Is it worth it? Why do I need to get involved? Does anyone really care?
My friend Madla has been helping me with translation, and this week we worked on a document that is the most comprehensive, historical piece ever written about the relationship between the Czech Brethren denomination and the StB (statni bezpecnost)/KSC. The history is quite recent, so not surprisingly, not much has been studied on this topic: maybe it has to do with the fact that some are still uncomfortable talking about; others, are probably still living with the consequences. The document is 87 pages long and broken up into about five chapters. Some of the chapters deal with the preliminary theory of how the StB planned to influence and manipulate the CCE (Czech Brethren), the physical/practical application of that theory, a state breakdown of the pastors involved in anti-communist actions and a published list of communist informers. The research is in its preliminary stages, but I am starting to get a few glimpses of the larger story; and I've realized, that it is all gray.
An old pastor friend of ours, Mila Plechacek, is a great illustration as to how the past, here in the Czech Republic, still lives. I went to the gym yesterday in the late afternoon and stood outside of the entrance engaged in a light conversation with another women from the congregation. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a black, cocker-spaniel with her nose to the ground, hair fluffing up from her legs as she trotted along. I recognized this dog instantly. She is the beloved 'betty' of Mila. I was sure that they were both on a stroll, so I brought my head and followed the leash to its anchor point--Mila's hand. He noticed me first, and before I could say anything, he yelled my name. Normally, one of us would cross the street, give a small greeting, but today Mila saw my prior commitment (being at the gym and talking to a friend) so he decided to continue on. I watched him as he plodded along at a pace as if he was walking through a garden of marigolds and plum trees. I thought to myself, that in all the world, there couldn't be anyone more gentle( His smile is perpetual, which lends to its under-appreciation: usually, I notice a smile only because of the contrast between that person's resting expression, not with him, I sometimes don't notice it because it is always there). (sorry I'll get on the point)
That same morning, as I was perusing the pages of the StB memos, I came across the code name, 'Helvig'. Helvig was considered a dangerous personality who resided in the North-Eastern Czech state (today it is the State of Pardubice, my state). The report said that this man was a pastor who had been an original member of the 'New Orientation', which was a dissident group rooted in the CCE. The StB had planned a 'pressure' procedure against Helvig, in hopes that they could get him to leave the area ( in many instances, the Communist Regime would revoke working licenses, wire-tap houses, monitor correspondence and engage in long, exhausting interrogation procedures, all under the name of 'pressure'), as they were worried about the concentration New Orientation pastors in the North-Eastern Czech region. Officially, Helvig was an enemy of the 2nd class, because he had contacts with 'Capitalistic States', travelled abroad and had openly criticized the regime. In the end, they succeed in forcing him to move and later noted that he slowly distanced himself away from the actions of the N.O. Curious as to who this man might be, I went to the index of the book and went down the list of code names that the StB had given the 'enemies.' There were names like, The PASTOR, THE YOUTH, THE ROSE, THE IDEOLOG, and then there was HELVIG: Miloslav Plechacek (1939).
Watching Mila walk away with his dog, I wondered if he still thinks about the fear, the repression and the helplessness under the regime. Maybe he still sees some of the StB officers around Policka, the same ones who pressured him and his family to move, who watched his correspondence, who placed agents in the pub to hear his conversation. How has he forgiven? What does reconciliation look like? Does he still hold remorse?
In thinking and researching for this paper, I've come to the conclusion that maybe I should just make it a story of how they survived, how they forgave, how they lived and what lessons they learned (the pastors that is). History, in some ways, is the study of how ordinary people dealt and lived with processes that are often more powerful than they are. It is also the story of resilience, and a constant reminder of how we all need to do what is right when the opportunity arises. But, a more difficult question might be, how do we know something is wrong? And, how are we to act/react? Maybe the first step for all of us is to engage ourselves in the larger 'conversations' that are always in motion around us; we shouldn't be content with being comfortable, we must always challenge our worldview and speak up when we see perversion in our local communities, societies and our closest relationships.
Sometimes while reading the StB reports, I find myself laughing. I catch myself doing it and try to stop, but the schizophrenic and paranoid nature of the Communist Regime is comical. I mean, for real, how many times can they say, 'Capitalist, enemy states', 'Enemy personalities', 'pressure movements against the Government.' What does it even mean!? Then I realize that many times, these memos destroyed a family, imprisoned people for years and forced emigration away from homes, land and memories.
The next time I see Mila, I might have to ask him about his status as an 'Enemy of the Second kind'; but I hope that when I do it, he is holding Betty, displaying a smile and wearing his 'Route 66', jean-material apron. :)
