Final Word from Monday, October 8, 2012
The president's office gave no specific reason for why Václav
Klaus sent his regrets for Friday's christening ceremony at Václav
Havel Airport, but Klaus himself made his reason clear in an
interview with LN. He didn't mention the airport, but he said that
his rivalry with Havel is at the base of all the attacks against him.
He spoke of his critics as being ill, mentally ill, venomous,
frustrated, pitiful, pathetic or infantile. He said he had thought
that Havel's death would cause things to settle down in this
respect but that instead things have perhaps intensified. When
Havel died last year, Klaus was praised for his statesmanlike
address at the funeral. But things were different then. It was a
state funeral, and he was in charge. In contrast, the renaming of
the airport was spearheaded by people who fall into the "sick"
category. His attendance would have required him to shut his
eyes to this. Like a true statesman.[Czech Republic Lidové noviny Prague Airport]
Glossary of difficult words
to send regrets - to excuse oneself in advance from an event to which one has been invited;
venomous - full of malice or spite;
pitiful - deserving or arousing pity;
pathetic - wretched, pitiful;
infantile - childish;
to spearhead - to lead (a campaign or attack).