On Friday 15 November, visitors to the traditional Masaryk University event had the opportunity to witness not only the presentation of university medals to prominent personalities, but also a performance by poet Petr Váša and a discussion with leading figures from the Czech media and former dissidents under the communist regime.
“Younger generations should learn about what they have experienced to ensure that freedom of thought, freedom to vote and freedom of education are never taken away again,” said MU Rector Martin Bareš in the opening remarks, also explaining why a number of commemorative events are held every year in November and why it is important to recognise the personalities who fought bravely against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.
Rector Martin Bareš together with the Vice-Rector for Academic and Cultural Affairs Jiří Hanuš, who hosted the evening, then proceeded to the Gold and Silver medals of Masaryk University award ceremony. The audience was treated to a small surprise right at the beginning: the MU Gold Medal was awarded to Marta Kubišová, singer and signatory of Charter 77. A few days ago, a delegation from Masaryk University went to meet her in Prague, where Jiří Hanuš presented her with the medal and a recording of the event and an interview where she shared her memories and funny stories was made. The silver medals were then presented by Rector Martin Bareš to Lída Rakušanová and Oldřich Haičman. Special segment in the programme was dedicated to Andrzej Jagodziński, who received the Roger Scruton Medal at the festival.
The otherwise serious event was lightened up by the performance of the physical poet Petr Váša, who recited the poems Naděje, Mladej umí bejt každej and Lokomotivám se motají kola, which he said was a parody of the Russian Cubo-Futurism movement.
The former Polish dissident Andrzej Jagodziński received long applause. In his short lecture packed with his own recollections and interesting facts, he provided an insight into the background of the dissident movements and showed how the discovery of new musical bands can change a person’s life. “Freedom is not once and for all, but must be fought for every day, at least in free elections while we have them. Because freedom is always fragile,” he concluded.
After a short break for refreshments, one of the main attractions of the evening was a discussion between leading experts on free media. Andrey Shary, Josef Pazderka, Petr Váša and award-winning journalist and writer Lída Rakušanová accepted the invitation from Masaryk University. The guests discussed issues that should not be forgotten on the anniversary of 17 November: the importance of public service broadcasting, the verification of sources and the changes in the way people access information in the 21st century. One of the most important figures in the modern history of Masaryk University, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, also came to listen to the debate.
The jazz-rock band JazzPilgrim brought the programme to a close with a light musical touch.
The Fragile Freedom festival was a reminder that freedom should not be taken for granted. The path to it is very thorny, and if we do not take good care of it, we can lose it in the blink of an eye. So we must look after it and, like a flower, water it constantly so that one day it will blossom in all its splendour.
The programme to commemorate the November events also continues on 17 November with the Brněnský sedmnáctý festival on Freedom Square and a lantern parade at 6pm, organised by the Student Endowment Fund of the Faculty of Arts. MU blue lanterns will be available at the MUNI HELPS stand at the Palace of Noble Ladies at Kobližná Street.
The author of the article is a student at the Faculty of Social Studies and a member of the M Magazine’s student team.