HAVEL: I still hold to what I wrote. I was criticizing some negative phenomena of modern civilization. Communism isn’t the only disaster of today’s world, and if we dismantle communism, this won’t mean that this planet will start an era of paradise. The global problems go very deep. In the West, there are many disturbing omens, like frustration and the loss of purpose in life. In today’s Czechoslovakia, it is quite sensible to repeat this from time to time because many people have excessive illusions.
There are some parallels between prison and life as president. The difference is that in the communist prison I was just responsible to myself and to God; right now my responsibility is broader.
I miss many things–for example, that I could walk the streets without anyone recognizing me. Now everybody knows me. Nonetheless, if I put on dark glasses, walk quickly and tell my bodyguards to be as inconspicuous as possible, I manage to walk the streets. I miss solitude. I am alone only in the bathroom. This is very similar to prison, except that one was never alone there because there was no bathroom.
I am constantly fighting for the time to do such things, and occasionally I am successful. Almost every other day, I spend at least half an hour in a pub. Sometimes I write presidential speeches; it is impossible to find time for other writing. I have no time to read other things than newspapers, official papers, draft laws. From time to time I leaf through a book, but it is absolutely impossible for me to read fiction.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time for self-reflection. Overnight I entered the world of high-level politics which I had always been watching from a distance. My attitude toward the world, toward being, toward myself hasn’t changed considerably in the new situation. [But] it’s obviously more difficult. It is much easier to sit at home and write about things than to rule.
The special radioactive power of the truthful word, of the solitary word has ceased in the present conditions where anyone can say what he wants. I must say that God has punished me. I got myself into a situation where I have to talk from morning to night and any tired, not-well-thought-out word can damage something or cause trouble.
Some intellectuals sometimes consider me their ambassador or spy in the world of the political establishment. I was afraid that the politicians might not like that, that they would see me as an alien element, and that they would look at me as an amateur or dreamer who forced himself upon their community. But I must say my experience has been totally the opposite. I get along with the politicians very well and they take my presence as refreshing.
