Czech history is somehow tragically funny, for more than 1000 years Bohemia basically belong to the West (geographicaly, culturaly and by stage of development), geographicaly mostly biggest and most stable and by stage of development many times most developed part of Holy Roman Empire. Enough is look at maps just before WW2, Austria and Germany extended to east more than Bohemia (Bohemia was literally wedged into Germany and almost surrounded by it, Poland was much more eastern than today). Funny thing is that 40 years of communism and belonging to the East bloc erase more than 1000 years of history. Today everybody claim Czechs as Central Europe, but I think its because not enough brave to belong to the West especially because of stage of development. And that is the one of the biggest haughtiness of the west, West betrayal Czechs 2 times in a row - 1938 to Hitler and 1945 to Stalin (not even mention Poland in this case) that are two cases UK, France, Italy, Germany and USA should be ashamed of and even pay for it. For example black americans scream about colonisation of Africa and how it make Africa poor and underdeveloped, but colonisation of Africa started in 1860s, but Africa was underdeveloped and poor before, almost all Africa was even in 1980s in stone age, but between wars Czechoslovakia (especially Czech part, Slovakia and Karpat Ukraine was poorly developed) belong to 10 most developed countries in the world (in spite of the underdeveloped parts)! Czechs are even today highly developed country, but in some cases still far behind so called West. Couple of times I met some Germans in Prague surprised there are trams and Czechs are not like stone aged Africa, Germans are immediate Czechs next-door neighbour!
Interesting comments, Stasek. As I said in my video, tourists often ask me if they can drink the water here - is it safe? They are surprised to find that the Czech Republic is not a third world country,. In terms of how the Czechs see themselves, I would say Central European. why? Possibly, because people in the US , UK and other parts of Europe are not aware of the countries history; they see it as an ex-communist country and , therefore, by default, ALL ex-communist countries are labelled 'Eastern Europe'- I think the Czechs like to distance themselves - and not see themselves as Eastern European.
Profesor Einshtain dont dislike Czech but nationalistic tension in Prague. His German colige tale him to shop only in German shops and so on
Mirinovic, thank you for your interesting comment. I don't know that - I will do more reseacrh.
Czech history is somehow tragically funny, for more than 1000 years Bohemia basically belong to the West (geographicaly, culturaly and by stage of development), geographicaly mostly biggest and most stable and by stage of development many times most developed part of Holy Roman Empire. Enough is look at maps just before WW2, Austria and Germany extended to east more than Bohemia (Bohemia was literally wedged into Germany and almost surrounded by it, Poland was much more eastern than today). Funny thing is that 40 years of communism and belonging to the East bloc erase more than 1000 years of history. Today everybody claim Czechs as Central Europe, but I think its because not enough brave to belong to the West especially because of stage of development. And that is the one of the biggest haughtiness of the west, West betrayal Czechs 2 times in a row - 1938 to Hitler and 1945 to Stalin (not even mention Poland in this case) that are two cases UK, France, Italy, Germany and USA should be ashamed of and even pay for it. For example black americans scream about colonisation of Africa and how it make Africa poor and underdeveloped, but colonisation of Africa started in 1860s, but Africa was underdeveloped and poor before, almost all Africa was even in 1980s in stone age, but between wars Czechoslovakia (especially Czech part, Slovakia and Karpat Ukraine was poorly developed) belong to 10 most developed countries in the world (in spite of the underdeveloped parts)! Czechs are even today highly developed country, but in some cases still far behind so called West. Couple of times I met some Germans in Prague surprised there are trams and Czechs are not like stone aged Africa, Germans are immediate Czechs next-door neighbour!
Interesting comments, Stasek. As I said in my video, tourists often ask me if they can drink the water here - is it safe? They are surprised to find that the Czech Republic is not a third world country,. In terms of how the Czechs see themselves, I would say Central European. why? Possibly, because people in the US , UK and other parts of Europe are not aware of the countries history; they see it as an ex-communist country and , therefore, by default, ALL ex-communist countries are labelled 'Eastern Europe'- I think the Czechs like to distance themselves - and not see themselves as Eastern European.