17th OF NOVEMBER: Why it matters to the Czechs and to students around the world

17th OF NOVEMBER is a very special day for the Czech people. One of my favorite things about living in Prague is the history that exists all around me, every day, as I walk the streets of the city. A lot of that history happened on the 17th of November, in events that took place 50 years apart. In this video, I'll tell you the story of International Students Day and The Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy (that's a mouthful!)
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Ahoj! I'm Jen, native Californian, living in Prague, Czech Republic for the past 9 years with my husband and our rescue dog Tobik. One fateful night, we drank a bottle of wine, threw a dart at the map, and bought one-way tickets to move our entire lives to the center of Europe! Every day we learn something new, about Czech people, Czech culture, Czech history, Czech language and how to battle the Czech bureaucracy. Dream Prague started as a place to share what we learned with other foreigners living here.
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[@vojteslavthegreat6321]

These events are so significant in our history, that I just got teary eyes just from because of the pictures.... and I am 21

[@DreamPrague]

I'm glad to hear they mean so much to you :)

[@tereza1999]

Same. I am 23 but I still cry when I hear about this time in the history

[@petrskupa6292]

I am 43 and I am not much better, teary eyes and deeply impacted ... btw good reiteration of what happened Jen!

Mě táhne na 32 (narodil jsem dva měsíce po listopadu 89), mého dědu za komunismu věznili a je ho milovanou sestřičku zavraždili nacisti... když poslouchám tady paní/slečnu též mám v očích slzy, povídá o tom krásně.

[@Jorgos71]

Mně je 50, v roce 1989 jsem byl student prvního ročníku vysoké školy ve Zlíně. Teď se mi všechny vzpomínky vrátily a taky bulím jak želva. Skvělá práce Jen, tohle je jedno z nejlepších videí, co jsi kdy natočila✌

[@viktorhosek9840]

It’s funny how every Czech knows the story, but when they hear it out loud, we just start to cry. I have tears in my eyes. I am so grateful, that my parents stood there as students during the protests to bring the oppresive regime down. I owe them and other brave students that I can be who I am now. And if the need to defend our freedom arises again during my life, I will stand there too to repay my parents and for the freedom of next generations! Pravda a láska vítězí! 🇨🇿❤️

[@IliveinAnarchy]

zvítězí nad lží a nenávistí... 😢

[@ivobrabec1500]

Amazing job, Jen! About Macha: His original grave was in Litomerice, which was part of Sudetland in 1939. There were many people fleeing the German annexation and the governor of the national bank (Karel Englis) initiated a swift act of moving Macha's grave to Prague (since his grave and person in general was and still is considered of a very nationalistic value). So the government swiftly agreed and on the 1.10. the employees of the Prague mortuary arrived to Litomerice with permission to exhume the grave. They found some bones (not only of Macha) and they also found Macha's small cross in the grave. When they arrived to Prague, only few people knew about it, the public was informed appx. a week later. First, the remains were put in Strasnice crematorium, where the public had the chance to visit for several months. Since nobody really knew, how Macha really looked, they took the opportunity and used the Macha's skull to guess his appearance (they concluded that his appearance was typical slavic young man...). At the end Macha was moved to Vysehrad after the right spot was found. And since then, this grave is a symbol for Czech pride and solidarity. So that's why the students went there on the 17.11. in 1989.

[@DreamPrague]

Wow, incredible explanation Ivo! Thank you so much!

[@VendaHa]

Zrovna jsem to chtěl napsat,ale vidím, že je to již tady. Je v tom symbolika národní hrdosti a identity.

[@vaclavhlozek2440]

Nikdy bych nevěřil, že budu s napětím poslouchat vyprávění Američana o české historii. Rok 1989 mám navždy uchovaný v paměti. Svoboda není samozřejmost, pěstujme si ji, važme si ji. Díky VH.

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Súhlasím.

[@michaelasmrckova8523]

úplně souhlasím.

[@Daralyndk]

Freedom isn't free It cost the folks like you and me And if we don't all chip in We'll never pay that bill

[@lubosklech102]

Hezký, myslel jsem, že se podepsal Havel :D

[@lusovchak]

For me, as a 28 year old Czech, these events are extremely emotional, and even though I haven’t experienced the oppressive regimes myself, I am so thankful that we can enjoy our freedom now.

[@kolomaznik333]

"we can enjoy our freedom now" .. are you really 28 old Czech? If you are not superficial, I have to ask. Which freedom? Or do you live in in Czech republic for last 2 or more years? When not just your natural and negative rights are suppressed but also in fact your positive rights, it is definitely not the freedom. Rule of law, not a really anymore. Judges protecting the weak and innocent people? No. Constitutional judges protecting those and their natural rights they swore to protect? Of course no. Right to fair trial? What a joke. Freedom of movement? another joke. Use of force in the same manner as german and communist regimes did? Yes. "Freedom" to be taxed at overall rate 60 %+; to be lied to all the time? What we have here is an opressive regime not the freedom at all. Little question: What would current mainstream media call the people protesting against german and communist regimes? I guess that same names and labes as they use fot people protesting now... I am sorry that I write it twice, but which freedom?

[@lusovchak]

@@kolomaznik333 I’d say you’re mixing up freedom and democracy. Also nothing is perfect. If you don’t agree with how it works around you, do something. Participate :)

[@vitekvisjak3275]

@@lusovchak proč mezi sebou speekujete anglicky XD, jakoze nic proti anglicky umíte dost dobře, jen mi to přišlo vtipné

[@vitekvisjak3275]

@@lusovchak a mimochodem souhlasím s tebou máme dost velkou svobodu, můžeme jet kam chceme, nejsou žádné cenzury, když nepočítám vlastněné média společnostmi, ale i tak oproti předešlých 100 letech máme pohodičku.

