The Velvet Hangover

                                                                      -         Vaclav Havel (b. 1936- )

This speech was given by Havel in July 1990 at the opening of Salzburg Festival in Austria. In this speech, he has explored how fear of an unknown future of a free country has replaced the old known fears of the totalitarian rule. As the first freely elected president of Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, he had a great challenge to lead the country towards the sustainable democracy.

     They did many things hurriedly before the end of the totalitarian system. They had wonderful dream. When the revolution ended and he was elected the president, he was confused. He did not know what to do next. He was now aimless and powerless. So, he became very sad.

     Havel suddenly felt tired. All his energy before the election had vanished. He found himself in a situation that was like the hangover after a wild drinking party. His colleagues were also confused. When they had to face the reality, they felt their incompetence for the job they were supposed to do.  They were afraid that their success wouldn’t last long.

     Havel had tried to write an essay on fear, but he became busy in the election campaign. When he was free to write, he couldn’t.

     The people are unfamiliar to the freedom. They got the freedom after a great effort, but they don’t know what to do with it. So, they are afraid of their future. In the totalitarian system, at least the people’s future was certain. The totalitarian oppression represented the single familiar danger. Now, there are several unfamiliar danger. Among them are the danger of national conflicts, the danger of losing social-welfare protections and the danger of new totalitarianism of consumption, commerce and money. The new sense of freedom is uncomfortable. The totalitarianism had given no options to the people. Now there are so many.

     Fear of the future is related to the fear of the past. Liars can’t protect the freedom of the nation. Unless the politicians confess their guilt, they can’t get peace in their souls. The truth makes people free from fear. Fear has caused many fights in Central Europe.

     But fear is not always harmful. Fear of our incompetence makes us competent again. Fear of God makes us courageous. Fear of defeat makes us victorious and fear of freedom teaches us to create a freedom of real value. The more one is sensitive to dangers, the better one can save oneself. The more you feel empty and meaningless, the more meaning you find in life. Uncertainties cause certainties and hopelessness causes hope. One can not find sense in life without first experiencing its absurdity.

     Finally, Havel requests his people to free themselves from any type of fear. He tells them to examine their past, present and future. He suggests them to look into their doubts, fears and despair to produce a new self-confidence. This new self-confidence will give them the power to look beyond the present time and beyond the personal and community interests.