History /
Pieces of Real Polish History [60]
Alex,
The WWII and 44 years of the Soviet oppression in Poland were the result of spreading nationalism, racism, religious discrimination, and totalitarian ideology and it created so much of atrocity and calamities that Poland decided that it shall never happen again and this is reflected in the Law. Whatever you say, Alex, your residence in Poland requires law-abiding, do you like it or not.
Dura lex sed lex.
Those two clauses of the Penal code are slippery at best, Ant - and in the best (?) tradition of Polish law need a lot of case law interpretation before one can really get a sense of what's allowed and what's not.
Why do we discuss that? The Law is Law and you rather do not find sites such as PolishForums in the Poland's domain.
Have you heard of the band Honor? They have been effectively prosecuted. It did not help them to talk on "artistic values" because they were spreading hatred.
2) Proletaryat pub in Poznan is covered with portraits of Bierut, the odd ZOMO uniform, and various other curios from the not-so-good old days. Should we be sending the boys in blue round?
This is the "artistic" purpose. The pub does not promote the totalitarian system, don't you think so?
And while we're on the subject of perceived insult: any constitution or penal code that criminalises, without further clarification, 'insulting the office of President' and thus allows individual presidents to press charges is a pretty cack-handed formulation, which does rather devalue clauses 156 and 157 you quoted above.
Am I wrong thinking you shall not insult the Queen in UK?
1) Am I liable for prosecution if I say - accurately, I believe - that the Communist system DID being about some concrete improvements in the general living standards of many Poles? For example, the postwar expansion of health care provision, the electrification of the countryside (1967)? Of course, this came at a cost - probably too high a cost in terms of personal freedom and national sovereignty but that shouldn't have to be said in the interests of balance.
Such matters can be discussed. Do you think Alex the postwar expansion of health care provision, the electrification of the countryside would not happen without the Communism? How was it possible in West Germany for instance. Have you heard about the UNRRA programme that helped rebuilding West Germany but the Polish Commies refused accepting the UNRRA driven by orders from Moscow? Was it Soviets who rebuilt Warsaw?
A thought: Does UK have a Constitution? Is there written Law in UK?