[@Royal8k]

If I am looking backwards, You are the ×××

[@milanhomolka9894]

moc děkujeme za toto video. Koukám, že nejsem jediný komu to vehnalo slzy do očí.

[@hodysh]

No,američané mají přece rádi pohádky.Ale hlavně když z toho něco kápne...

[@Pali65]

This is your first video which made me cry. I was a university student in Bratislava actively involved into the struggle in 1989. I remember the first demonstration in a cold and misty evening when there were still just few people protesting on the Hviezdoslav square and we were looking into side streets with the question - when will they come? Not a long time before police violently crushed a Candle demonstration in March and in November we expected to face the same fate. And I think they missed their only chance because the next day there were ten thousand of us and and there was this feeling - we will stand our ground no matter what and we better die than retreat. And then 100.000 people came and the rest is history.

[@zenniegaming9608]

As someone who was 9 years old at that time and barely understood what's going on - dakujem Vam a vsetkym, co tam boli.

[@afiiik1]

One of my professors at the university of Ostrava (prof. Jan Šabršula) was one of the students that were taken to concentration camps by the Nazis. Hearing about what happened directly from him was....it made me realise how fragile my place in the world really is.

[@DreamPrague]

Wow, that's incredible! It's really hard for me to comprehend how this was possible. What a terrible time it must have been.

[@richardkaba5306]

Jen, toto je nejlepsi video, ktere jsi udelala. Mel jsem slzy v ocich. Je neuveritelne slyset nase vlastni dejiny vypravet nekym anglicky, ktery je podobne passionate se o tom neco dozvedet a sdelit to ostatnim jako ti, o kterych vypravi. Je pochopitelne, ze si neumis predstavit sama sebe v roli tech studentu, ale to je tim, ze jsi nezazila ani nacky ani komunisty. Bohuzel historicka pamet je velmi slaba i u nas a mnozstvi lidi, kteri si mysli, ze za totality bylo lip, je desive. Diky za to video.

[@Justin18K]

Tak nebylo to 40 konstantnich, hrůzný let. Myslím, že Dubček měl vlastně dobrý zájem. I když naivní vzhledem k okolnostem.

[@cemper0079]

Já se divím že vůbec někdo z Ameriky zná naše dějiny když ani neví kde leží Afghanistán nebo Irán.

[@VendaHa]

Pravda. Asi jedno z nejlepších videí. Navíc pro člověka, který v té době byl studentem je to hodně silné téma a opravdu smekám nad tím, jakým způsobem je ta látka ( v tomto významu se látkou rozumí téma, které se právě probírá ve vyučovací hodině ve škole ) zpracovaná. Sám bych to téma lépe nezpracoval. Opravdu smekám.

[@jakubvalenta7803]

Vždy mě naštve když od nějakého cizince slyším že jsme spolupracovali s nacisty nebo komunisty a jsem rád že to konečně nějaký cizinec uvedl na pravou míru. Sláva Ukrajině 🇺🇦

[@vinceneuwirth568]

Pouze tu historii ma popletenou. 1938 Nemecko, Anglie, Francije a Italije podepsali s Hitlerem dohodu v Mnichovje ze si muze teretory sebrat a ze valka nebude ale Zidovska organizace Zionist je ujistila aby valku zacli a ze je potpori a ze ji vihrajou. Zato musi podepsat smlouvu k zniku Izraelu. Coz se stalo.(1945) Francije,Anglije a Italije vihlasila valku Nemecku a co se stalo dal to uz vite.

[@Dzurky]

This video is exceptional! Not even my history teacher did explain it to us that well. BIG THANK YOU!!!

[@DreamPrague]

That’s lovely to hear thank you!

[@Suchac_cz]

To máte na dějepis školníka, ne? 🤔

[@Dzurky]

@@Suchac_cz vyučovanie odpovedalo platu učiteľov :) smutné, viem

[@hanafris3449]

Skvěle vysvětlené, Jen. Díky za to. Tohle tvé video by mohli používat učitelé dějepisu na školách k výuce.👏👏👏👍

[@DreamPrague]

Děkuji za laskava slova, Hano!

[@Suchac_cz]

Kámoška učí angličtinu a její studenti mají videa od Jen za domácí úkol a každý týden jednu hodinu si o videu povídají. Anglicky, samozřejmě :)

[@renepinkava4922]

Perfektní znalosti smekám🇨🇿❤️

[@drakulkacz6489]

@@DreamPrague Just one thing: Therte was an agent provocateur in the first line of the students procession who led them into the trap in Národní třída. That´s why the police was prepared there so quickly. There were policemen from the whole republic. There was even one who hit the camera of someone with his button so hard that they couldn´t take out the video tape from it. That´s why there are some videos from Národní třída - from that camera - not just taken by STB. And the policeman was from České Velenice - that is a small town on Austria borders. Here it is at 4:10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGPJeJeMaZibns0 There were even selections among men in the army before if they are able to shoot their own people. I know about it from out young teacher who finished his army time a month before. He was asked also. He talked about a car of the amunition prepared in the yard of the barracks. But when it happened the army said they won´t go against their own people. It calmed a lot of fear and gave the courage.

[@hankmosh2709]

porad verite ty tragikomicky frašce z listopadu 89' ? jak to bylo se soudružkou svazackou ktera se po ceste na albertov se stala na jednou disidentkou ? fakt verite tomu že polititicky aparat ktery mel obrovsky silu v armade, v policajtech, lidovy milicich padl lusknutim prstu. kolik protestu pred tim bylo a protestujici dostali nakladacku a s lidma to ani nehlo ? nebylo tim ze nekdo velice chytry zdatny logistice zreziroval vymenu kabatu? stacilo ozkouset si reakci lidi na predchazejici demostraci , pustit dezimformaci vrazde studenta do celeho sveta skrz opozicni radio .

