Statement by the President on Polish Constitution Day
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 2, 2011
Statement by the President on Polish Constitution Day
On behalf of the American people, I send my best wishes to all who celebrate Polish Constitution Day — here in America, in Poland and around the world. Since adopting their Constitution in 1791, the Polish people have endured tremendous tragedy and challenges, yet their perseverance has offered hope and inspiration to people around the world. Even today, fledgling democratic movements look to Poland as an example and guide. Here in the United States, Polish Americans are an important part of our national character. As strong NATO allies, the United States and Poland are working together to promote stability, security and economic opportunity in Europe, Afghanistan and around the world.
I look forward to deepening the enduring ties between the United States and Poland when I visit Warsaw later this month.
The President’s Travel to Poland
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 21, 2011
The President’s Travel to Poland
The President will visit Poland as part of his May 23-28 trip to Europe, during which he will also visit Ireland, the United Kingdom and France. In Poland he looks forward to reciprocating the visit of President Komorowski, whom he welcomed to the Oval Office in December 2010, as well as meeting Prime Minister Tusk. The President’s trip will further strengthen the close alliance between United States and Poland.
W sporcie… jak w życiu
Miliardy ludzi ogląda na ekranach TV zmagania piłkarzy, w mistrzostwach świata w South Africa. Emocji sportowych jest sporo, niespodzianek także sporo. Odpadły Włochy i Francja, mistrz i wicemistrz świata. Tempo gry jest szybkie, a wręcz zawrotne. Dawniej dobry piłkarz mógł strzelić kilka bramek, a w przerwie strzelania mógł spacerować na boisku i czytać gazetę. Piłkarzom płacą bardzo dużo, ale też i wymagania są dużo większe. Ale nie o tym mam zamiar pisać. Chcę poruszyć problem brutalnej gry, faulowania, trzymania przeciwnika za koszulkę i tak dalej. Zdarza się, że piłkarza znoszą na noszach z boiska. Traci zawodnik na zdrowiu, tracą i kibice, bo zamiast pięknej gry oglądają serię fauli. Dochodzi do takich absurdów jak w hokeju, gdzie zawodnicy legalnie biją się na lodzie tak długo aż którys z nich padnie na lód. W boksie Tyson odgryzł przeciwnikowi kawałek ucha! Wicemistrzyni USA w łyżwiarstwie figurowym wynajęła faceta, który przed występem miał matalowym prętem złamać konkurentce, (mistrzyni USA i mistrzyni olimpijskiej) nogę! Sport nie uczy więc uczciwej walki sportowej, uczy jak …wygrać za wszelką cenę. Chodzi bowiem o ogromne pieniądze, a poza tym częsć kibiców lubi patrzeć na krew na boisku, tak jak kiedyś Rzymianie patrzyli na krew zabijających się na arenach niewolników. Faule niestety nie dziwią już nikogo, podobnie jak faule w naszym codziennym życiu. Można by rzec: taki sport, jakie ludzkie życie. W życiu także każdy fauluje każdego.
On Behalf Of White House Press Office
On Behalf Of White House Press Office
Saturday, April 17
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced at 2:52 p.m. that the President’s trip to Poland has been cancelled due to the conditions caused by volcanic ash in Iceland.
He said President Obama called Acting President Komorowski to express his continued condolences and inform him of the announcement.
The president’s statement:
“I spoke with acting President Komorowski and told him that I regret that I will not be able to make it to Poland due to the volcanic ash that is disrupting air travel over Europe. Michelle and I continue to have the Polish people in our thoughts and prayers, and will support them in any way I can as they recover from this terrible tragedy.
President Kaczynski was a patriot and close friend and ally of the United States, as were those who died alongside him, and the American people will never forget the lives they led.”
The United States will be represented instead by our Ambassador to Poland.
The decision means that Obama will join the hundreds of thousands of travelers around the world stranded by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
The president has been scheduled to leave Saturday night for Krakow for the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady
Maria Kaczynska, who were killed along with dozens of other Polish leaders April 10 when their plane crashed in a dense fog on a trip to Russia to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre, when the Soviets executed about 22,000 Poles.
The White House decision came amid a global bottleneck in international air travel. Reports on Saturday indicated that nations around Europe were forced to shut down airports.
Kevin Diaz
Washington Correspondent
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Candice Miller: We All Mourn With the People of Poland For the Loss of Their Leaders
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in remembrance of the Polish President Lech Kaczynski and the 96 other prominent political and military leaders who perished:
“Madame Speaker, this past Saturday, April 10, 2010, the people of Poland suffered an unspeakable tragedy, the world lost a great leader and the United States lost a true friend with the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and much of the Polish leadership in a plane crash in Russia.
“President Kaczynski was a staunch supporter of freedom, and early in his life was a leader in the fight against Communism. As a lawyer in Gdansk, he became an advisor to the Solidarity movement in the late 1970’s. During martial law in 1981, he was jailed because the government thought he was an anti-socialist element.
“When Poland shed the yoke of communism, Lech Kaczynski continued to serve Poland until his death. He served as a Senator. As the Vice Chair of Solidarity. As a member of Parliament. As the Mayor of Warsaw. As the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. And finally, as President of Poland for the last five years.
“He was a true friend of America. He fought corruption because he believed it was an impediment to justice and freedom.
“We all mourn with the people Poland at the loss of this true Polish patriot. May our great friend rest in peace.”
Poland in grief
It is with the deepest sense of grief that we learned, in the morning hours of April 10th 2010, about one of the most terrible tragedies in the history of Poland. On the way to the commemoration ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre, the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski was killed in a plane crash along with the First Lady Maria Kaczynska, the representatives of the country’s highest authorities, high-level military and civilian leaders, official delegation and all the crew.
Due to this air crash tragedy the duties of the Head of State has been temporarily assumed by the Speaker of the Sejm Bronislaw Komorowski who has declared the national mourning in Poland from 10th to 16th of April, 2010.
The Book of Condolences will be displayed at the Consulate General of Poland in New York, located at: 233 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016 on the following days:
- Monday-Tuesday (April 12-13th) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Wednesday (April 14th) from 12:00-6:00 PM
- Thursday and Friday (15-16th) from 2:00 to 6:00 PM
We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to friends and families of the victims.
To the Editor
To the Editor:
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit joins our Polish American friends and neighbors and Polish people worldwide at this time of profound grief. We reach out with hands and hearts over the deaths of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and so many other Polish leaders. We honor President Kaczynski’s work building and strengthening the friendship between his nation and the United States. We especially are grateful for his efforts to bridge the cultural barrier between Poles and Jews, to heal the scars of the Holocaust, and to develop a special relationship between Poland and Israel.
As a people, Jews know that great tragedy cannot be understood, only endured. We are confident that the Polish people and nation will endure and prosper, and we look forward to facing the future with you together.
May the memory of President Kaczynski, the first lady and the others in his delegation be a blessing for us all.
Richard Nodel, President
Robert Cohen, Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit
