Thoughts on present day Lech Walesa

In lieu of this:


news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6376425.stm

What are your thoughts on present day Lech Walesa?

To start off, I am a really big admirer of Lech Walesa, but these days, especially in light of recent events (above article) he doesnt seem to realise that he is a part of history and probably needs to ease off the politics scene just a bit. He was absolutely brilliant for Poland during the communist days, but nowadays I think that what he believes is best for Poland is not actually what is best. The president seems an okay sort of guy, and seems to be competently running the country,but from what I hear from a friend living in Poland (I'll need someone to comfirm or deny this) he wants to be back in the presidents post and is working with a former communist, not entirely sure of the name, something starting with a "K" i think?

From what I can see his heart seems to be in the right place (doing what he thinks is best for Poland) but his brain needs to wake up, or, alternatively, sometime after his presidential term he's turned into someone who is doing what he thinks is best for him and is after his own interests. I cant really decide which but I'm going for the former rather than the latter.

Just my random musings, so what do you think?

As far as I can make out, he was simply 'the right person in the right place at the right time'. Some years ago I was in Gdansk and he was trying to stand for election again and it was a big joke and his spoken Polish was dreadful but as I was a personal friend of one of his advisers so I said nothing to the contrary but yes, he was like Hitler who seized the moment and rose in the same way during a certain political backdrop in history. He had his day and now it is time to move on.

Wow, now that I didnt know. Hmm I'd better make a bigger effort to learn more about Lech then....or just stick back to my admiration of Jerzy Popieluszko.

Hmm now I can see why Poles dont like him so much any more. Its a shame though, but I guess I'm just too much of an idealist. :(

Yes, Walesa was the right man in the right place. On the other hand there are several theories(plots?) about his past.

But I don't think that comparison Walesa with Hitler is a good idea, although several historical cases can be similar(be sure that comp two different sitation with different background can be specious).

What theories / plots?

Didn't George Soros use Walesa as a front-man to grab a lot of Polish assets for the
Rothschilds & the other bankers?...'shock therapy' & privatization?

He sucks.

I wish you wouldn't go into so much detail..

The only Pole on Polish television who is overdubbed because no-one can understand what he is saying. True.

With a good team of people around him - he is the best man for
president at the moment. He is respected and has a sense of humour.
What he says makes sense. Doesn't matter what he sounds like. Nothing
to do with it.

Respected by who ? Lech is an old has been.

By the world. Everyone knows who he is - what he did - what he stands for.

Listen to what he says. You may learn something.


I understand him perfectly well and I'm born in UK - Polish my second language.

I wasn't making it up. When Lech was President and when he made a speech someone spoke on top of him because his language was so bad.

Next time he speaks I'll listen, but I doubt he'll change my opinion.

Give me a break...

the geezer is doing a lot of good work for the country, fdi has been at its peak outside the triad. unemployment is bad - yes but atleast there is hope,,, the communists casued immense problems and mr lech is doing a damn good job to get this great nation back on to its feet... if everyone works together instead of bickering then we can make the republic of poland a great place - be happy, smile and appreciate what is around u... this country is the next best thing and whats the most outstanding thing about poland is that it alsways overcomes difficulties.. hardwork

I dont think thats fair, he may not be an exceptionally gifted man in any sense of the word but he has done a lot for Poland. He does deserve some respect.

Walesa's career should have ended in the 80's or earliest 90's, and after that stay as a Polish authority - an important person who was fighting with communism. Unfortunately he's made fun of himself during his presidency. Nowadays he's more less cleaned of his boorishness. He has intuition, and sometimes says sth smart. But often it's easier to noticed he has no knownledge. He's an example of social promotion (awans społeczny? - when sb from lower class in society is promoted to the higher one), that doesn't fit to the person.

Furthermore, while he was the president, he was suspected that not everything he has been doing was so clear as it should be.

Thread attached on merging:
What do Polish people think of Lech Wałęsa?.

I would just like to know what Polish people think of Lech Wałęsa?.
And how do you think he will be viewed in the history books?.

He is a simple, very down to earth and stuborn, or maybe I should say, mulish man. Not the best diplomat but a perfect revolutionist. Tough character. And thank God fro that.

I heard recently that he is accused of collaborating with KGB in the seventies. I have a hard time to believe it, but who knows? Is just another plot to demean his role in the past?

news.yahoo/s/nm/20080617/wl_nm/poland_walesa_dc

Lech have been many times holded in communist prisons and there are hundrets of documents about him false or true nobody knows. Mostly emigrants who don't know reality in communist state make stupid accusations (and politicans elected by them).

Lech is ok.

Are Slawomir Cenckiewicz and Piotr Gontarczyk, the writers of the book immigrants?

it is not problem to find authors in country. This book is considered biased and tendentious. read it first and come back here. It is strongly supported by politicans who had problems with Lech in the past.

Yes, I will read it and take it with a grain of salt. No need to be defensive. Some people will jump on accusatory wagon, but many will discard as simply trash.

Or emigrants?

They are both historians of younger generation from Poland. I'm curious why some people considered this book biased and tendentious before it was even published?! I guess, because they are biased themselves.

old fashioned and inward thinking