[@TheK9Shepherd]

I was there in Nov 90 for the 1st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Being in the US Army stationed in Augsburg, standing there at the top of Václavské náměstí among tens of thousands of Czechs, listening to Havel and Bush was an experience that is etched in my memory forever !! Prague and the Czech Republic have a special place in my heart always !!

[@pavelh.9]

Same here, K9. I was also there listening to the presidents in 1990. How have both of their countries changed since. But I was also *there* a year before that, all the way to Národní, with bruises of honor to show for it. Jen did a great job here

[@TheK9Shepherd]

@@pavelh.9 WOW !! You were truly one of many that forced change in your country. My hats off to you !!!

[@fido1551]

Tak tohle je zatím to nejlepší video. Pokud tu budou lidé, kteří si budou pamatovat historii. Bude na světě trochu lépe. Proto je dobré si ji připomínat. Pokud na historii zapomeneme tak se velice rychle zopakuje, ale v horším důsledku. Škoda, z většina mladých už nezná hodnotu zítřejšího dne. Je mi 33 let, a stále pamatuji na hodiny dějepisu s panem Lisým. Vyklad ve videu se jeho výkladu velmi přiblížil. Děkuji za připomenutí.

[@DreamPrague]

Jsem moc ráda, že se ti to líbilo. :)

[@fido1551]

@@DreamPrague sleduji tvůj kanál už dlouho, a tohle bylo zatím nej video

[@kolomaznik333]

​@@fido1551 Většina lidí historii vůbec nezná. Bohužel. To co se děje poslední dva roky (teda nejen poslední dva), je toho důkazem. Tak tři roky zpět na jedné přednášce říkali studenti gymnázia, že režimy a metody minulosti už se přece opakovat nemůžou, že už to lidé znají a že to už se nestane. Ale stalo se. Bohužel.

[@jammmy30]

@@kolomaznik333 agreed! it’s horrible to see modern day Polish misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semitic regime...

[@fido1551]

@@kolomaznik333 bohužel s tím musím souhlasit a v historii je opravdu hodně důkazů, kdy lidé zapomněli na historii a ta se pak opakovala.

[@terezahlucha4613]

I'd say, this is probably your best video so far. Well written, all the facts are spot on, ballanced, just the right amount of sentiment. And you have clearly researched the hell out if this topic. Well done!!!

[@jakubp.6987]

Za mě asi nejemotivnější video co jsi kdy udělala Jen. Díky.

[@DreamPrague]

☺

[@hanalarysova3858]

Husina. Všude a celou dobu. Slzy v očích. Díky. Nejlepší video k 17. listopadu.

[@mari.be.86]

Great job Jen. Thank you for reminding us the history of the day which we are going to celebrate tomorrow. And how important is this day in our history. Very nice reconstruction. Many thanks. 🇨🇿

[@DreamPrague]

Glad you enjoyed it Mari!

[@mari.be.86]

@@DreamPrague Your presentation was excellent. It caused a lot of sentiment in me and it reminded me how important this holiday is. You captured the original origin and essence. Someone has already written, this is how it should be learned at school so that everyone can understand why and what is celebrate at this date.

[@jankowalczyk5288]

Respect to CZ from PL :D

[@Suchac_cz]

Respect to PL (and your brave army especially) from CZ for guarding our EU east border 👍

[@jankowalczyk5288]

@@Suchac_cz thanks my slovian Kamo :D

[@beth12svist]

More on Mácha: Beside the historical events and reasons others have mentioned, the thing with Mácha is that he's basically generally considered the first "modern" Czech poet who used Czech language creatively and really poetically during the period of the Czech National Revival (to sum up, others before him tried to prove the worth of Czech as a language and as a result used the language rather slavishly to prove that it could do what other languages did; he was a young rebel and basically just wrote what he wanted, and proved the language's capabilities much better in the process). Not quite the significance of Shakespeare for English but somewhat similar, if that comparison helps you understand. That would be why he has a nationalist significance.

[@sonjabannon8768]

Thank you Beth!!!

[@beth12svist]

@@sonjabannon8768 You're welcome!

Myslím, že by bylo dobré tohle video ukázat u zkoušky z českých reálií, jelikož prokazujete skvělé znalosti nutné podle §14 zákona 186/2013 Sb. k získání českého občanství. Vysvětlila jste to přesně!

[@DreamPrague]

Jsem polichocen!

[@matotuHELL]

@@DreamPrague *polichocena :-) :-)

[@mufrodrigo]

Anebo to vyzkoušet na české mládeži, jen se obávám, že by půlka o občanství přišla (nadsázka alert).

[@radkavincalkova3557]

@@mufrodrigo Ano, spousta lidí si pamatuje scénku Lábuse a Keisera. ,,Máme hole v ruce."

[@smarter_in_5_mins]

Perfect! You covered it better than a lot of Czech media. I was a student that time and remember well those few days after that when the struggle continued till the end (not that it will be ever fully accomplished).

[@mellocello4u]

Jen, your history lesson brought tears to my eyes. I wish you had been my history teacher 50 years ago in school...you tell the stories so well, thoughtful and with compassion and talking directly to your listeners. I have heard it all about the holocaust, I am Jewish and mourn every time I hear about the atrocities that occurred. But with my many trips to CZ I did not know at all the things you told in the video. I thank you for your explanations and details about the special days. BTW I like your choices of music....I can't wait till you do a classical segment about the orchestras and classical scene in CZ.

