Since he began writing for the Polish Weekly a year or so ago, Thomas Mikulski has contributed a positive and well reasoned viewpoint while stimulating an insightful dialogue among our readership. In this issue, we feature his “farewell” as a regular contributor, titled “Prelude to Liberty.” I hope we will hear more from him over time, and regardless of that, I know he will continue to be a fine example to, and a positive influence on, others both inside and outside of Polonia. Thomas and I share a common belief in the importance of the relationship between American Polonia, and American society and culture, in that each is an integral part of the other.
Observations
04/21/2010 By Leave a Comment
It is difficult to express the feeling of sadness caused by the tragic loss of so many luminaries of Poland in the Smolensk plane crash of April 10th. What is heartening is the pride we all can feel at the way Poland, its government and its people are coping with the tragedy. As you read this issue of the Polish Weekly, you will find that there is no great upheaval, no military coup, no grab for power, and no report of widespread opportunism on the occasion of such a vacuum in the higher levels of government and social organizations. Direct your attention to the item on page 10: “Transitions, the unlikely triumph of Polish democracy,” which we have obtained permission to publish this week in our pages. The authors emphasize the importance of voluntary, peaceful transitions of power and the strength of institutions within the Polish government that have allowed the nation to continue functioning in the face of the Smolensk tragedy.
Another hopeful aspect of the repercussions of the plane crash is the apparent propensity to enhance the improvement in Polish – Russian relations. At several points in this issue’s content there are remarks on the irony of the fact that the Smolensk crash took the lives of some of the best of Poland’s leadership while they were en route to a ceremony to commemorate the Katyn massacre, which was another event involving the destruction of Polish leadership. The recent event was an accident while Katyn was a deliberate war crime, but the coincidence is eerie. The immediate reaction from Russia has been one of sympathy and empathy, and I can’t help but think that the consequences of the accident will do more for the possibility of better long term relations between the two countries than might have resulted if the Katyn commemoration ceremonies had taken place as planned without the fatal crash. Who knows?
As always, we must remember the tragic past, be it Katyn or the plane crash, but focus on the future, and work to make it a brighter future in honor of those who have given their lives, in one way or another.
Observations
04/07/2010 By Leave a Comment
Lately I have enjoyed the thought provoking columns written by Thomas Mikulski, and much of the other content contributed by our regular authors on a wide variety of topics. I have noticed, though, that we are relatively short on coverage of local events. As many of our readers can surely understand, the difficulty of covering the numerous goings on of our very active community can tax the resources of time and energy. From time to time I solicit contributions from readers, and now I am doing so again. If you are a member of virtually any Polonian organization or group that is planning or has recently had a special event of any kind, please feel free to send us an item that we can publish so that your event will be known and remembered by a wider audience than just its participants.
Observations
03/24/2010 By Leave a Comment
As I mentioned in the last issue, I am highly interested in what Thomas Mikulski has to say about the perspective he has acquired over time since writing his article in September of 2004 about the World’s view of the United States. Thomas talks about the desire of Polonia for the respect of other cultures and communities. In drawing his conclusions, he speaks of Polonia’s desire to achieve respect and influence in the larger American society that we are a part of. He poses the argument that as Polonia we should engage the communities around us and “reject” undue nationalism, and he observes that there are no alternatives based on the proposition that none have arisen in the dialogue he has engendered through his writings of the recent past.
Observations
02/24/2010 By Leave a Comment
This week please note the announcement of the upcoming short story competition sponsored by the Friends of Polish Art elsewhere on this page. If you or someone you know is interested in writing, spread the word that the FPA is giving everyone an opportunity to be published. Writing is a rewarding activity in itself, and it can be especially gratifying to see your words in print and to know that you are reaching a wider audience.
The American Council for Polish Culture is once again making scholarships available for summer studies in Poland. If you read the article, you will have a small taste of the benefits and the wonderful experience that resulted for last year’s winner, Christopher Wojdak. He was able to study Polish language at the prestigious Jagiellonian University in Krakow, one of Poland’s most beautiful cities. Two scholarships are available this year, and the recipients are sure to have an unforgettable time. [Read more...]
Observations
01/27/2010 By Leave a Comment
In the current issue of the Polish Weekly I see a theme, a common thread, running through several of the items we have for our readers. That theme is the need and the benefit of reaching out beyond our own community of Polonia, whether in telling our story or working to accomplish a better world in conformance with our traditional values. It is a theme I believe in very strongly.
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