It's hardly a state secret that certain Czechs -- and a sizable minority of foreigners -- tend to glorify the achievements and reputation of the Czechoslovak First Republic. What is popularly known about the period from books and other relevant materials only show the glittering goodness of Masaryk, Benes, and M.R. Stefanik's glorious experiment, never its rampant, festering problems.

A while ago, folks, I'd come across a website administered by a prominent Toronto-based "Rusyn" activist (a Ruthenian from the region formerly known as the Czechoslovak Subcarpathian Rus).

Buried in the reams of copy about his Ruthenian origins, his peoples' habits, religion, mannerisms, and overall traditions were a series of incendiary lines about the political discrimination Rusyns suffered at the hands of TGM's fledgling Czechoslovak parliamentary science experiment. It's a little-known fact that as part of a "minority of minorities" in the former Czechoslovakia, Rusyns had the most to gain and lose in the First Republic's political makeup.

It's the opinion of Czech historians that the existence of Rusyns, Slovaks, Sudeten Germans, Jews, and Czechs in the Czechoslovak melting pot -- that seminal societal experiment which came to an ignominious and tragic end twenty years after its founding -- added a salty flavour to the capital city which the reconstituted Czech Republic has only had a taste of.

I, for one, am enamoured with this development. But more must come. And quickly.

In the past, I've written about this burgeoning phenomenon in various Aktualne posts. My not-so-brilliant opinions and views have been laid bare for all to read, and the caustic commentary has been indicative. Fine. I deserve it because I am an outsider. Outsiders always deserve to be discriminated against. Last time I checked, this was Europe, right?

In any event, I consider myself a part of the Renaissance. A comeback still ongoing and one which will continue to bring about the decisive redefinition of the Czech Collective in our uncertain post-Communist times.

Today I was thinking about several developments I'd like to soon see.

I'm curious to know where our respective opinions converge/diverge on the following dynamics. I'll list them below as three points, and you may be inclined to comment, which I'll gladly welcome, as always:

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1) African Immigration to Prague: It's been steadfastly demonstrated that nations permitting the entry of new genes to the societal pool are more capable of withstanding disease and illness through the injection of "fresh blood." Given the high incidence of certain strains of chronic diseases (egs. cancer, tumors, growths) and seasonal illnesses in Czech society (not to mention certain physiognomies which aren't aesthetically-pleasing, pervasive female anorexic thinness, small female cup size (not augmented), and certain other male physical/intimate shortcomings which I've been told through the grapevine), I'd like to know your opinion about the forced introduction of stronger chromosomal units as a by-product of the Czech Republic's immigration and asylum obligations as members of the European Union? "We mustn't only take from the EU. We must also give something back," the saying might go.

2) Official "Trilingualism:" It's also been shown in the Czech past that when the Czech people feel imperiled by the swirl of uncertain events threatening it from beyond the precincts of its safe borders, that the naiton it bores into its rich ancient store of Czech/Hussite lore, its resistance to Austrian oversight during the June 1848 student riots, the annual carp-genocide on city squares before Jezisek, its Prague Uprising, the Prague Spring, its Student (Velvet) Revolution of '89, etc. This manifests itself in strong posturing for acts like "Czech culture only," "Czech language only," and jingoistic statements by populist Czech politicians (read: Mr. Scrunchy Face). If the country adopts what I'm going to call an Official Trilingualism Policy -- Czech, Slovak, English -- this will duly benefit the coming generations who do not deserve to be saddled with the burdensome baggage of the past. Genetics mustn't be a condemnation! Czechs do not take in xenophobia with their mother's milk. I refuse to believe this, ever.

3) An Official Rescinding of the Rotten Benes Decrees: Once and for all! The time has long-since passed for the elected representatives of our sometimes-democratic republic -- including Mr. Scrunchy Face -- to put a resounding punctuation mark/exclamation point on the festering, suppurating, chartreuse-coloured pus-filled open gash which is the poisonous (Edvard) Benes Decrees. Not all Sudeten Germans/Czechoslovak citizens supported the Evil German Regime. "How many exactly?" my critics might demand. "Don't know," I'll respond. Maybe 457,000 out of nearly 2 million? That number work for you? But let's put the analogy thusly: the pageantry and well-wishing most Czechoslovak/Sudeten Germans demonstrated during the arrival of the Nazis during the occupation post-March 15, 1939 was equivalent to what several Czechoslovak citizens did following August 1968's rude invasion. It was better for some to show solidarity with the Soviets so they could pluck the plum jobs.

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These are merely three ways all of us can get beyond the past and move into the glorious multiethnic future. I add that we are legally obligated to supply this as Members of the EU.

Throughout the coming six months of our Presidency of the Council, I shall continue stressing these points. I just know you will look forward to reading more of me here.