[@DreamPrague]

That's lovely to hear David, thank you for taking the time to tell me!

[@robertpendleton3782]

Great job, Jen. I wish my grandparents were still alive to appreciate your well written story. They were from Cz, but they never shared much about their hard life before moving to PA. I hope i can visit Prague soon. Keep up the good work.

[@DreamPrague]

Wow, thank you!

[@jamespyacek2691]

My GPs were from Moravia. I only got to meet my Grandma, and she was already very old. My Grandpa died when my dad was 17. What was your grandparents names?

[@jakubvalenta7803]

Hi my name is Jakub Valenta. I am from Czech republick our teacher told us how he demonstated at 17 November with his friends and got brutaly beaten and he said that was totaly worth it and he would never decided otherwise. Glory to Ukraine🇺🇦

[@jasekjaan]

Great video. Try to make one in June about Milada Horakova. Another example of people that should be reminded and people who deserve our respect even 70 years later

[@Harri2006]

This is first time I cried remembering Opletal. It's because I remembered my grandfather is buried at the cementary in Náklo, where Jan's grave is too. When I was little girl, my parents told me who he was, and since then I feel the urge to know what democracy is and what is the cost of it. I think it's one of the most important lessons I've learned. And with your video everything fit together. I need to go there again soon.

[@ivomichal2233]

A nice bit of story from the dreaded 17th Nov. 1939. As the nazi soldires came to shut down the Faculty of Law, out of his office in the building came the university rector, Bedřich Hrozný (famed for his deciphering of the hittite language.) He demanded to speak with the commanding officer and asked him to abide by the law and leave the academic premises immediately. So great was his authority in that moment, that the soldires did indeed withdraw and even released some of the students they already captured. The school was shut down later, but many lives were saved. Thanks for a very well researched and emotional video Jen!

[@r.michaelklimes6731]

Very well prepared, thanx ... only one misconception ... students were approaching Narodni Třída from The Opposite direction, otherwise fine job !!!

[@tomaspospisil6285]

Moc a moc chci poděkovat za tohle krásné video. Jste naprosto úžasná s jakou pečlivostí jste si připravila toto video. Je to určitě poučné pro cizince, ale také pro Čechy. A obzvlášť Vám chci poděkovat s jakou pečlivostí jste připravila vyprávění o událostech z let 1938 a1939!!! Perfektní, skvělé, úzasné!!! Protože Bohužel na 17. listopad 1939 se často zapomíná... A tehdy šlo opravdu o život!!! Přeji Vám hodně moc štěstí u zkoušek pro získání českého občanství, protože takové občany potřebujeme! Jste skvělá a děkuji Vám . Tomáš Pospíšil

[@AyanneCZ]

Funny thing, hearing this told from an outlander's perspective. My mom was at the protest at Narodni, heavily pregnant with me, only about 2 weeks before I was born. And when I was little, I always thought of her fleeing from snipers and tanks through trenches for some reason. Silly, I know. She's still my hero even if not exactly the action star I imagined when I was 5 :D Thank you for this Jen, truly. It is an important date and it is nice to see it being appreciated.

[@chrisdunn1155]

Thank you Jen - a video that was badly needed. Thank you not only to the university students but the gymnazium students too - my wife being one of them who skipped school to demonstrate in Wenceslas Square (EDIT: I have been told to point out - on pain of death - that my wife was 12 in 1989 not 1939!)

[@DreamPrague]

You're welcome, Chris!

[@smutnejklaun]

@Muž z lesa Anglosaský pohádky :) na to oni jsou odporníci :P

[@TheEwens84]

Hi Jen. I moved to Prague in December and since then I have always appreciated your videos and the time you take to make them. So I like to thank you for educating me, not just about the 17th November bank holiday (which was clear and eye-opening) but in general about Czech culture too.

[@DreamPrague]

So glad you’re here David . 🥳

[@vaclavkostlan8527]

Tak to je potřetí, co jste mě dostala (překvapila): poprvé výkladem filmu Starci na chmelu, podruhé v roli úřednice patentoveho úřadu, která najde založený patent Járy Cimrmana a potřetí dnes se 17. listopadem. Svědčí to o tom, že už dobře rozumíte Čechům a jejich ovaze. Děkuji. So this is the third time you have surprised me: for the first time with an interpretation of Starci na chmelu, for the second time as a patent office clerk who finds Jára Cimrman's patent, and for the third time today, November 17th. This indicates that you already understand the Czechs and their mentality well. Thank you.

[@mynuttyme]

Můj přítel je Američan a má narozeniny na 17.11. Tohle je perfektní video, jak mu ukázat proč jsou jeho narozeniny jeden z nejdůležitějších dní v České historii. Děkuji Ti Jen ☺️

[@janpilar5836]

Wow this was really educating even for a Czech! My grandfather was one of those sent to a concentration camp in 17. November 1939 and my mom was one of the beaten young people in 17. November 1989. Great job, Jen. Btw the flowers are brought there because Macha and his poem May is all about (tragic) love and people connect the love with Petřín (sort of a traditional "kissing place") and flowers.

[@danielakuhnl758]

Brilliant. Thank you, Jen, for remembering this.

[@janab6660]

Best history lesson I have ever had since the age of 9 or 10. Thanks, Jen!!

[@radekstindl8058]

One of the best videos I've seen from you. Got real goosebumps. Thanks

[@DreamPrague]

Wow, thank you!

[@Pavlinkamalinka1]

Thank you Jen. I love your videos, and as Czech girl living in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 showing your KZbin help me explain them about history Czech. You’re great 👍 thank you very much xxxx

[@petrlorenc7230]

I'd be able to write a super long reaction, but....I'd say only one thing instead: thank you. Thank you so much for this. I appreciate your empathy so much!

