Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Interaction, migration and change
246 Maruška Svašek money, I travelled (to Prague) to visit him, and simply used his words. And he personally told me - I have two witnesses, two parliament members who can back me up - that he would give the base to us for free. As part of his perceived “socialist-democratic view of ownership”, the mayor thus accepted responsibility for the wellbeing of the village as a community. Like Hulshoff, he used personal networks in the bureaucratic jungle of Czech politics to realise his plans. Yet his political views were based on the notion of communal rights, and not on the paternalistic idea of individual patronage. The future of the village according to the Dutchman Hulshoff ridiculed the plan, and called it “unrealistic”. More important, it went against his image of the village as a picturesque backdrop to his estate. In his words: These people should not try to turn the village into an economically prosperous community. This is simply a very beautiful environment in which people should live who can afford to keep a pretty house in a good state of repair, and who won’t make a mess and establish factories, breaker’s yards, and similar crap. I don’t find it necessary for people to live here, and I don’t see the purpose. Young people should move to places where they can be educated and find jobs. So the military base...well, you know, nothing will come of it. The Dutchman justified his view through emotional rhetoric which depicted himself as a neat and nature-conscientious person who “knew better” than the irresponsible locals what was best for the environment. Hedrlin was rather shocked when he heard about Hulshoff’s plans, and said that the villagers felt threatened. "If he wants that, he’ll have to move us. So there, we have arrived at the problem. Is this our home or Mr. Hushoffs home? I talked about it earlier, there is an increasing feeling that we are threatened."
