Ivan Stránský

“A decent society is not about anarchy, it’s about a juridical order. Everyone should make effort to maintain juridical order and they should get together but not in hate, in the fight for legal security and juridical order. Every state can have varying degrees of wealth. It depends on natural resources, on many things, on know-how, on values. Whatever the country has, law is the base. And if law doesn’t work, the state simply falls apart, evaporates, others will seize it. People should fight for law the most of all. And choose very carefully those who apply the law. But I’m not sure that the next generation realizes this at all. Since not even the people in charge of governing realize it, or if they don’t fight for it. On the contrary, they are satisfied in chaos.”

“They let me graduate high school in 1970. Afterwards Židlický (human resources deputy of Vagonka – ed. note) invited me to talk and said: “Look, comrade. You are young, you’re twenty-four. We let you graduate from high school. That’s not something to take for granted. Look, I think you should appreciate that. I am willing to forget that you were a part of the board. You were simply foolish because you’re twenty-four and you had no idea what you were getting yourself into. I know you, you’re a good worker, popular with your colleagues. I’m going to offer you something, you could even get a flat because you’re young and married. You’re going to have a family, from what I’ve heard. Your father-in-law is a confirmed communist… Look, we can make a deal. You sign this here that we’re going to cooperate. And if there’s any talks you hear about we will meet and decide what to do next.” Because I was in a centre known for its revanchism. People like Landsman, Harypuc, and others were there. So I was listening to him and I said: “Comrade deputy, I don’t think this will work. Because I, as you said yourself, graduated with an average grade of one point…” And he goes: “Well, we know you’re an expert, we appreciate that!” I told him: “I won’t inform on anyone, I’m sorry but that’s not going to work.” He says: “You know what? I’ll give you a week to think it through. And you should think it through! This could end badly for you!” And so I left. A week later he called me again and said: “So, comrade, what’s your position?” That was the usual phrase. Comrade, where do you belong? What’s your position? And I said: “I don’t have a position but I won’t become an informer.” And he said: “As you wish, but in that case it would be better for you to leave.” And I told him: “Well, I can promise you that without problem. I don’t need to be here.”