[@ReSiHaBru]

Nádherné video. Díky Jen. Jak si zmiňovala tu známku s Hitlerem na hradě, připomíná mi to podobný zážitek. Jsem z Liberce a kdysi jsem se díky škole dostala do našeho archivu. Dostali jsme se až do místnosti, kde se uchovávají nejcennější archiválie. A tam nám ukazovali fotografie z návštěvy Hitlera v Liberci. Liberec byl v té době samozřejmě součástí říše. Musím říct, že ta naše krásná radnice ověšená červenými vlajkami s hákovým křížem, to byl strašidelný pohled. Dostalo to najednou reálnější podobu ta doba. Taky tam měli městskou knihu, do které se podepisovaly slavné návštěvy. Hitlerův podpis byl takový pologramotný pidi škrábanec 😁. Ještě jednou díky za video.

[@DreamPrague]

Hitler v Liberci?! Muselo by bylo hrozně.

[@ReSiHaBru]

@@DreamPrague Jojo. On byl Liberec v té době součástí Třetí říše a hlavní město sudetoněmecké župy. Tak se u nás hold otočil i Ada 😁. Ty fotky jsou opravdu strašidelné.

[@jammmy30]

What a Great word “ strašidelny “ ! It really makes one shiver somehow. BTW, it would be really a challenge for me to learn to pronounce it perfectly correct. @Dream Prague Jen? Perhaps a challenge that you would be up to as well ? :) Ps. @ReSiHaBru Did I spell it wrong? My autocorrect is making that word all read :(

[@matusguziar4588]

I cried with you, Jen. Thank you for this video. 💙

[@RobertBruce3]

Great video. Many Czechs take this holiday really personally, including me. I remember how dad used to participate on the demonstrations and we children stayed at home with mother hoping, that dad won't be beaten by the police...

[@kolomaznik333]

Beaten by the police.. regimes and times changes but not the techniques used by them... You either know history or trust ruling regime and media.

[@beth12svist]

Yeah, the story in my family is that father happened to be in the centre of Prague on the 17th and mom was at home listening to the news, terrified... He missed the action that day. He worked in ČKD at the time so the rest of his memories of the time mostly have to do with how the communist leaders descended on ČKD hoping that the workers of one of the biggest factories in the country would surely support the regime, and got a rude awakening when the workers basically listened politely to their speeches and then told them to f-off. :-)

[@TheZyzyzyzyzy]

The same are my memories. Dad in the center of Prague and mum sticked to the radio.

[@terezahlucha4613]

Similar in our family. My parents and our neighbours took turns in babysitting for the other couple and went to the demonstrations on alternate days.

[@michalvojtek7378]

Díky, že jste to vzala od začátku :)

[@kevingillette9699]

Awesome video. Thank you. I’ll know more about Czech culture when I move there thanks to you.

[@DreamPrague]

That's great Kevin! I knew almost nothing when I came here.

[@TheVashekCZ]

I'll show this video to my son because you explained it better than I could (and he loves learning English anyway). Thank you, and you have my respect and admiration.

[@carrietresoor3198]

Thanks a lot, Jen. You touched my heart 😢 with this video. I have a Czech husband. So it gave me more insight!

Thanks for wonderful video! Best ever, I would say! Maybe because I was 18 in those November days 1989 struggling for democracy in Znojmo. It was Prague that was the first Friday November 17, 1989, but during the weekend it spreaded out to all the towns of Czechoslovakia, starting from Monday November 20 we the eldst students in Znojmo (there was no university at that time) started the revolution - we were in our last yer of secondary schools, being aged just 18! Full of passion but fear (at the same time), that it could go back - nothing was definite to the way of democracy at least in November or December 1989. Visiting Prague in December 1989 was unforgettable experience of my life of 18 y.o. :)

[@wendybaines3491]

Thank you for this excellent video, it brought me to tears. Well done!

[@Jouki728]

Damn that hit me really hard. I'm 27yo Czech and celebrate the day of being able to enjoy the freedom that our parents (and grandparents) couldn't have in their lives due to the previous regime. Yet I learned several details from your video. Thank you for the video, it's really nice to see that non-native (is that a word? :D I didn't want to use foreigner as you proved yourself you are one of us with your vids and the humor you put into them :D) recognizes the #struggle and betrayal from allies in our history, which kinda show us that we, Czechs, really had to fight for our rights and freedom. ❤

[@DreamPrague]

I'm sure your parents and grandparents are happy you appreciate that struggle. :)

[@simmons3k]

Jen, I’ve enjoyed your videos for a while but this is another level. Great job and thanks so much. I worked in a Prague for a month in 2019 and walked from my apartment in Vinohrady to Smichov every day along Albertov. I can’t wait to come back and experience it with all of this added perspective. You’re great at making me love Prague and Czech Republic even more!

[@simonedaniek9878]

Great job Jen. You got it right. I am a Czech living in the US and remember what an emotional elated time it was.

[@DreamPrague]

Thank you Simone :)

thank you for videos like this... i had tears in my eyes..im 35 .. was 2yrs when it all happened.. but still... i felt impact of that on my own skin in my childhood..

[@cathysx8043]

You made me cry. Thank you for reminding how long way we have come.

[@DreamPrague]

Happy you liked it :)

[@charlestims1851]

Dear Jenny, when watching your video with a description of all these great moments which were happening 32 years ago and changed my further life to be better, dignified and entirely free, I finally had the same tears in my eyes as those ones I was able to see on the screen in front of me. Thank you....

