USA

One of the heroes is definitely Tadeusz Cisek - Siberia-veteran, paratrooper of General Stanisław Sosabowski's Independent Brigade, soldier of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, commander of the 94th SWAP outpost in Milwaukee, member of the Polish American Congress, Polish community activist. He passed away on December 8, 2021, at the age of 98. His fate is an individual record of Polish history after regaining independence in 1918.

The greatest threat to the security of the United States at present is the partisan perception of US politics. Putting party interests above the American raison d'etat causes the greatest dysfunction of the American political system and it is a threat not only to the US political system, but also a threat to the global security system.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 1936, on the 100th anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence, the January 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition Bulletin stated: "In the Hall of Heroes of this Texas Hall of State, at the opening of the Centennial Exposition in Dallas on June 6, Felix Wardziński's name will be inscribed along with with the name of Sam Houston, the liberator, and Stephen F. Austin, the colonizer and father of the Lone Star Empire. "