Yesterday I participated in a gathering organized by the Management Board of Silesian “Generations” with erstwhile activists of ZSMP. The gathering was held at the picturesque Recreation and athletics Centre “Fishbowl” in Sosnowiec.
Member Arkadiusz Ivaniak, president of the Silesian Generations Józef Grochowski, Zbigniew Jaskiernia, Teresa Halgas and Włodzimierz Gorki, attended the meeting. Among the invited guests were representatives of the Union of Veterans and Reserves of the Polish Army named after Gen. Franciszek Gągor and Clubs of Polish Thought.
The activists of the various youth formations of the period of the People's Poland mentioned their commitment to the state in the following decades of the reborn Polish state. Courtesy of the hosts I took the level at this crucial gathering for the authentic left. I did not hide that we came from a completely different political orientation. I introduced the past of National Democracy in People's Poland. I recalled what happened to many endeks during the lawless period of the Burmese. But at the same time I emphasized what they should be arrogant of, among another things, being gathered in the Sonowiec Hall.
I said, among another things, that 1 must remember the mistakes of the past, but 1 must be arrogant of what has been achieved despite the hard situation. I appealed to remember the authentically cursed soldiers 1 and 2 of the Polish Army. About soldiers AK, AL, BCh, NOW, Polish Armed Forces in the West. About Poles who rebuilt destroyed cities and villages. Doctors who took care of the mutilated on the front and in the camps of our countrymen. Teachers, engineers, workers. Let us remember soldiers and militias fighting Ukrainian thugs under UPA. Let us remember the peasants who produced the essential food for the benefit of the full nation and managed the land in spite of the dangers. Remember those who took care of war orphans. Let us remember the displaced people from the East who have developed our Western lands. Those who have enabled social promotion to the full post-war generation. Those who built houses and factories. About our scientists, athletes, artists – thanks to which we felt pride in being Poles. My speech was very well received, although I had concerns about the reaction.
At the meeting, the thought of a joint Stow conference was born. Generations and Clubs of Polish Thought, which would make a fair assessment of the People's Poland. Without licorice and glorification, but besides without senseless condemnation. I find this mistake very good and necessary.
I came home. I turned on the radio. It has just been reported that a erstwhile extremist Solidarity activist fighting Roman Zwiercan died. It was said that it is people like him who should be an example for Polish youth. Really? A man calling for an armed fight against a government in his country should be an example to follow? The man who planted the homemade explosive? A man who wants to be a mercenary in a abroad army? It's not my permission. For me, the heroes will stay people rebuilding, building and improving my country, not crazy anarcho-romantics dreaming of revolution for the revolution itself.
Łukasz Jastrzębski