[@rudyskarecky290]

Hi Jen, we watched this again this year, and it’s just as good as it was last year! My daughter showed me that I commented on this last year, but it was so good, that I was compelled to comment again. Keep up the good work, thank you. Rudy

[@lisaz8909]

Thank you so much for this and your other historical videos 🙏🏼

[@ducklingcz]

OMG, Jen, you had me in tears the whole time. I've never seen a better and more comprehensible explanation of Nov. 17th before. Well done you. Thank you for who you are and for living here in CZ with us - it's an honour.

[@DreamPrague]

I’m honored by your comment.

[@evap.8666]

Jen, I love your sense of humor! I love every single video you post and thak you for this one :-D I´ve learnt a lot even though I´m a Czech myself...

[@DreamPrague]

You are so welcome!

[@martinaprochazkova6065]

Jsi úžasná, slzičky ukáply, zavzpiminala jsem si líp než s TV. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏👏👏

[@Andre-PvP-Wiz]

Thank you, its awesome video and with your coment and knowledge abou Czech history... brings me until to tears.. Its really cool see sameone from California talking abou ours histrory like u, thank u very much fot that . Děkuji ti, je to úžasné video a s tvým komentářem a znalostmi o České historii mě to dohnalo až k slzám. Je opravdu skvělé vidět někoho z Kalifornie mluvit o naší historie tak jako ty, moc ti za to děkuji. Ondra 29y.

[@julie_stratilov4]

Děkuji Vám za video, o historii se velice zajímám a tak jsem ráda, že tyto další poznatky můžu zařadit do své práce. Jen tak dál, jste skvělá.

[@shoobadoobacz]

Nádherné perfektní video. Děkuji! A nějak mě to až dojalo.

[@filipjanku2809]

Jen, this was absolutely phenomenal. As a participant and witness of November 17 events I had goosebumps listening to it. You should get the Czech citizenship right away. You clearly know more about modern Czech history than many natural born citizens. Thumbs up from the fan of your show and Czech expect in America.

[@dbkreling2]

Very emotional video, incredibly relevant, and the timing couldn't be more right. Thank you for posting it.

[@AnaMaria-mz3cp]

Ohhh.... How great story/history teller you are!!!.... Loved it!

[@katerinamach2349]

Thank you! Really really good video! I am Czech living abroad and I am grateful to be reminded this part of my own history.

[@DreamPrague]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bronislavvrbata7204]

Moc vám děkuji bylo to naprosto dokonalé. Obdivuji vás.

[@DreamPrague]

Moc děkuji ☺

[@katerinaboskova5901]

This is not the first time I came here to educate myself on my country's history...🙈 Thank you, Jen for a great video again! Please please keep making those and ignore the negative comments of the "hnidopišských čecháčků" ❤️

[@DreamPrague]

I’m glad you’re here Kateřina!

[@janchloupek2408]

Skvělá přednáška o české historii ! Vášnivě přesvědčivý přednes !

[@sithslovakia]

Marek hynek Macha- jeho druhý pohreb v máji 39 (jeho hrob bol presunutý z okupovaného územia do Prahy) bol takým prvým protestom/manifestáciou proti nacizmu.

[@DreamPrague]

ahaaaaaa! Děkuji za informaci!

[@RobertBruce3]

Jestli jsem správně pochopil, tak průvod měl původně mířit na Václavské náměstí, což státní orgány nedovolily. Takže Máchův hrob byl tak trochu nouzová varianta. Asi přišel básník režimu dostatečně neškodný.

[@lenka9660]

Žádný Marek, ale Karel Hynek Mácha

[@jirigurtler2940]

@@DreamPrague a taky pro to že Mácha umřel velmi mladý (25 let) takže v tom byla trochu "příbuznost věkem"

[@Niusereset]

Každý den se člověk dozví něco nového :-)

[@milanjan7988]

Thank you Jen for sharing this piece of history. This and many other examples of struggle for freedom should never be forgotten.

[@Domihork]

During the Velvet revolution, my dad was just doing his compulsory military service in Prague. And he says that when the students gathered, they were gathered as well and for the first time given guns with real ammo.They were very hesitant and hoping that nobody orders them to shoot anybody because they didn't know how they themselves would react. Disobey? They themselves were not sure they're brave enough to disobey. But they also couldn't imagine actually shooting anyone. Especially innocent civillians. It's one of the memories that my dad really doesn't like. Myself, my faculty was on Albertov, so it was really something to walk the same street(s). Once on this holiday the president (Zeman) took over the street together with Okamura and some other nationalists (in the bad sense of the word) and had some really weird event there where they even brought paid "supporters" of the president and basically blocked the street and us, students, were not even allowed to go there (to our own faculty!) to lay down flowers or light a candle... It was a very strange and unsettling feeling. Luckily this didn't happen again.

[@erikziak1249]

Wow. I am happy I was not in the position of your dad. I would most likely pull the trigger and kill the one who ordered to shoot civilians, hoping that I would not be the only one.

[@Kropikovo]

It's interesting how it was students who stood in defiance of both oppressive regimes. It was the young. I remember Havel's official trip to USA, where he spoke to ALL elected representatives about the values of democracy, the terror of Socialism, receiving standing ovation multiple times. Fast forward to modern day USA, where it is the students who are growing more and more far left, doing the exact opposite, drifting away from democracy.

[@tomsion2970]

When I watch your video, I always smile, even if it is a serious topic of Czech history. Czech history has been difficult in every period. Your art of telling serious events in a fun way with light sarcasm is very close to me.

