This morning we packed our bags again and boarded a bus for the Czech Republic. Before we knew it we were stuck in traffic in the Capital city's downtown. It was amazing to see the sights and tourists all over Prague. There are a little over a million folks here who call this place home, but the amount of visitors is outrageous! I've never seen so many people in one place (aside from NYC of course).
Oh by the way, I didn't see very many traffic lights in the heart of the downtown either, but the drivers seemed to be very accomodating to the walkers.
After checking into our uber modern hotel (the rooms totally reminded me of everything you'd see on display at an Ikea store) we walked over to Radio Free Europe (headquartered right up the street).
What an experience! For those of you who don't know, the idea behind Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is to support democratic values through the distribution of facts and ideas. There are still so many countries around the globe where the government exercises full control over what information is delivered to the people living there. RFE believes in informing citizens about the issues taking place in their own "backyards" and beyond.
RFE reporters and employees work tirelessly and put their lives on the line to advocate for the understanding among people of all backgrounds. They work around the clock to gather objective news, analysis and to spark intelligent, lively conversations about local, regional and even national issues.
I didn't realize how much I took for granted my reporting job at WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It's always been a given being a member of the media to "seek the truth and tell it" without punishment and t0 question people as often as possible.
Many of the dedicated journalists working for RFE/Radio Liberty are threatened on a daily basis. Some have been killed because of their chosen profession, while others have been fined and detained by their governments for bringing certain "issues" to light.
I also failed to realize the fact many members of their families are also threatened too. What a scary thought! I understand why for some, the stress becomes too much and they either leave RFE out of fear or at times go into hiding. These people are extremely courageous and I have so much respect for the work they set out to do.
Aside from most enjoying our time with a former Stasi prisoner, I was also touched when we paid a visit to the employees at Radio Free Afghanistan. You could see from the look in their eyes and the expressions on their faces what it meant for them to help promote democratic values across Afghanistan.
I was truly amazed when one employee pulled out a bag of letters from Radio Free Afghanistan listeners who wrote thanking them for the programs and news they provide. It was unreal! Shivers raced down my spine, the energy in the room was fantastic. I think as a group, we were all honored to be among these fantastic journalists who were doing so much for the people of their country.
That night, a group of us went out for a traditional Czech meal. I had bread dumplings and a type of beef roast in a yummy sauce. It was absolutely delicious. We walked around the center of town before retiring for the night.
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