I was born and raised in Poland. A Latin civilisation country. Antemurale Christianitas, bulwark of the West, Najświętsza Rzeczpospolita, Christ of Nations...
... and all that stuff. In other words I was brought up like a good little Sarmat should be. My father, who suffered from a Hegelian bite, wasn't a religious man, but what are mothers and grandmothers for? I was taught prayers and was taken to church on regular basis. Life was simple: Pope was in Rome and he spoke Polish and God was in Heaven and, naturally, He spoke Polish too. I read professor Koneczny's books (yes, I was a strange kid, and my father had a large library) and at school I listened to our form tutor, who explained to us that we should kiss on the cheeks twice - as proper Westerners do - and not three times as it is customary in the barbarian East. I was a bit sad then because in my family we always kissed three times, so at the next family reunion I kissed almost everyone twice causing many raised eyebrows of perplexed aunts and uncles. I said almost, because I kissed my maternal grandma three times; I wouldn't have dared to kiss her twice - she was a fierce woman. Apart from being a fierce woman, she sang traditional folk songs, gathered various herbs and left them to dry in the attic of her house in a mountain village; if it wasn't for the fact that she went to church every Sunday, I might have suspected her of being some sort of a witch. She taught me the songs, I helped her gather the herbs, but when she wasn't around I was back in my Latin-Knight-of-Western-Civilisation mode.
Of course I knew well that Poles were Slavic people, and that's why Germans considered us "untermenschen" and wanted to either slaughter or enslave us in WW2, I knew Russians were our allies (I watched all the episodes of "Czterej pancerni i pies" several times), and I enjoyed my vacation trips to Czechoslovakia or Bulgaria, where I felt very much at home. Even after the Eastern block ceased to exist and it was obvious that Poland was switching alliances, I never considered other Slavic states (which back then in my mind included Hungary and Romania) to be anything but friendly. However, about eight years later, I entered adulthood considering Slavicity of Poland and of myself as something of a distant and almost forgotten folklore, and Latinity and occidentality of my country as blatantly obvious. To be honest, back then there were very few cracks on my monolith of a worldview (typical for young men, isn't it?). Everything was simple and I enjoyed my newly discovered university student life. And then one day, I turned on my TV and I saw that...
Please tell me this is a joke. Put yourself in the shoes of a Polish who got send to a Gulag because he made a joke with Stalin AFTER he was betrayed by the west and given to be a USSR slave. Or for a Ukraine family who got killed by Holodomor. Or by a guy who just wanna to be left alone but Russia keep wanting to impose retarded ideologies there...
Gulag and Holodomor are highschool level knowledge; at the time I was watching "Czterej pancerni i pies", I was in early years of primary school. Geez... I knew it was a bad idea... people will take something from a 9-year-old Torq and I will have to explain myself as if I said it today.
No. This can't be too long. This can't be too personal (sorry Natasha, Yuri and Piotr). This can't be too digressive.
I have to figure out a way to distill it into a single post (preferably in points, 1-10 or a-j). Oh, well... maybe some other day.
OK, so I give up the essay/memoirs form, that was a bad idea. Let's stick to simple distilled cold facts; no personal digressions, no literature, not too much history. Also, I will attempt to write it in a light, humorous formula, to increase the number of potential readers.
What I have in mind is something that was to some extent already thought of (I'm standing on the shoulders of giants and all that), but with substantial differences when it comes to details.
As you probably already have guessed, I am thinking - for a start - of a union of countries which share similar...
1. ethnicity (most of them are Slavic), 2. geopolitical position (situated between three seas - Baltic, Black and Adriatic), 3. history (of being conquered and enslaved either from the East or from the West).
For geopolitical and/or moral reasons (any Union needs a higher moral principle to guide it and add cohesion to it) the block, mostly Slavic, would include 6 non-Slavic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania and Moldova). Those countries have either sizeable Slavic minorities or share very common historical experience of being invaded, occupied, and of their independence being taken away from them (with, quite often, their very right to ever having an independent country openly questioned). Also, those countries have similar experience of being betrayed by those they considered their allies and similar experience of being ridiculed, disregarded, and dominated by those who thought themselves better. Never again shall any member of our Union be lectured upon by some e.g. puny Dutch shopkeeper about what democracy or freedom is. The Union will restore pride and dignity to all its Honourable Member States. Never again will anyone invade, enslave and slaughter our people by millions (or, if they try, they will be met with a shock-and-awe response).
Because of the inclusion of non-Slavic members, the names such as Panslavic Union or Great Slavia are out of question, and we would have to settle for something like Middlesea (Międzymorze, Intermarium). The name is a secondary issue, but for practical reason I shall henceforth refer to the union as Intermarium. There will be three stages of Intermarium before it reaches its final form, in which it will include every single Slavic state among its members.
Intermarium - Stage One
Member states: 16 Population: ~120 million Area: ~ 1.35 million sq km
The membership in other international organisations would not be forbidden for member states (EU, NATO, UN etc.) but Intermarium will always take precedence over any of them.