[@jiriuher635]

Moc pěkné.Až jsem si přál,aby to video nikdy neskončilo.Děkuji moc

[@jabanan]

My mom was there on the 17th of November on Národní třída. When all the beating started some students went inside the buildings seeking shelter my mom went there aswell, they hid there until the protest ended, they heard screaming of the students that did not find anyone to hide them. When they came out there was blood all over the floor and walls. Even handmarks of blood. I cried a little during this video, its very emotional, she was I think 19 at the time very young. Her mom was very afraid for her.

[@DreamPrague]

Wow, it's is so incredible that your mom was there, and was a part of your nations history. Thank you for sharing. There was a small part of the Vypravej episode I watched that showed the students running to find shelter in the alleyways, into someone's flat, covered in blood and injured. I'm sure the real thing was even more intense, but that scene made an impact on me.

[@jaaninkrakonos6074]

Děkuji, osvěžila jste dějiny. Velmi, velmi erudovaně! Krásná, inteligentní. Vzdělaná, milá. Naučte dnešní mládež, také co bylo a může se to vrátit. Jste jednička.ok

[@thespalek1]

The Pacman!! 😂😂😂😂👏👏👍Niiice! And thx for the video, I find it more comperhensive, than most czech material on the topic. 👍And sensitively done too:)

[@DreamPrague]

Glad you liked it!

[@VATSLAVzPOKRATIC]

Díky za video👍❤️🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿

[@alesio1971]

Hej Jen, takové skvělé znalosti českých moderních dějin..... Jakto, že ještě nemáte české občanství? Plně si jej zasloužíte.

[@smutnejklaun]

Možná proto, že ho ve skutečnosti nechce a nepotřebuje :P

[@alesio1971]

@@smutnejklaun proč myslíš smutnej klaune?

[@mirekmarek2m]

Díky moc za toho video ... Jako chlap to nerad přiznávám, ale až mě to dojalo.

[@murik17]

Wow! Such a nice video! This remindes how we were strong. I almost cry.

[@jlan499]

Great video, fact based and emotional at the same time. I have tears in my eyes! Regarding the grave of Karel Hynek Mácha: He was originaly burried in the town of Litomerice. In 1938 his remains were exhumed as Litomerice were in “Sudetenland” thus to be taken over by Germany. Macha’s second burial on May 7, 1939 in Vyšehrad became a massive demonstration against Nazis. The original police approved destination of the 1989 demonstration was therefore at Macha’s grave to connect the locations of the two 1939 demonstrations. I assume it was also considered to be a “safe” location (remote park) as the police didn’t want students to come to the city center where quite a few demonstrations against communist regime took place in previous months and years.

[@efox9812]

Fantastic video, thank you so much Jen! 🤍

[@DreamPrague]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Akiawa1]

Měla jsem slzy v očích,je zajímavé slyšet naší historii od někoho kdo se narodil jinde ..každopádně děkuji za to,potřebovala jsem si oprasit znalosti,naše historie je velice stará a obsáhlá,často se něco drobneho zapomene a často ji bohužel mladší generace vůbec nezná ..dovedu pochopit že často ty studenty jako rozená americanka nechápete,ano byli impulzivní ale měli důvod být.,nebyla to jen hloupá drobná rebelie nebo drzost jaké se občas naše mládež dopouští,ale něco víc..byla to touha být konečně svobodný a bez násilného režimu,který často neznal ohled na nic a nikoho a nebylo v něm vůbec lehký žít,aniž by jste se báli o život svůj a život těch které nade vše milujete..a k Máchovi,je považován za symbol lásky a romantiky ,také byl jedním z obrozenců,který se zasloužil o rozkvět českého jazyka..byli to vlastně takoví předchůdci mladých odpůrců a hrdinů historie co jste vyprávěla,akorát se jednalo o jiný režim -Rakousko Uherský

[@miroslavduska3068]

I mě mrazí,když vidím foto jak hitler civí z okna prařského hradu,a jsem ohromen Vaší citlivosti a inteligenci,že jste schopna se do toho vžít,moc si Vás vážím a obdivuji Vás

[@68brambo]

Super video, you did a great job ! Thank you. You've made me touched... :)

[@tchuddi]

I watched many of your videos Jen and i think this one is the best.

[@DreamPrague]

Thank you!

[@Suchac_cz]

K.H. Mácha zemřel mladý a stal synonymem lásky, romantismu, mladistvého entuziasmu (wiki). Zřejmě i proto je jeho odkaz oblíben u studentů.

[@alexdevilliers402]

Wow, an amazing video once again. So interesting and well put together as it is easy to understand. It makes ne think and adds a lot of substance when one walks past and through these areas. Very well done Jen and thank you.

[@DreamPrague]

Thank you Alex!

[@rosssebastian2236]

Be proud,be proud no matter who you are. Be proud,be proud with tear in your eyes. Be proud,be proud cause this is what we are. We are ,we are one body one mind no hero just a student . We are,we are beating heart of one .

[@ivonemec5978]

Jen, to bylo zatím tvé nejlepší video. ❤️ Okamžitě ho přeposílám přátelům do Arizony. Přeji Tobě i nám spoustu dalších skvělých videí inspirovaných životem v ČR.

[@vendulapasulyova9975]

Děkuji za toto video. Výborně zpracované. Velice emotivní. Myslím, že je to prozatím tvé nejlepší! Jen tak dál! Good luck! :-)

[@klarak6624]

Jen, you get goosebumps seeing a stamp with "Bohmen und Mahren" and Hitler over Prague? Bless you. Those were some really dark times. I wonder whether Czech ambiguity and distrust towards EU has anything to do with the Munich agreement betrayal aftermath, it was a hard blow. Even though not many people to remember it now. And as usual, there´s some real work behind your video, you always gather so much info etc. Amazing.

