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What really represents Polish people? What would be the symbol of Poland... [51]
Poland has been a "Catholic country" since its very beginning as the nation, ever since Mieszko was baptised in 966, this event was also known as the baptism of Poland and nothing has changed ever since. For you to state otherwise is just false. People of other faiths lived in Poland and were free to practice their religion including Jews. This fact shows us that it's not the religion itself that causes the tensions but the intolerant people who just can't stand the fact that someone, somewhere might be of a different opinion then themselves. This holds true to the people of faith as well as those that do not practice any religion. As far as I know atheists consist of a very small percentage of Polish population. Although you're obviously of a different opinion the fact remains that the majority of people will disagree with you and state that religious symbol is appropriate to represent Poles therefore Poland itself, especially the image of MB Częstochowskiej. As for Poland being almost a 100% Catholic after WWII you have no one else to blame but yourself. Allow me to explain. In your zeal and vigour to impose the communist utopia, it was the communist atheists that have shifted the borders, forced resettlement on local populations ensuring that only one ethnicity and one religion exists.
The practice of the coronation of the image of NMP started in Italy with Hieronim Paolucci in 1620.
Mary of Częstochowa is a Queen of Poland for a very long time. The coronation of the image took place in 1717. Ever since than till WWII, there were 196 other coronations of the image that took place in Poland giving an average of 1 every 1.16 years. After WWII there were only three such events, one in 1981, 1985 and 1995. As you can see for yourself Poland was very tolerant nation in terms of practising one's religion indeed till WWII. After the atheists took over all that has stopped and this practice was only allowed at the end of their stay in power, after the Solidarity movement, when it finally dawned on them that the majority don't share their ideology and simply oppose them and their days are numbered. During this period you will find many examples of the religious symbols used as the symbol of solidarity, opposition and like it or not of Poland. Do you think the Black Madonna image on the gates to the shipyard was there just for decoration? The wooden cross that stood on the spot that the first fatality of the 1970 strike took place in front of the gate to the shipyard with a sign “Walka o wolność... Gdy się raz zaczyna, dziedzictwem z ojca przechodzi na syna. Sto razy wrogów, złamana plagą, skończy zwycięstwem…” What was it doing there? Was it not a powerful political symbol? Representing those that believed in Catholic faith and those that did not alike? These are just two of the most recent examples. Religious symbols were always used by the Poles throughout our history.
Yes Polish Jews lived and still live in the land where Our Lady of Częstochowa reigns supreme as Queen of Poland, be it prior to WWII or even after WWII. Although you think that religious symbols are not a good choice, the majority of people will disagree with you. There is no such thing as 100% agreement on anything, that sort of thing only happens in communism. Not everyone has to agree on something or someone to be still represented by them, therefore whoever wins the election by majority has the right to represent the country as a whole, he represents all, the ones that voted for him as well as those that opposed him. Even during the Polish multicultural state somehow it was all so obvious to all those Catholics, Calvinists, Atheists, Jews and others, that if they give their neighbour the freedom to practice their faith they will extend the same courtesy to the people of other faith and unbelievers alike. The problems start when minority wants to impose their will on majority, not just on religious issues but all other social issues as well.