--- title: Mock death notice for 'the totalitarian power of one political party', 1990 url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/totalitni-moc-parte-civic-forum-1990/ description: A photocopied black-bordered death notice headed by a red-star silhouette and a laurel sprig, announcing the death of 'the totalitarian power of one… section: Collection --- [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) **Content note:** Mock death notice using insulting epithets for a political party and naming two former party officials and 'StB staff' as mourners; no violence shown. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) [![Mock death notice for 'the totalitarian power of one political party', 1990](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/totalitni-moc-parte-civic-forum-1990.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/totalitni-moc-parte-civic-forum-1990.jpg) # Mock death notice for 'the totalitarian power of one political party', 1990 A photocopied black-bordered death notice headed by a red-star silhouette and a laurel sprig, announcing the death of 'the totalitarian power of one political party', born in the 'political putsch' of 25 February 1948 and dead since 17 November 1989, to be 'symbolically buried' in polling stations on 8 and 9 June. Named mourners are the former party secretaries Miloš Jakeš and Miroslav Štěpán, 'Stalinist-Brezhnevite orphans, StB staff' and 'blinkered Stalinists'. The tell is epithets inside a funeral form. ## Text on the object Original (Czech) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` [five-pointed star] [laurel sprig] Kdo jinému jámu kopá, sám do ní padá! S hlubokým pocitem štěstí, spokojenosti a blaha oznamujeme všem pronásledovaným, poškozeným, utlačovaným, ponižovaným a okrádaným přátelům a známým, že nás navždy opustila 42 let nenáviděná a téměř celou společností proklínaná TOTALITNÍ MOC jedné politické strany která se zrodila 25. února 1948 — — politickým pučem KSČ v Praze. K jejímu náhlému skonu došlo 17. 11. 1989 v Praze za účasti spontánního manifestačního vystoupení mládeže vysokoškolské, středoškolské a pracující, jakož i ostatní veřejnosti. K jejímu symbolickému pohřbení dojde 8. a 9. ČERVNA ve volebních místnostech celé republiky Za truchlící příbuzenstvo: býv. gen. taj. ÚV KSČ Miloš Jakeš býv. gen. taj. hl. m. Prahy Miroslav Štěpán stalinsko-brežněvovští sirotci — pracovníci StB rodina dodnes zaslepených a zabedněných stalinistů ``` English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader) ``` [five-pointed star] [laurel sprig] Whoever digs a pit for another falls into it himself! With a deep feeling of happiness, contentment and well-being we announce to all persecuted, harmed, oppressed, humiliated and robbed friends and acquaintances that we have been left for ever by the 42-years hated and almost by the whole of society cursed TOTALITARIAN POWER of one political party which was born on 25 February 1948 — — in the political putsch of the KSČ in Prague. Its sudden death occurred on 17 November 1989 in Prague with the participation of a spontaneous demonstration of university, secondary-school and working youth, as well as the rest of the public. Its symbolic burial will take place on 8 and 9 JUNE in polling stations throughout the republic For the grieving relatives: former gen. sec. of the KSČ Central Committee Miloš Jakeš former gen. sec. of the capital city Prague Miroslav Štěpán Stalinist-Brezhnevite orphans — StB employees family of the still blinkered and boarded-up Stalinists ``` Read from the 1000 px image and enlarged crops; the photocopied typewriter-style type is clear. The printing drops some diacritics (for example 'KSC', 'Milos Jakes' in places); the text above supplies them as the sense requires, and the base letters are as printed. The translation is literal and Claude's own. [← Scînteia Poporului, Anul I Nr. 1 (23 December 1989): front page of the National Salvation Front's first daily](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/scinteia-poporului-nr-1-fsn-1989/) [24. veebruaril valite vabaduse: Eesti Kongress (On 24 February choose freedom: Estonian Congress), election poster, 1990 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eesti-kongress-valite-vabaduse-1990/) ## Using the same techniques - [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account. - [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking) - [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers. - [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling) - [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer) - [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling) - [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd. - [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)