[@Domihork]

I'm afraid you're right. Whenever I hear some anti-EU sentiment, it's backed up by the Munich agreement...

[@MrToradragon]

Distrust to EU is indeed fueled by Munich betrayal and by 40 years of control from Moscow.

[@albertusman]

The Munich Agreement is the last part of the historial inferiority complex felt by lot of Czechs. It is based on real events which are frequently misinterpreted in European context by many Czechs to point out the moment of betray more and more. The first part is the Battle on White Mountain (Prague - Bílá Hora 1620). This violently ended up a Czech reformation and started a forced recatholisation. It also ended up the indepedent Czech Kingdom which was incorporated into the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. That brought also a germanisation along with the recatholisation. The Czech protestant forces were "betrayed" by other prostant allies who escaped from the Battle on White Mountain (btw, the endstation of tram line 22). There's an irony of the Czech reformation (the Hussite Wars) strugglig alone against almost everyone around for almost two centuries stopped just at the begining of 30 Year's War which emancipated the European reformation. The August 1969 sometimes considered as the very last part of this Czech betrayal complex. But there were Czechs a mind Slovaks from pro-Soviet part of Communist Party who betrayed and invited the Soviet Red Army (with other forces of Warsaw Treaty). Nevertheless, some Czechs point out Slovaks led this conservative pro-Soviet inviting group another believe Western Europe countries could do more to keep up the Prague Spring reforming of Communism sustainable.

[@LLuckyB]

Thank you for a great video! I wish my history teacher taught me like that. This was so touching.

[@DreamPrague]

You are so welcome!

[@vaclavcepelak4276]

Milá Jen, moc děkuji za tenhle díl. V r. 1989 jsem byl studentem a revoluce jsem se zúčastnil, i když v Plzni. Protesty byly i před tímto datem (třeba Palachův týden), ale 17. 11. šlo o povolenou demonstraci a proto tolik lidí naštvalo, když byla tak zbytečně krvavě potlačená. Protestovalo i spousta komunistů, proto to všechno šlo potom tak rychle. K tomu Máchovi: Mácha umřel velmi mladý. Také jeho dílo (tedy Máj, protože nic jiného za jeho života nevyšlo) bylo přijímáno mladými, zatímco starším se zdálo málo národní. K odkazu Karla Hynka Máchy se pak hlásili mladí později velmi slavní literáti, kteří se sdružili kolem almanachu Máj a tak se jim říká Májovci (třeba Jan Neruda, Božena Němcová, Karel Sabina ...).

[@robertamihokova6366]

I'm out of school for 8 years and finally now understood what happened 🙈 kind of sad isn't it? Nobody really thought us that in school and when you asked someone older who remembered the time they just talk a lot and you still know nothing about what happened 😅 Thank you Jen for this video Lots of love from Slovakia ❤️

[@DreamPrague]

I'm so glad you got something out of it Roberta!

[@KacJelinkova]

V 89. jsem nastoupila do první třídy a dosud jsem nezažila tak pěkný výklad z českých dějin! Naše dějepisářka byla toho názoru, že co prožila sama, nejsou dějiny, a tak nám o tom nevyprávěla. Výklad dějin ukončila 1. světovou 😔

[@Niusereset]

Mácha statue - I have to say I don't know the reason, so I make a guess :-D Mácha is famous in our country, young and gifted poet, who died very young, he was only 25. His most known poem is seen as romantic poem about spring, youth and love. Mácha himself was seen as a kind of rebel in his time (not in political way), who wasn't following the same ideals and principles as other authors at that time (who were in most cases also elder than him). All this may be a reason why students in 1989 saw him as sort of kindred. Also (just speculation) because Mácha wasn't political figure, students wanted to express their own youthful rebelious nature without provocing direct governmental oppression against themselves. They just visited a statue of great famous czech poet about whom each child hears in school and learns about his works. There was of course a hidden message in all of what students did, but even the comunistic regime couldn't do anything without some "clear" reason, without some "clear" evidence of anti-state and anti-regime actions. Not without risking reaction from the people. Those were difficult times. People were affraid to say too much in public. And the regim itself was in a fragile state, there was an attempt to reform it, make it more open, as directed from Moscow. What happen in Národní třída is excellent example. Regime didn't want to allow students to continue in more public and important places, which would enlarge the significance of the students action. So the regime wanted to stop their advancement in undesired directions. They hoped that the crowd would slowly disband as students couldn't go further. But students didn't disband. And then things got out of hands. Police tried to use force against students, but it wasn't solving the problem, it was only escalating the problem. Regime could deploy the army, but they didn't want to use that kind of force. To use army against students in the streets of the capital wouldn't be good for public opinion. They did not want the public to sympathize with the students. It was to be handled by the law enforcement, not by the army. But at that point nobody was in control anymore. And that was it. The regime was disrupted, they were forced to negotiate with the dissident oposition and their sole rule over the country was over. Sorry for such extremely long comment, I didn't plan it to be that long :-D

[@jammmy30]

It was interesting to read all of it

[@pioneersaigon]

Jen, you are really great. And you already pobably know the Czech history deeper than me. Just Wow. 1968 and 1989 are so emotional for me, that I get tiers in my eyes whenever I see documentaries or Rebelove movie... (shame on those 5 downvotes, would be quite courious to understand who could dislike this video).

[@jace2wheel762]

Us Canadians and Americans just had our remembrance and veterans day respectively commemorating the end of WW1. No big surprise that virtually every other nation has their own days of celebration! Happy international students day!

[@RH-wx3sc]

The Day for War Veterans (as it’s called here) is also celebrated on November 11. There was a big commemoration event at Náměstí Míru. It is basically when Czechoslovakia was freed from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.