PubMed · 68652
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1976. In memoriam.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/68652/
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The firmly entrenched, negative attitude regarding the nurse in Czechoslovakia was a major deterrent to the development of nursing education in that country after the First World War. Social work was the culturally acceptable form of caring activity for educated women who perceived nursing as a hospital function performed by the religious orders and the less educated. Alice Masaryk, an innovative force in addressing social welfare problems after the war, reinforced this perception. Despite her early investigative experience in social welfare in American settlements before the war, Masaryk gave no indication that she was aware of the recent progress in the development of nursing in America. Her attitude fostered the indecisiveness of the ministers who lacked a clear understanding of nursing and who were reluctant to make any innovative changes that would modernize the profession. Furthermore, older physicians were content with the current nursing situation and did not share younger physicians' visions of a public health team that included well-educated nurses. Crowell had to negotiate within this political and cultural environment where the major figures struggled against proposed changes that may have seemed not only expensive, but also unsettling to their way of life. She recognized the necessity of respecting the Czech position and cooperating with them in attaining an amicable solution. Her educational and professional background, and the European cultural insights she had gained during her years in the U.S. supported her well in meeting this challenge.
In summary, I believe that the qualities that Havel exemplifies in his leadership style, namely, his sense of the absurd, his altruism in reluctantly assuming the responsibility for something he started, his amateurish political style, his apologetic stance, and his apolitical ideologies all serve to make him a flexible and idealistic leader who can, indeed must, be trusted and admired by his followers. Despite these personal and leadership qualities, it was fateful that Vaclav Havel was born in a place where his exemplary qualities could be used. Perhaps if he were born in another nation that did not have such a strong tradition of philosopher-kings or a peace-loving nature, he would not have been able to attain such political and idealistic heights. Also, if he had been born just a few decades earlier, he may not have been the recipient of such benevolent treatment from the Soviet system. In another time and place we may have never had the luxury of basking in the ideas and using the courage and fortitude exemplified in his deeds, which inspired his country to greater plateaus. Vaclav Havel and what he symbolizes are inseparable from his history and his cultural experience. We, as the audience in his absurd play, are forever linked to the author and are grateful for the chance to watch the play unfold. It will be interesting to examine the way in which his leadership style changes as a consequence of his illness. Already, those close to him have noticed personality changes that indicate a shift toward a more direct and abrasive demeanor. Post (1980) has written extensively about the critical role played by aging and illness among leaders. Part of what makes this work exciting is that Vaclav Havel is a contemporary leader whose life continues to undergo strange and unexpected twists and turns.
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