, you are so right, and I'm sure your children will remember that in the future. Yes, it's a big step. And isn't it interesting that canny old McCain has chosen a young woman as his running mate? Clever. M :-)
PS. I thought keanings was most appropriate too, Bush-wise...

Maggie May said...

Sorry you have had such a rough time. Hope you are over the worst now.
Yes, I remember that invasion by the Russians in the Czech republic, very well. Now they are stamping their feet again.

auntiegwen said...

Gald you're feeling better x

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Maggie, thanks and am feeling on top form now! Those Ruskies don't seem to learn do they? Or maybe they believe they're getting it right. M :-)

Thank you, Auntie Gwen, will be popping over to yours for a visit soon. M xx

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Poor you, you have been through it lately haven't you. Re the Prague thing. OG and I visited there a few years ago and it bought it all back to us. I remember the students putting flowers into the guns of the soldiere. They were truly heroic. Last year I was in Rumania and met one of the students that demonstrated against and eventually helped overthrow Nicolae Ceausescu. I wonder, would I have been so brave.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I enjoyed your blog and pleased you are feeling better, Take care.



YVONNE:

Stinking Billy said...

I read this post through and through, and have to agree that I identify with every word. I will try my very best never to neglect you again, but you don't know what a basket case I am fast becoming.

Stick with it, Margot, you are definitely on the right track!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hello there RAC, lovely to hear from you. It was such a memorable time and their bravery was spectacular. I agree, I don't know how I would have reacted - but hope I would have been brave too. M xx

Hi there Yvonne, and how lovely of you to visit and comment. I'm feeling fine now, and will come and pay you a visit soon. M :-)

Hey there Billy, thanks for coming over and leaving me a comment. I don't believe you're becoming a basket case! Will pop over to check up. M xx

Rob Clack said...

So glad you're feeling better. I had a nasty mouth infection once which (almost) reduced me to "nil by mouth". I sipped at a 50:50 milk/water mix for far longer than was reasonable. Not nice at all, and I have every sympathy.

The Blue Tongue suggestion is very funny, however!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Rob, my trouble was that I wouldn't give in and kept trying to eat - ouch!! Anyway, thank you for your sympathies - most kind. And I'm just fine now. M xx

farming-frenchstyle said...

Sorry, didn't mean any offense with my reference to blue tongue - a disease given to sheep and cattle by a midge, passed on through the midge, but notgiven to humans. Glad you saw the humourous side though, and glad you are feeling better.

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi again F-F, sorry to be so late in acknowledging your visit. I didn't take offence at all, but did think it funny and very appropriate! M :-)