The Union will be by default wholeheartedly friendly towards the EU*, as many of our members will also be EU members. However, any attempts at domination from the likes of France or Germany, any attempts at disrespect or lecturing upon, any attempts of forcing anything down our throats will be met with a swift spit in the eyes and slap in the face, followed shortly by a kick in the balls (Slavia is - after all - a woman).
The Union will be by default wholeheartedly friendly towards Russia, as either our neighbours or Slavic brothers or a country that shares similar experience of being disregarded and disrespected in the past (or, in some cases, all three). However, any threats, sabre rattling, not to mention any concrete, openly aggressive actions will be met with a swift spit in the eyes and slap in the face, followed shortly by a kick in the balls (in future, I will shorten it to SE-SF-KB). In general, Intermarium when it comes to Russia, will adopt a role of an advocate of our Russian Slavic brothers, as long as their behaviour towards us is also brotherly.
The Union will be by default wholeheartedly friendly towards the USA and China, cooperating with them to our mutual benefit. However, any dirty tricks or double play, any attempts of achieving any shady aims at the cost of our sweat or blood (or both) will be met with - yes, you guessed it - SE-SF-KB.
In other words, no Intermarium country will ever again be: bombed into submission (like Serbia), lectured upon and disrespect (like Poland) or bullied and threatened (like Czechia). The Union will protect them from that. We will finally be strong enough not to ever face humiliation from anyone. It will be, by and large, a huge dignity restoration program.
Three main aims of Stage One Intermarium:
1. Increasing internal cohesion of the Union by educational means (from primary schools to universities), common economic, science and military projects, centrally subsidized tourism between the Union countries, student exchange programs, literature festivals, TV shows, film industry producing Intermarium blockbusters etc. (many of these actions and more will be aided and controlled by the common Intermarium Parliament).
2. Acquiring our own nuclear deterrence force. It is an absolute must and the vital factor that can ensure longevity of the project, and future safety of our entire region. Of course, there will be certain powers who will dislike the idea, but this point is non-negiotable.
3. Preparing for future inclusion of Belarus and Ukraine. A complicated issue for historical, political and merely practical reasons but for Intermarium Stage One to be transformed into Intermarium Stage Two in the future, the brotherly Belarussian and Ukrainian nations will have to be accepted in the Union.
... to be continued ...
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* - one major reform will have to be introduced within the EU: no more European funds, no more "free money", no more subsidies or cheap loans etc. Firstly, these very often serve as a way of applying political pressure (not to use the word blackmail). Secondly, they are a constant source of corruption and debt. And thirdly, they prevent people from seeing and realising the very obvious fact that wealth comes from hard work, frugality and discipline, not from taking out loans or receiving "free money".
Member states: 18 Population: ~170 million Area: ~ 2.1 million sq km
After the stage one of Intermarium comes to an end, with the alliance becoming internally cohesive and with a strong military and nuclear deterrent force, it will be the time to welcome two more Slavic nations into its motherly womb. By that time, the world will acknowledge the existence of a new superpower and will learn to take its interests into account and respect them (otherwise, a certain amount of SE-SF-KB will have to be applied when needed).
Intermarium Stage Two will become a powerhouse in science, farming and industry, and a strong arm to lean on for both our eastern and western friends and neighbours. It will be later known as the Silver Age of the alliance, with the Golden Age still to come.
America, drowning in internal problems with fentanyl-zombies, Mexicans flowing in through the border, unemployment, lack of sensible health service, inflation, crime etc. will withdraw from Europe, going into isolation and leaving the European safety in the capable hands of Intermarium leaders. Germany's industrial base will be reorganised to best fit the needs of Intermarium, and countries like France, Italy and Spain will continue their mundane existence as open air museums and tourist magnets.
Russia, with their ever-declining population, decaying nuclear arsenal, and economic hardship will be - more than ever - in need of our brotherly help. It would be inhumane and un-Slavic-like if, in such circumstances, we failed to provide help in time of our Slavic brothers' (and sisters'!) need. Our extended hand Russia shall not reject, which will pave the way to Intermarium Stage Three.
As both Moscow and Warsaw would rival each other for most influence in said Union. I would have lumped all Slavic states with exception of Poland and Russia.
Poland's or Russia's ambitions should be set aside as a guarantee for it's existence for it's longevity to last as long as possible.
Member states: as many as necessary and decided upon Population: ~360 million (subject to change upwards, depending on circumstances) Area: ~24 million sq km (subject to change upwards, depending on circumstances)
With the completion of Intermarium Stage Three unification, all the Slavic nations will be included in the alliance. For practical, moral or geopolitical reasons some non-Slavic, but otherwise brotherly, countries will be allowed to join.
The vast spaces of Russia will be better organised and its vast resources will finally serve all the children of Slavia and some non-Slavic, but brotherly, nations. A mere look at the map and a short investigation of Intermarium's (which might then change its name to Interoceanium) strength and potential will cause the increased demand for washing detergent all over the world. However, after a short increased output of washing detergent production, the world will realise that Interoceanium is a kind-hearted and benevolent empire and will start wondering how on earth they didn't love us right away in the first place.
