Dan Bárta
Singer and songwriter
It may sound pathetic to you: looking for linden trees once planted as Trees of Liberty, or even to plant new ones that should symbolize positive relationship towards freedom. But to take care of old piece of land or to establish a new home for others – it does not soud so pathetic anymore. Or maybe it is, but it is a good deed – it definitely helps rather than harms. Desire for freedom, as well as for beautiful art or protection of the nature can not get by without a little pathos. Breathe freely, let's be bold!
Prof. Ing. arch. Martin Rajniš
Architect and Urbanist
Lime trees, our national symbol, have also become a symbol of liberty and democracy. Nowadays, when liberty and democracy are threatened in so many ways, it is right to start planting trees again and taking care of those who survived the past. Recall some of our country’s most important values.
John Palka
Grandson of Milan Hodža, biologist and writer
For millenia, trees have played a central role in our human striving to understand ourselves and our place in the world. We have imagined trees of life, wish-fulfilling trees, family trees. For Slavs, and especially Czechs and Slovaks, lipa trees especially are associated both with deep tradition and with political freedom. The Trees of Liberty project seeks to highlight the place of the lipa in our national stories as well as to nourish the trees themselves.
Vladimír Kořen
MODERATOR AND MAYOR
Magically, the tree can turn into a symbol ... life in the branches transforms into a symbol of liberty, the trunk alludes to a symbol of unconditional will, and the roots represent the values from which our national consciousness grows. Let's protect and cherish these living symbols by living out the embedded meanings that our forefathers described.
Marek Orko Vácha
PRIEST, THEOLOGIAN, SCIENTIST OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Trees are very aware of their surroundings. They see the light in a much broader spectrum than we do and respond according to what they see. They smell the fragrances around them, are aware of touch and gravity, remember past experiences and adjust their future behavior. We are confident about our biology with chimpanzees and wolves, but also with lip and oak. Two billion years ago we were divided, and just like us, the trees are just another possible outcome of evolution.
Spirituál kvintet
Band
There are too many people and too little trees. Let's add some new ones, it's worth the effort. Trees are valuable on their own. They are here to stand and show us how they stand on their own. And why lime? Because they make everything fine
Miroslav Paleček
Folk musician
I support the Trees of Liberty campaign. I believe this is the right time to remind ourselves not only of the importance of freedom, but also the historical roots of our democracy upon which we can build.
Tatiana Vilhelmová
Actress
I love trees. That is why I am very happy to support tree planting with the idea of our homeland and patriotism. Everything that connects us in life makes sense.
Stephen B. King
U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic
Trees of Liberty project is not only working to protect the dozens of Liberty Trees that were planted here in support of democratic values, but will also seek to continue this important legacy by planting new Liberty Trees. These trees will be planted as a symbol of our shared values, friendship and cooperation as we celebrate the centennial of the long and enduring U.S.-Czech relationship this year and hope that they will remain in place for at least 100 more years to come.
Prof. RNDr. Hana Librová, CSc.
ENVIROMENTALIST
Our grandfathers planted lime trees in the excitement of political victory. How are we going to protect them when the treetops have shown their old age? Patriotism is all talk and no action. We understand old trees as impressive natural beings.
Vojtěch Dyk
Actor, singer
Trees - our transmitters to other worlds, natural cathedrals. The most beautiful buildings on the Earth. We can not take their freedom away. Trees are free even as chopped woods in our stoves. They are our teachers of liberty in the world which often lacks freedom. And therefore we should learn from them. And plant other and other seeds of human consciousness of our free self.
Petr Sís
AUTHOR OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, ILLUSTRATOR
Trees and liberty mean a lot to me, probably the most in life. People and trees should live freely and abundantly throughout the world.
Carlo Capalbo
President of RunCzech Running League
A hundred years ago, Czechs and Slovaks realized some advantages of democracy. I hope they still remember it; running can help to preserve this awareness. Running is democracy in a nutshell. Every time we race, we are on the same starting line. It is up to us to determine our path on the track ahead. If the Liberty Trees can help to strengthen democracy, they are worth fighting for.
Gábina and Petr Koukal
Olympic athletes
We both grew up in a free and democratic state and in a family house with a garden full of trees. For a long time, it all seemed natural for us. Thanks to the Trees of Liberty project, we came to the realization how valuable freedom is and how powerful are stories embodied in trees and nature. Let's protect, oversee and develop all of this together.
Marta Kubišová
Singer and dissident
Trees of Liberty project is my sincere pleasure. There is no life without trees. We should perceive them as living organisms that need to be protected. As well as we must protect our freedom and democracy.
Aneta Langerová
Singer
Each tree is a witness of its time and everything that has been happening in its surroundings. When the trees merge, it is a remembrance, whether of a family garden, a village, a city, a nation, or even the whole world. I believe that the newly planted tree will be surrounded by people who live in a free and tolerant society. I wish every one of us could be able to develop freely in whatever makes us happy. And the trees have accompanied us as our most faithful friends throughout our lives.