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Polish President Lech Kaczynski and gov officials die in a plane crash in Russia [686]
I am from Ireland and live in Poland and I would like to tell you how I see what is happening.
I am fairly detached from all of this because I don't vote here and try to avoid conversations about politics whenever possible.
I have seen more Polish flags, with black ribbons, today than all the times before added together. People are continuing with their daily lives with respectful resolve that I respect Polish people for it.
I have yet to meet anyone who actually voted for President Kaczyński, he seems to have been an old fashioned, conservative type and was a Polish patriot.
All of the Polish people I have spoken to have been touched by the respect that other world countries are showing. There is no conspiracy theories here, people believe it was a genuine accident and I find it disrespectful for all these trolls on this forum lately to spew their hatred but that is a different issue.
The Polish people I have spoken to are especially impressed by the reaction from Russia, there appears to be genuine concern and sympathy from both the Russian people and their Government.
I know this is a great tragedy but I see a lot of good in this, I think Poland has always been a thorn, of sorts, in Russia's shoe and seeing the image of Tusk and Putin embracing hopefully will lead to better relations in the future.
And although there are many people who didn't vote for President Kaczyński, his death has brought people closer together.
I think these deaths were intensified by a series of coincidences. Even though the president does not have much power in Poland (about the same amount of power as the Irish president). So many high ranking officials on the same plane that were going to commemorate the massacre of high ranking officials at Katyn just brought out so much in Polish people.
I can't turn on the radio here because it is people being interviewed and crying or very melancholic music but as a friend pointed out earlier, "When you have only one telephone call to the radio station, all your emotions come out". I am glad I don't have a TV ;)
But the Polish people are very strong and life continues not in a morbid way but with a new sense of energy and determination.
I was not going to post any photos on the ''PF photo contest'' thread but after walking around Krakow today I will because the people here continue their lives and that is the right thing to do.
