Advent Appeal calls on Czechs not to give in to hate and intolerance
The non-profit organisation Post Bellum has published a call warning against growing intolerance in Czech society. Numerous polls have suggested that a large part of Czech society has little sympathy, for example, for the plight of refugees from Muslim countries. The so-called Advent Appeal, signed by around 5,400 people including about 50 prominent figures, was launched as an alternative – primarily hoping to remind people of humanistic values.
“It is not an accident, I think, that the Advent appeal came together shortly after the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution on November 17th this year, when the usual celebrations were replaced in a number of instances by nationalistic or extremist propaganda.”
You are referring at least in part to a demonstration organized by an anti-Islam initiative, at which the president, Miloš Zeman spoke and which he has supported. Is the president, do you think, sending the wrong message?
“I think he definitely is. It was very surprising if not shocking that official representatives, including the president, joined people on stage who have been spreading radical messages. Officials, including some in government, who have emphasised all kinds of fears related to the migrant crisis rather than a more humanistic message about people in need, first.”
Can you change peoples’ minds?
“The appeal is also largely towards young people who were born into freedom, who have no experience from the totalitarian period, some of whom may be more susceptible to radical messages. They are at risk and can be influenced by all kinds of mixed up information. In short, there is still the risk of beginning condemned to repeat mistakes of the past, crises which led to war and suffering, if we simply accept radical views and do not challenge them.”
