Archives: Year 2021

Since 2016, there has been a discussion in the Polish media space about how to defend Poland's good name. Representatives of political circles, academic representatives of the media, clergy and many others participated in this discussion. At the moment, the debate continues. Almost all diagnoses have been made. It was decided what to do. And what happened? Nothing.

The Crooked Forest (Pol. Krzywy Las) is one of the most beautiful places in Poland. There is no such charming and strange forest in the whole world. It can be seen in Nowy Czarnów, located four kilometers from Gryfino, close to the "Dolna Odra" Power Plant.

Let the thankful memory of his countrymen in Poland and in exile be the most important award for everything that Janusz Sporek did for the Polish culture and the Polish community. People like Him are unique and irreplaceable, but their ideas can and should be continued. We regret to say goodbye to the Maestro, but we are proud that we had Him among us.

I must admit that this text has been in the back of my mind for several years. I have not written it earlier out of concern for the good name of the Polish community in America, of which I am an integral part, but recently some situations just irritate me.

After the third partition, the area of ​​the seized Polish lands constituted more than half of the territory of Prussia, while Poles constituted almost half of its population. Since then, for 123 years, until 1918, Poland did not exist as a sovereign state.

Although there are no witnesses to this history anymore, substantial American archives remain, however, which allow to extract the truth about the great patriotism of over 20,000 soldiers and the entire army of involved civilians, Polish community activists who, together with the volunteers, devoted themselves to creating a great and strong, free and independent Poland, and for whom we should also ensure a worthy place in our historical memory.

The history of Polish Texans is not very well known. Very few people among the Polish diaspora realize that Texas was the first landing place for Polish refugees escaping the hardships after the November Uprising of 1830; also the site of the first Polish settlement in America; the first home for a Polish Catholic church and parishes on the continent; and the location of the first Polish-language school.

On Wednesday, November 10, that is, on the eve of the National Independence Day, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland located in a historic building on Lakeshore Blvd. in Chicago, official celebrations were held, combined with the presentation of decorations awarded by the President of Poland, and with artistic performances.

The celebration of Independence forces us all to reflect. It forces us to analyze the facts: what has been done to fix Poland and what has not. Many activities after 1989 are still in doubt.

Poles have lost their independence twice in their history. They lost it in stages for the first time, handing over border areas to their neighbors three times (I partition of Poland - 1772, II - 1793, III - 1795). After the defeat of the Kościuszko Uprising and the last partition, the name of Poland disappeared from the maps of Europe and the world for 123 years.

It is time to create professional, pro-Polish lobbying in strategic countries for Poland, and to invest in the collapsing Polish diaspora media. The network of Polish diaspora media and strategically connected organizations in countries important to Poland is an important step and the most important priority that nobody talks about. The Polish diaspora around the world has the potential that can not only help strategically support Polish interests, but also help change the image of Poland.

The Polish national flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines (PLL, Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT) filed a lawsuit against The Boeing Company in a federal court in Seattle on October 26. The lawsuit demands a compensation of no less than PLN 1 billion ($252 million).

People struggled with my last name when I was single, refusing to attempt a pronunciation or apologizing before they even started. My married surname is no easier for them. One man even asked why I couldn’t marry someone named Jones or Smith. I think he was joking, but it stung. This was my ethnicity he was mocking.