First I must state clearly about myself. I am Tran Anh, a musician (in the tradition of European 19th century music) from Viet Nam. I myself have never been in Poland (though to be there is my fondest wish!). I have just begun my self-teaching Polish course. And I myself do not really like the way Poland is following the American policy too closely right now, NOR do I like the somewhat overly-nationalistic approach of Polish twin leaders, the Kaczynskis. And if you think I somehow I like Poland because of Chopin, then you are rather mistaken, as I would prefer (at least during daytime!) the beautiful grandiosity of Germanic symphonies like those of Schumann, Brahm and especially Bruckner.
Anyway, after all those necessary antithesis, I now go straight to the point: Yes, I love Poland very much--Bardzo kocham Polska! To me, in the past 5 years learning about Polish culture, Polish history and Polish personal experience has been truly a revelation. The country is of course very far from perfect and the Polish people (from the common Poles to the very distinguished ones) is even more so. But Polish people's experience is one of the greatest lesson ever told and latent in Poland itself is the IDEAL that will be incredibly useful in healing the world. A country once among the great powers, arrogant, free and oppressive at the same time, Poland has been mercilessly trambled during the last 3 centuries to the point it CAN NEVER BE a great power in the traditional way (in the combination of wealth, population, resource and size). But that is Polish true blessing, so that in the dark times, generations of Polish revolutionaries and rebels only dreamed and fought ALONE in order to gain back their Freedom and their sense of Equality with the rest of the world, NO MORE, NO LESS. Also at the time, Poland was extraordinarily blessed with artistic prophets who breathed nobility into the Polish cause by exhorting all fighting Poles not only to fight for their freedom and equality but also for all others of the same misery. EMPATHY was a common characteristic of all true Polish patriots in the 19th century. I myself think Polish Romanticism in the 19th century which emphasizes Freedom for All, Equality for All, Nobility of All and Fearlessness, the amazing Fearlessness that never subsists and submits, no matter how impossible is the fight and no matter how lonely you are IS among one of the most inspirational contributions to mankind (as many as possible should have learnt and appreciate the Ideal and the examples as to learn about French Philosophies or German musical ideas).
It has been such a tragedy that upon the blood and lost lives of so many idealist Polish patriots, every new Polish government, just fresh from foreign domination, immediately set path to be great power in a traditional sense, which necessitated violence, bullying and extreme nationalism that were the trademarks of their former oppressors. That is NEITHER PRACTICAL NOR ROMANTIC!!!
A Great Poland is not about great military force or extreme wealth. It is about the great Ideals and about generations of people who share the same Ideals. True, the French could offer a certain kind of Liberte, Equalite et Fratenite and there are hundreds of other nations who have suffered tremendously. Nevertheless I believe there is no people in the world that have expressed the most humane Ideals so beautifully both in arts, in conscience and in prolonged suffering as Poland and Polish people did. That of course DOES NOT make Poles superior to other people, NO, but it can make most of them the better vehicles to carry the message. Like the paragon of Polish virtues, Karol Jozef Wojtila once did.
As a side note, the recent event in Brussels can shed a fascinating light on the current Polish psyche. The Kaczynskis are overly-nationalistic, undiplomatic and very uncharismatic. They had acted more on Polish national interest than for the benefit of other medium and small countries. But their aim has been just. Power can easily corrupt. Very powerful nation-state like Germany need to be limited in influence before it is out of control. In contrast to every Western commentator, the 'double majority' (65% of population, 55% of countries, hm why not the contrary?) does benefit Germany a lot. If we count on Germany's money as well, the power she will wield in the EU will be nigh irresitible, which stands in stark constrast to EU and basic human ideal of Equality for all. The agression of a very influential Germany in EU will be of course thousands time softer than in the 2nd WW, but it is aggression all the same and there will always be a nagging sense of Inequality in Europe. The end is just, and I can see beside nationalists, significant portions of idealist Poles supported the Kaczynskis' fight. With recent EU talk about capping the population count at 60 millions, the Kaczynskis had unwittingly contributed greatly for the cause of Equality in European Union. Pity though, now Poland itself and her people, no matter how pragmatic or Romantic, will become the fondest target of abuses from Western 'intellectual', an amazing portion of whom style themselves "IDEALISTS"!!!