THE END
Of course, what I have presented here is not set in stone; the details can be reflected upon, discussed, thought about, negotiated, mulled over and modified a bit, but the general outline of the final unification of Slavic people (and other brotherly ones) in peace and harmony with the entire world is ready to be applied.
Disclaimer: I waive any claims to authorial rights and don't expect any monetary remuneration. I shall be quite content with a short chapter in history books and a modest monument here and there - I was thinking Warsaw, Belgrade, Prague, Moscow, Vladivostok (for a start).
I would have lumped all Slavic states with exception of Poland and Russia.
Grunni, Grunni, Grunni... *sighs a warm, magnanimous, Slavic sigh*
... you must realise that with such ideas you are bound to quickly become Comrade Yezhov of Interoceanium and all the photos that may exist with you and me or Bobko on them, will be photoshopped ruthlessly.
Let, 's put it on the shelf. The more realistic for today and more urgent for today and more feasible for now i something else - Northen Euopen Agreemnt, around the Baltic Sea.
This means Poland should have cooperated closely with Sweden Finland and Norway and by extension with the Baltic states. ---
What would be the point of it, and isn't it already happening within the EU/NATO?
The EU is a joke, and NATO is the US, We have a common threat and we could benefit from closer economic cooperation. Intermarium is a fine idea but no one can invest in it ( as the US won't) and without it, there is no way for it to work in the foreseeable future ( the next decade or so). Seems to me that not very many countries are keen on that project if the US is not involved.
The EU will survive, after all theres all thesr europeam elite that miss their colonies so they want to colonise themselves. But the Euro will collapse. and that will be chaos. You think these syrians and somalians are going to wait patiently in the queue in germany when sh*t goes down? Lolzo!
@Torq Lucky for me, I do not have a need to included in pictures ;)
@Ironside It's a good prospect but, very risky for nordics to entangle itself with Poland in any European Drama's. However when a situation like the one is now in Europe when Russia is aggressive and extremely more active in Nordic region. Then any help and Co-operation is welcome (see Sweden&Finland wanting NATO)
It's a golden opportunity for Poland, especially with politically correct Tusk to improve prospects with Nordic countries. Especially now with increasing chance of U.S withdrawal from Europe and U.K, France and Germany minding their own business I guess all three would welcome a initiative from Poland instead of the other three.
Problem is the political circus, which will rather be focused on and will become less attractive for Nordics. It would require a statesman tho
Torq you must understand only one thing here - being Slavic is a state of mind. No need to bend backwood like Crow, just this realistic conclusion to all your queries, and Corw's crowing is that - as in the past in the future Slavic is a state of mind.
However, the state of the Russian mind is contaminated by the Mongols and until they purify their mind they can't be anywhere close to anyone due to the danger of spreading their affliction to others.
France and the Netherlands still have theirs as extraterritorial regions. Those places however are too far away and getting richer so they want Poland, Czech, Hungary etc as virtual colonies to own the means of production in. They tried it with Britain and failed. As those countries are getting richer they're looking further field, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria etc. As you suggest, they'll soon find out that the German idea of continuous growth is a fantasy and this will hit them hard when the economic and social pigeons come home to roost.
being Slavic is a state of mind
A well known writer in the UK (who lived with a Polish refugee couple in the 1930s who caused him a lot of drama) once wrote in a tongue-in-cheek way that "Poland isn't so much a country as a disturbed state of mind". When I hit my 30 year anniversary in PL I may have that quote tattooed on my John Thomas.
I have no comment on that other than even great statesmen can sometimes be wrong on certain issues.
In private life, however, Dmowski showed no anti-semitic inclinations. On the contrary, Mieczysław Sobczak, in his book about National Democracy's attitude towards Jews (Wrocław, 2007), writes about Dmowski's help in financing education of a poor Jewish child. Also, in the book that you mention, Dmowski acknowledges the poverty of small town Jews, and says that their grievances are justified. So, although some of his views could be considered anti-semitic, he was definitely not a zoological anti-semite in a nazi style.
Of course I read it. I'm a Dmowski buff :) As I said some of the things he wrote there could be considered anti-semitic: alleged pro-German stance of Polish Jews, his opinion on assimilated Polish Jews being "trashy Poles" ("Polacy tandetni") or accusation of trying to be the ruling nation ("występowanie w roli narodowości panującej"). He also claimed that it's impossible to be a Jew and a Pole at the same time and that Jews should decide to be either one or the other...
... which was a bit weird, as we had minorities who kept their culture, customs and religion (e.g. Tatars) and were loyal citizens of Poland. However, as I already wrote in my reply to Lyzko, he was definitely not an anti-semite in a common understanding of this word in the light of WW2 (besides, Dmowski died before the war started).
"If you don't stop killing Slavs, we Slavs will level Western Europe to the ground"
"If you do not stop supplying weapons to Ukraine and killing Slavs, we Slavs will unite as brothers, and I believe we will unite and level Western Europe to the ground. I'm sure no one here wants that."
The Ukrainian conflict is a US problem, it is their interests. The European Union will turn into a vassal of the USA. We must start peace talks, but without the participation of the Americans. We must stop this murder.
