Entertaining President Havel at the White House

Here at the Empty Nest Expat blog, I occasionally can't resist trying to be useful. The librarian in me, rabidly interested in politics, would like to recommend to anyone in the Czech Government who will help host the new American Secretary of State and President Obama in April, finding a copy of Hillary Clinton's wonderful book called "Entertaining at the White House."

There's a chapter that describes the State Dinner that she and Bill Clinton planned and pulled off for Czech President Vaclav Havel. The details of the dinner capture all of the hopes of America for the new Czech Democracy led by Mr. Havel and the lengths America went to show it's respect. It's a delightful and fascinating read.

Russian Leader Reacts to U.S. Offer on Iran

Here's a further update on the proposed missile defense system to built in the Czech Republic with the Russian reaction to President Obama's secret letter to Russian President Medvedev. Click on the title to read and listen.

The Latest on the Proposed Missile Defense System

It looks like President Obama is hard at work at finding a solution to the proposed missile system that works for all countries. Maybe he's trying to get an answer from Russia before he comes here on April 5th. Click on the title to read the full article from the New York Times.

Prague Playwriting Contest Shows Off The Three Finalists

Mom's first night out after having a new baby!
EvaTruefitt and her mom come out
to see the play her husband Gordon directed.
Also pictured: Ricky Yates and me

Not pictured: Gordon, who's home taking care of the new baby
and Sybille Yates, our photographer

Over the last two weeks, English speakers have been able to see the final three plays of the Prague Post and Prague Playhouse 3rd Annual Playwriting Contest performed. Over 50 playwriters submitted a half-hour long play per the rules and that giant group of scripts was whittled down to eight and then whittled down again to the three final plays that would actually be performed. The rules require that the writer has lived in or currently lives in Prague.

Gerry Turner after the play

Gerry and his daughter Tanya

Two people from my church, St. Clement's Church in Old Town, were involved in the play "Early Retirement" by David Fisher: director Gordon Trufitt, who had a son born on Valentine's Day, and Gerry Turner, who acted the part of Mr. Matejovsky, which required him to speak both Czech and English. We wanted to attend to support our own!

Another star of the evening was Divadlo Minor, an incredibly imaginative space designed for puppet shows. It was fun to explore the colors, the whimsy, and the hiding places built into the theatre. Pictures below.

The Divadlo Minor suggestion box (notice the little piglets)
You know what pigs eat!

Gorgeous Geometry throughout

Curt Matthew, who recently starred in Glengarry Glen Ross
It's being reprised for two encore shows in March

The Snack Bar

President Obama is Coming to the Czech Republic!

What a great time to be an American in Prague! It's incredibly interesting to watch the Czech Presidency of the EU (that's the first six months of the year), the Velvet Revolution is twenty years old in November, and the President of my country, the United States of America, is coming here in April! How cool is that?

It's not everyday that I'm inspired to write a politician a letter. My Czech friends, with their heartfelt and probing questions about the proposed missile base, inspired me to write this one to President Obama in January. Link on the title to read the post.

It's actually going to happen!

More Patriotism: In Love with Abe Lincoln

Ben Franklin said after America declared her independence: "you have a Republic, if you can keep it." The last eight years we came pretty close to internally losing our way as a country, rather than someone taking it away from us.

Bad leadership is not the norm in America. I don't know why, but my country has been blessed with some really extraordinary, humble men leading us that inspire love. Maybe I'm a little homesick for the known. Or maybe it's knowing that Lincoln inspires my new president too. Or maybe it's just I appreciate where this writer is coming from after I spent four days learning about Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois last year. This beautiful tribute to Abe Lincoln in word and pictures that I've linked to in the title moves me so, I wanted to share it.

An Unexpectedly Patriotic Weekend

This weekend I went over to my friends' flat and watched the first two installments of the HBO series "John Adams" about America's founding father and second president. My friend Nhan said, "it can't help but make you feel more patriotic." So true.

John Adams had an eye for talent. He considered himself obnoxious and widely unpopular in his own time. Yet it's impossible to not like a guy who valued his wife's advice so much. On my life list of 'things to do' is to read the letters John and Abigail Adams wrote to each other while he was away at the Continental Congress. In addition to selecting a great partner, Adams also suggested George Washington to be the first General of the Continental Army and Thomas Jefferson to author the Declaration of Independence. Humanity's general consensus: good calls.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

The next day I went out to see "Milk," the new movie about San Francisco activist Harvey Milk, starring Sean Penn. Sean Penn was totally believable as a gay man. Penn won the Oscar later that night for "Best Actor." He deserved it.

It was fascinating to see how America's founding fathers constantly inspire new generations of people to demand their rights. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician elected in America. Today in America, being openly gay still takes a lot of courage (American teenagers who are dealing with their sexual orientation have a higher than normal suicide attempt rate) but it's a lot easier because of people like Harvey Milk. This movie, like the "John Adams" mini-series, made me so damn proud of my country. Here was another wonderful example of Americans leading the cry for us to live as if "all men are created equal." MILK is a movie that sends hope all over the globe to people who need it. That's what the America I know and love is supposed to do. Spread hope.