A word on the disaster

Disasters like that at Smoleńsk change sensitive people’s approach to reality. Once harshly criticized by political opponents, ridiculed by TV clowns and scolded by common people, who simply thoughtlessly followed their political champions, now the late President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Mrs Maria Kaczyńska and several other politicians, journalists, bishops and the plane crew are symbols of national disaster.

Like after Pope John Paul II’s death five years ago there appear speculations about national concord and reconciliation but I know this won’t last. A few friends of mine have started a bitter argument as if they couldn’t wait at least a week. One of my students, to my surprise, wrote something so inappropriate in the context of what happened that I was taken aback. He explained that he had written what he had on the grounds that he hates the Roman Catholic Church and that Roman Catholic clergymen used to kill people to convert them. I am really helpless facing such pathetic reactions to the human tragedy.

I’m not a religious person myself but the principle I try to follow in my life is to be tolerant and compassionate to those in need and trouble. Moreover, unlike many Poles, in everyday life I’m ‘politically colour-blind’ although I can now and again be very passionate discussing certain political issues. Even though I can criticize those of different opinion, I always respect their quality of being my fellow humans. On the other hand, I don’t want my opponents to reign supreme and impose not only their particular decisions but their views on the others. That’s why I’m afraid we’ll be soon witnesses of new political arguments, especially that a presidential election is inevitable and this must be preceded by a campaign. I have no illusions as for the nature of democratic procedures and political customs of my people. Soon we’ll again be in the middle of political war. My great dream is, however, to see a new type of political debate. We don’t have to, as we used to, call each other traitors working for foreign powers and we don’t have to accuse each other of evil intentions.

Speaker Bronisław Komorowski says now there is no right or left wing. We are all Poles. I can hear similar words after each American presidential elections and I do admire Americans for their class. In Poland it sounds somewhat new. I would love Polish politicians to debate over particular cases rather than their political affiliations, backgrounds and ideologies. There are so many problems to solve in Poland!

History is the factor that shapes our identity. Another important element is the language or the way we understand certain terms. Western media consistently call Law and Justice ‘a conservative and nationalistic’ party while we in Poland never call nationalistic the politicians whose priority is the state. We reserve this adjective for those whose focal point is the nation understood as the people (tribe!). Law and Justice comprise mostly Roman-Catholics, although not those most conservative. On the one hand they gained the ultra-Catholic Radio Maryja’s support but have recently lost it.

The values the Kaczynski brothers wanted all Poles to share are Catholic and traditional. However, in comparison with British Conservatives or American Republicans their attitude towards free market economy is almost socialist and statist. That’s why they are against gay marriages but at the same time they are great welfare state champions.

There is yet another element which is in my opinion important. I didn’t (and still don’t) agree with conservative religion centered concept of Polishness represented by Law and Justice and the late President. On the other hand I do respect those who honestly believe in what they preach. I strongly believe President Kaczyński was one of those old fashioned politicians who treated his position as public service. The Republic of Poland was something he placed above himself and whose humble servant he really was.

Although Civic Platform and parties further to the left like to be seen as more liberal and tolerant, I’m afraid their moral standards are quite dubious. Many of their representatives enter the political arena just to help their private businesses. Moreover, those who call themselves the Left are more libertarian than socialist. Actually, they all are cynical groups whose priority is to grab the largest share of the public cake. I do hope this will slightly change (not totally, I’m not that naive). In this context I should say Lech Kaczynski had some views I didn’t agree with but he was for sure faithful to them. If I had lived in ancient Rome I would probably not have liked Cato the Elder, but would certainly have respected him. Lech Kaczyński, though not a good orator, was a kind of Cato the Elder.

The Smoleńsk disaster looks like the last chapter of a certain era. I realize any allegories are far-fetched but I can’t resist this simile. The presence of the last President in Exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski (NB from Białystok), the woman whose sacking from the Gdansk Shipyard gave rise to the strike and the “Solidarity” movement, Anna Walentynowicz, and President Lech Kaczyński, who was a great admirer of Marshal Józef Piłsudski and the pre-war Poland must lead to thinking in symbolic categories. What’s more the only actor on board the hapless plane, Janusz Zakrzeński, once played Jozef Piłsudski in the film “Polonia Restituta”.

I’m afraid a certain way of understanding Poland and Polishness has lost its vitality. Without these people Poland will probably become just one of many middle-sized European Union members of little importance and little sense of identity. I’d love to be wrong.

On the other hand, if conspiracy theorists are all wrong, the Russians are behaving very decently. Their president and prime minister have to play their parts on the international arena. They appear genuinely sympathetic but I never know what to think about politicians’ gestures. Simultaneously we can see a great number of common people, in Smolensk itself, yet also in Moscow and other Russian cities, who spontaneously show us their sympathy and I believe their nice gestures must be sincere. I find it very optimistic in the context of the mutual relations between our nations.

Many things are happening in our private lives. At such moments we tend to seek for contacts with our relatives and friends (we’re happy to know they're alive). An old friend of mine, Piotr, gave me a Skype call yesterday from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We had a nice chat. On the other hand it turned out that among the victims was our school-mate, a year our senior, Joanna Agacka. President Kaczorowski frequently visited Białystok and my friend Benek published his book. I hoped one day Ben would introduce me to this great Pole whom I wanted to ask many questions (Ben said he was an extremely accessible man). This will never happen.

I met once Deputy Speaker Krzysztof Putra at a carnival ball last year. There will be no more such occasions.

It is not easy talking about these things. The time will teach us how to live without these people though it will never return them to us. A new chapter opens in the history of Poland. May it be better!