Historical memory, the presence of a past that is so remote that it bears little or no resemblance to the so-called realities of the contemporary world, is an important Central European attribute. History in this part of the world is epic and tragic; small nations frequently have struggled against larger ones and lost regularly. The past consists of inexcusable transgressions and missed opportunities; The present is filled with unfinished business of the past; and the future is a chance finally to rectify a historical record that has been inauspicious at best and unjust at worst. Developing a sense for what could be called the subjective dimension of Central Europe--the (usually pretty good) stories Central European peoples tell about themselves and the (usually pretty bad) ones they tell about their neighbors-is important to understanding the region. Some of the problems Central Europeans have with themselves and with one another are related to the fact that their history haunts them.
-- Lonnie R. Johnson, Central Europe, Enemies, Neighbors, Friends