As the Polish nation mourns the tragic death of President Kaczynski, First Lady Kaczynska and 96 other Polish dignitaries, the implications of this traumatic event on Poland’s psyche, political landscape and upcoming elections have already made their way into the public discourse.
As relevant as these questions may be, it is equally important for us Poles to take a step back and truly examine the lives and sacrifices of those who perished in Smolensk, on their way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyń massacre.
In addition to the president, first lady and several high ranking military, political and religious leaders the ill-fated Tupolev carried heroes like Anna Walentynowicz, the spark plug that started the Solidarity movement, Czesław Cywinski, President of the Association of the Former Polish Resistance, and Ryszard Kaczorowski, Poland’s last President in Exile. At 80 and 90 years of age, they not only represented Poland’s moral and historic conscience, but were key members of a “greatest” generation who sadly continue to leave us (along with their memories, eye-witness accounts and reflections).
At a time when historic revisionism has surfaced in Russia, Germany, the United States and even Poland, it is critical that we properly study our nation’s past, preserve it and most importantly educate future generations. Case in point, over the last year, due to sheer ignorance or perhaps outright disdain for Poland, columnists in mainstream media outlets like the UK’s Guardian and the Washington Post keep referring to “Polish concentration camps” (rather than German or Nazi) when writing about the Holocaust.
This is all the more necessary as a new generation of Poles grows up knowing little about WWII and whose only recollection of Communism is via history text books or occasional family anecdotes. For many outside of Poland, Saturday’s crash was the first time they ever even heard of Katyń or the massacres that took place there in 1940. This does not mean we should dwell on the sins of Fascism, Stalinism or communism, but simply to acknowledge their existence, perpetrators and profiteers. How else can we learn and move Poland forward?
One of President Kaczynski’s lasting legacies will be his commitment to preserve the memory of those lost during WWII and honor the victims of Katyń and communist oppression on an international scale. Importantly, it aroused a sense of national consciousness. As Mayor of Warsaw, he was instrumental in establishing the Warsaw Uprising Museum, the Communism Museum and the close to completed Museum of Polish Jewry.
Once our grief has subsided, all Poles, but especially the younger generation need, to step up and take a more active (and leadership) role in Poland’s political life. After all, they will be the stewards of Poland’s future. Being cognizant of Poland’s past not only enables future generations to build trust and forge new partnerships with our neighbors, but also strengthens the commitment to shared values upon which a united Europe was founded. We cannot expect others to respect our history, unless we respect and honor it ourselves. That is the greatest living tribute we can give to honor those that died.
