The author, a director of a cultural NGO in the Czech Republic, describes the political and social pressures facing her organization, which publishes queer and feminist literature and exhibits Palestinian artists. She recounts personal attacks on her family and the targeting of her NGO by conservative media and politicians, including the blacklisting of a translated book. Amid this, she finds grounding in visiting her 97-year-old grandmother at a Jewish-run social care home, observing the elderly women's lives and the quiet presence of Ukrainian caregivers.
This article matters because it illustrates the escalating cultural wars in Europe, where artists, NGOs, and queer communities are increasingly scapegoated by populist and conservative forces. It highlights how censorship and political attacks have become normalized for cultural workers, while also offering a personal meditation on resilience and human connection in the face of societal hostility.