Polonia

A delegation of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland from Washington and the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago, came to Milwaukee on August 13 this year to honor the last surviving World War II veteran, Major Leonard Jędrzejczak.

Prof. Marek Rudnicki from Chicago — an outstanding doctor, scientist, academic lecturer, author, patriotic and social activist, as well as a mountaineer.

Waldemar Biniecki, Kuryer Polski's Editor-in-Chief, interviews Consul General Patrick T. Slowinski who is retiring from diplomatic service, having most recently served as the U.S. Consul General in Kraków, Poland.

65 years have passed since the end of World War II. The historical cataclysm, caused by the invasion of Poland by Germany and Russia, destroyed our country not only economically, but also burdened us with a system that was alien and hostile to the nation for many years.

Protecting historical landmarks symbolizing freedom and horrors of genocide should be above reproach. However, the Jersey City monument commemorating the 1940 Katyn massacre of 22,000 Polish POW officers held by the Soviet Army after its 1939 invasion of Poland was challenged and plans were made for its removal in May last year.

This May (2022) was the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great world-class Polish opera singer and actor Jan W. Kiepura. His road to the top of his artistic career is not a Cinderella's dream, but the result of persistent work and wise life choices. His singing won the hearts of music lovers in Europe and the world, but he always loved Poland the most and was ready to sacrifice a lot for her.

The balance of power in the world is changing. The price of a barrel of oil exceeds USD 120. Inflation in many countries has gone beyond the magical 10%, the high prices are starting to bother many households. Central and Eastern Europe is also changing before our eyes. There is a devastating war going on in Eastern Europe.

The Polish Institute of Culture and Research at Orchard Lake is a not-for-profit organization that serves the Polish American community, regionally and nationally, as a center for Polish and Polish American culture and research. As part of the Orchard Lake Schools and rooted in the teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, the Institute is part of an ancient, living tradition of Polish and Polish American culture and serves as center for research and cultural activity for people from throughout its region, across North America, and around the world.

From the beginning of the partitions of Poland, the invaders tried to Germanize and Russify the Poles by all means. One of the basic methods was to fight the Polish language. In schools, students were subject to corporal punishment for using the Polish language during breaks between lessons, and their parents were fined.

I have been to Poland for the last week. I meet many Ukrainians in the streets. In restaurants and shops, I am served by excellent-Polish-speaking Ukrainians. It is important to talk about how Poles opened their hearts to their neighbors.

Before the countries of Central and Eastern Europe — and maybe even more broadly, including the Scandinavian countries, and some countries of southern Europe, all the way to Turkey — in connection with the ongoing war in Ukraine, there is a window of opportunity to create a geopolitical project, the idea of ​​which has been alive since the times of Marshal Piłsudski.