In all the news coverage over Kim Jong-Il's death, the death of one of the truly great heroes of the modern world, that of Vaclav Havel, seemed over-shadowed. For those who do not know, Vaclav Havel was one of the key people in contributing to the ultimate break-up of the Soviet Union, a true hero for human freedom and liberty. He co-authored in 1977 Charter 77, a human rights manifesto calling on the Soviet Union to respect human rights and freedoms. He served time as a political prisoner for his views, but ultimately led a peaceful revolution of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, eventually serving as the first president of the newly-formed Czech Republic.
I find it personally rather ironic that right after one of the great oppressors of human rights and freedoms dies, one of the great heroes for human rights and freedoms also dies. May he Rest In Peace.
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