So brace for another lonely fight again, Polska.
My best wishes.
Anyway, after all those necessary antithesis, I now go straight to the point: Yes, I love Poland very much--Bardzo kocham Polska! To me, in the past 5 years learning about Polish culture, Polish history and Polish personal experience has been truly a revelation. The country is of course very far from perfect and the Polish people (from the common Poles to the very distinguished ones) is even more so. But Polish people's experience is one of the greatest lesson ever told and latent in Poland itself is the IDEAL that will be incredibly useful in healing the world. A country once among the great powers, arrogant, free and oppressive at the same time, Poland has been mercilessly trambled during the last 3 centuries to the point it CAN NEVER BE a great power in the traditional way (in the combination of wealth, population, resource and size). But that is Polish true blessing, so that in the dark times, generations of Polish revolutionaries and rebels only dreamed and fought ALONE in order to gain back their Freedom and their sense of Equality with the rest of the world, NO MORE, NO LESS. Also at the time, Poland was extraordinarily blessed with artistic prophets who breathed nobility into the Polish cause by exhorting all fighting Poles not only to fight for their freedom and equality but also for all others of the same misery. EMPATHY was a common characteristic of all true Polish patriots in the 19th century. I myself think Polish Romanticism in the 19th century which emphasizes Freedom for All, Equality for All, Nobility of All and Fearlessness, the amazing Fearlessness that never subsists and submits, no matter how impossible is the fight and no matter how lonely you are IS among one of the most inspirational contributions to mankind (as many as possible should have learnt and appreciate the Ideal and the examples as to learn about French Philosophies or German musical ideas).
It has been such a tragedy that upon the blood and lost lives of so many idealist Polish patriots, every new Polish government, just fresh from foreign domination, immediately set path to be great power in a traditional sense, which necessitated violence, bullying and extreme nationalism that were the trademarks of their former oppressors. That is NEITHER PRACTICAL NOR ROMANTIC!!!
A Great Poland is not about great military force or extreme wealth. It is about the great Ideals and about generations of people who share the same Ideals. True, the French could offer a certain kind of Liberte, Equalite et Fratenite and there are hundreds of other nations who have suffered tremendously. Nevertheless I believe there is no people in the world that have expressed the most humane Ideals so beautifully both in arts, in conscience and in prolonged suffering as Poland and Polish people did. That of course DOES NOT make Poles superior to other people, NO, but it can make most of them the better vehicles to carry the message. Like the paragon of Polish virtues, Karol Jozef Wojtila once did.
As a side note, the recent event in Brussels can shed a fascinating light on the current Polish psyche. The Kaczynskis are overly-nationalistic, undiplomatic and very uncharismatic. They had acted more on Polish national interest than for the benefit of other medium and small countries. But their aim has been just. Power can easily corrupt. Very powerful nation-state like Germany need to be limited in influence before it is out of control. In contrast to every Western commentator, the 'double majority' (65% of population, 55% of countries, hm why not the contrary?) does benefit Germany a lot. If we count on Germany's money as well, the power she will wield in the EU will be nigh irresitible, which stands in stark constrast to EU and basic human ideal of Equality for all. The agression of a very influential Germany in EU will be of course thousands time softer than in the 2nd WW, but it is aggression all the same and there will always be a nagging sense of Inequality in Europe. The end is just, and I can see beside nationalists, significant portions of idealist Poles supported the Kaczynskis' fight. With recent EU talk about capping the population count at 60 millions, the Kaczynskis had unwittingly contributed greatly for the cause of Equality in European Union. Pity though, now Poland itself and her people, no matter how pragmatic or Romantic, will become the fondest target of abuses from Western 'intellectual', an amazing portion of whom style themselves "IDEALISTS"!!!
So brace for another lonely fight again, Polska.
My best wishes.