“Hence the attacks.” Laufer’s good acquaintance revealed why he did not speak well of the dead

When we arranged the interview, you said that you were touched by some of the comments about Josef Laufer and his past. Who specifically and what “lifted you off your chair”? As far as I know, you worked with Laufer for some time…

I was really surprised by the statements of certain people from the industry and some media. That it was more about an average singer, not a special voice and so on. For example, the LN title “Ambiguous Josef Laufer, etc. I don’t understand why his “captain Minařík” was not solved a long time ago, when Laufer himself could have said anything about it. I almost feel as if others envied him for his versatility, because he was not only a singer, but also an actor, mime, dancer and entertainer, and even a director. And hence the pointless attacks through this political song. Sometimes it’s like that, we attack what we are not ourselves. In addition, those who almost never experienced the communist era are the ones who question everything about others the most. Basically, it sounds awkward and stupid. But we also encounter this with politicians, including the highest ones, including the presidents of both chambers of the Parliament. So probably nothing unusual.

The critical words addressed to Josef Laufer also sounded because he was allegedly registered as a secret collaborator (confidant) of the State Security. How do you perceive this? How to deal with these things today?

I believe that “Only good about the dead” definitely applies. You know, we are a nation that forgives someone’s transgressions and doesn’t deal with it, as for example with J. Nohavica, it doesn’t seem to want to do it with others. Personally, I always evaluate a person according to what he was able to do, how he treated those around him, in short, how he worked and what he was actually valuable for society. And I was convinced by Josef Laufer that he was a true professional in everything he did. Moreover, he was a noble person with his inner humility. I learned a lot from working with him and he enriched me in many ways. Internally, I respected this person very much and I am grateful to God that we once met at work.

And how will you most like to remember this artist?

When Laufer is mentioned, I always remember our performance together at my agency’s annual ball, where we sang a song together and I stood next to such an artist on the boards that mean the world. It was also interesting that most of the participants acknowledged our joint creation. Amazing experience.

Let’s move on to the next topic. You have been working in culture for many years, I wonder if the cultural world has finally managed to “come to its senses” after covid? What is the interest in culture among people at this time? Will he spend money on her, or will he still prefer to save?

It seems that people have already got used to the increase in entrance fees and have understood that the pre-Covid era will not return. In any case, however, they are more selective in which culture they put their funds into. For us promoters and producers, it’s an even bigger fight for every visitor. The conditions for doing business in culture are now much different.

I have to admit that I had to look up who the current minister of culture actually is. It seems to me that, unlike his predecessors, he is not heard about as much. But maybe that’s just my feeling. How satisfied are you with Martin Baxa’s activities?

The Minister of Culture is not visible, and when he appears, the public will not notice anything important and will at least remember his bow tie compared to, for example, the outgoing Minister Langšádlová. Well, basically, this resort is somehow outside the interest of the government, but also of the opposition. There are other issues in the crosshairs, including the much talked about pension reform. Therefore, probably no one wants to change anything in this and will not. But it must be admitted that this is not only a problem of this government. Culture is usually always on the sidelines of all its interest in politics. Unfortunately.

The Ministry of Culture has decided to introduce the status of an artist into the domestic civil code. It’s good idea? How will it work?

This is so far beyond the real interest of those it should concern. In essence, it is a kind of replacement of earlier artistic categories. I don’t think it will mean anything in practice.

Let’s leave culture for a moment and look at our political scene. What has caught your attention lately, both good and bad?

When I spoke to you a while ago about the fact that we have the worst government since 1989 (Babiš’s government, editor’s note), I had no idea that something worse could come. And that’s it here. You know what’s the worst? The labeling of anyone who says anything a little differently, for example in the context of the war in Ukraine or Israel. Why is what is a threat in Ukraine a target elsewhere? I will give an example. If the Slovak Prime Minister Fico says that there is no military solution to the war in Ukraine, because it is impossible to defeat a nuclear power, he will be labeled a “Russophile” and “Chcimír”. When German Foreign Minister Baerbock says that there is no military solution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and calls for an immediate ceasefire, she is praised. Remarkable, right? While in the war in Ukraine peace or a cease-fire is a dirty word, in the war with Hamas “peace” seems like a desired goal. At the same time, in both cases, he would record the aggressor. What kind of double standard do we have here? It’s strange how we dishonor those who describe today’s reality very accurately and see this or that realistically. It also ends with the fact that, for example, Cyril Svoboda wants to be practically excluded by the People’s Party just because he basically says that any peace is better than war. I’m almost freezing this time. Although we live in a postmodern age, it seems that we go hand in hand not only with totalitarian elements, where only one opinion is allowed, but slowly also with the Middle Ages, when many paid for their attitude with their lives. I am afraid of this time when we don’t look at ourselves first and practically play the “Saviors of the world”, or at least the East of Europe, as if we don’t have enough of our own problems. How is it that our government does not care about our people first? Sometimes I wonder what the “velvet revolution” was really for? That some kind of new totality would come, especially from Brussels or Strasbourg?

The elections to the European Parliament are approaching, do you expect any major changes regarding the results? And what should the EU have changed in your opinion?

Basically in everything. Just as the EU is going in a completely different direction after the Lisbon Treaty than the former politicians of this grouping originally wanted, so it is necessary to look this reality in the eye and fundamentally reevaluate the way of thinking and the intentions of this community. Otherwise, we get into a certain schizophrenia, when the EU does not serve us, but we serve it. And that is perversion. Do you remember how Britain was threatened with how bad things would be after leaving the EU? And lo and behold, most of these scary scenarios didn’t happen at all, or at least not for that long. What paradoxes. It would be good if other representatives in the European Parliament were elected in their core, who will not only admit but also be aware of all the above-mentioned connections. However, I’m afraid that won’t happen.

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