This is John Kennedy with another Postcard from Abroad from the University of Kansas.
If you find yourself in the Czech Republic, you may notice a peculiar number of puppet stores. American culture often casts puppets and marionettes in villainous roles, imbuing them with a sinister air to their rather harmless frames. But for the Czech people, puppets were once the protectors of their language and culture. When Prague and the Czech fell under Austrian Hapsburg rule in the 17th century, German became the language of the land with Czech being outlawed for everyone…except for puppets! Through this loophole, the Czech language was preserved and passed along by puppet makers and puppeteers. To this day, the Czech take great pride in their pint-sized friends who are seen as symbols of protest and perseverance! So the next time you are wandering the streets of Prague, just remember it’s the Czechs, NOT the Hapsburgs, who are pulling the strings nowadays.
With thanks to KATIE ASHLEY from the KU Open Language Resource Center for this text, this is John Kennedy. Wish you were here.
