A note to the Polish People

I salute the Polish people! You have daringly put the "real" face upon jihad, and dare, yet once more, to tell 'truth to power'. I thank Gateway Pundit, via Instapundit for this and marvel, yet again, at the Polish people. [updated link here]

When I was reviewing Polish history as a teenager, I was perplexed by it and the seeming inability of the Polish people to keep their homeland. I asked my uncle Edward about this and he looked into the distance (he had come from a visit Krakow the previous summer) and said:

"Well, the Polish people have always been split between those that trust and invite outsiders to come in and those that want self-rule and do not trust outsiders. Polish history is that between the Xenophiles and the Xenophobes and each waxes and wanes over history."

I nodded reviewing that history and much made sense with that. Always a free people and wanting to be free, but split on how to achieve freedom and keep it safe so that a majority could rule but the minorities would not be over-ruled. Perhaps you swung too far and allowed too few to decide the early course of Poland by saying 'Nay'. And yet you sent troops to the British Colonies as they revolted in America. Growing up in Buffalo, NY and being half-Polish, I heard the name Casimir everywhere... Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski. The honor of those brave Poles who came on horseback to defend the new nation called the United States Of America is honored still, to this day. We do not forget those who have helped us, even when, as a very young state, we could do little to help you.

In sorrow we could do little as your people and country were over-run again and again, divided up like so much booty between Empires as they waxed and waned. And yet, through it all, the Polish people perservered, adhering to their Faith and to ideals of freedom, liberty and justice. The 20th century brought more of the same, as Poland was free and then over-run yet again and again. When lost to Germany many brave men and women went to Britain and there enlisted enmass to fight against their conquerors. What was visited upon the Polish people was a true atrocity, 6 million dead, half of them Jews, a huge and gaping wound to such a small country. And yet you fought and fought and regathered and tried to win back your homeland, even from abroad. It is to the shame of all Western nations that We did not stand firm for a free vote by Poland and other countries after the war. That stain may fade, but will always be with everyone who is free.

And yet you kept Faith and resisted. Communists might rule, but taking in Poland was a poison pill to them in the end. War could not break that Faith. Famine and deprivation could only displace some of your people, and then they sent help back to you. I remember my aunt Jessie gathering up clothing and other dry goods to send to relatives. I clearly remember her saying about the parcels:

"Our relatives have told us that it does not matter what sizes of clothing we send. Just the kinds and general children's, men's and women's. If it does not fit in the immediate family it will be bartered for something else. It will change hands again and again until it gets to someone who needs it. Things we consider worn and old, they prize as they have so little. We also stash candy and secrete money away where easy inspections can not get to them, but the family knows it is there. American dollars go very far there."

And so it was that year on year goods and money and the promise of freedom were sent back. I had heard that you still prayed to be saved from Vikings and further south from the Mongols, still. When the memory of Hungary and Prague had died down and the Cold War had settled in, the people of Poland kept Faith with their ancestors and their dreams of a free people. Then a Polish Pope and then Solidarity of workers in Gdansk. Many worried that Poland would suffer the same fate... but they did not know the Polish people. I watched from afar as Poland struck the blow that would bleed the Soviet Union dry, the wound that could not heal: Workers in Solidarity together killing the 'Worker's Paradise'. It called the lie of Communism out into the open and directly to its face, and Communism started to soften and crumble. When coal miners who joined the strike were asked if they worried about troops coming in to force them to work, they responded: 'Let them dig coal with bayonets. Let them TRY.'

The Polish people pointed to the hammers that were available to tear down Communism and keep Faith. And to dream of liberty and make it a reality. With your stoutness came the resounding echo from America, calling an Evil Empire what it was. Many on the left quivered at that and the idea that a free people, yearning to be free should be encouraged to do so. But the hammers were there and others in Eastern Europe began to pick them up, one by one. Each strike, each blow, each and every denunciation of Communism by its own people, caused it to yield and crumble until the hammer blows became continuous until the edifice shattered and disintegrated.

Because of Poland and a People keeping Faith wanting freedom, liberty and justice.

Of all peoples on this planet, yours know what it means to do the hard, hard work to keep faith with your forefathers and give the gift of that faith to your children. Today you stand with that little country you helped to birth as it reaches out to the world, extending the gift you helped us gain so long ago to give to others. Your blood ran with ours in this land, and you have given us Faith to keep so that liberty, freedom and justice may prevail.

It is to our shame as a People, a Nation and a Government that we do NOT extend to you preference in contracts and work. Why give to Dubai or Communist China work that could be done by companies from Poland? Perhaps not the most efficient or the most modern, but you damn well put in a hard day's work and expect proper pay for that work. You know what it means to *do* the work and make the workplace better because of THAT. Why we do NOT include Poland in that circle of free and unfettered trade I will never, ever understand. If your people can do some things better than ours through dint of hard work, perserverence and keeping FAITH with US, then we should happily and gracefully hand them to you and say: "Thank You, You have EARNED them."

The Forefathers and Founders of the United States worked with Polish people who came here to help extend their dream of freedom to Us. And now you yet AGAIN speak the truth and keep the Faith and see injustice and dare, dare to speak of it openly so that all may see.

I am hard and deeply ashamed that Americans do NOT do the same.

Thank You, People of Poland.

May the Polish People always keep Faith and be a Free people in their hearts, their souls and their lives.

And keep on shaming your friends by stating the obvious so that we all may see.

THAT is the dearest gift you can give to all humanity: clear sight and plain truth.

Maybe, someday, we can have that here in America, too.

Thank you!

A Jacksonian