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"Anton Boubin, 69 year old refugee artist from Communist Czechoslovakia, residing now in Crookston, is living proof that a choice made for personal freedom as opposed to a life manipulated by a Communist regime, often exacts a heavy toll.
Mr. Boubin is a slight, pale man who still bears the marks of beatings incurred over a three and a half year period of prison internment for refusal to bow to communism. Having served two years in prison from 1948-1950 he was returned for another year after only two months of freedom in which he again refused to capitulate to communism. In retaliation for this stubborn clinging to the ideal of freedom, his lucrative dental practice in Prague, his home, artist studio and all belongings were confiscated. He was forbidden to practice the dental profession in any manner and, although allowed to paint, was forbidden the sale of paintings as a means of livelihood.
Many Prague citizens signed papers to join Communism preferring dictation to total loss of security. Others, like Mr. Boubin, preferred this loss to the suffocation of individual freedom and still others committed suicide rather than make the choice of either. Mr. Boubin turned to the only form of work allowed him which was that of a farm laborer or woodcutter. Many lean years followed coupled with harassment from neighbors who, having submitted to communism looked on him as a constant abrasion to their muffled conscience.
At one time the family of four were forced to move to living quarters that consisted of a 6' x 8' room which they occupied for 3 1/2 years. Desperation forced Mrs. Boubin one day to sneak a painting from the room in an attempt to obtain money, milk or food in exchange. Again a neighbor informed and this time both wife and youngest child underwent severe interrogation by the police before they were released.
Once more in 1966, an attempt was made to break his spirit by falsely charging him with acts against the government. A friend with written proof of his innocence, but afraid to become involved, burned the evidence and a prison term of six months for Mr. Boubin. Beatings that followed knocked out most of his teeth, his artist hands still show scars from being stomped on and yet the stubborn spirit and determination of this tiny man, who at that period of his life was 63 years of age, remained unbroken. What price for freedom? What price for a way of life so many of us take for granted and abuse daily with our ignorance and inaction on issues involving our youth, community and country. How many of us could stand up to the test of domination versus freedom when security is the price?"
Emily
"Because of increased fear of the death of his family, my grandfather and his family eventually fled from their country. Grandfather and his oldest son first traveled to Vienna. Then using fake passports, my father and grandmother escaped on the last train to leave Czechoslovakia before the Communists closed the borders to travel. My dad's last memory of his country of origin was being in incredible fear that they would be discovered. While on the train, a young boy spat at a Russian soldier. The train was stopped and both the young boy and his father were shot and killed.
Eventually, in 1969 my dad and his family were sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Crookston, MN where my Grandfather Anton lived for a couple years before his death in 1972. Unable to practice his dental profession, he made a meager living providing for his family by painting beautiful paintings from his memories of beautiful Czechoslovakia. A sample of Grandfather's paintings can be seen if you click on Art Gallery."
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