Recent Posts

Most Used Categories

Tag: Peace

You are Here :
Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Katyn Remembered

A few weeks ago the acclaimed Polish director, Andrzej Wajda released his new film about the Kayn Massacre.

On the heels of the release, Ewa Thompson, the editor of Sarmatian Review, wrote an article for the Washington Times on Katyn entitled Somber anniversaries, chances to reconcile

Notwithstanding that a Memorial to the Victims of Communism was unveiled in Washington, DC, in June 2007, the Gulag is fast slipping into oblivion. The Russians have destroyed all but one of the Gulag Archipelago camps, of which there had been hundreds, including the most barbarous ones in Kolyma and Solovki.

The only camp that still stands in all its infamous glory is located in the Urals. It survived almost by accident. In the 1990s, when the momentum of perestroika was still on, a museum commemorating the victims was built on camp grounds. In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, it seemed awkward to destroy the camp that included a museum; and thus the Perm labor camp No. 35 remained a lonely monument to communism’s way of dealing with dissent. But who goes to see Perm? Who knows about Perm except a few academic specialists?

The forest of Katyn in western Russia resonates better with world memory than Perm, though it devoured fewer victims: “only” 20,000 Polish officers, all prisoners of war, brought there surreptitiously at night, truckload after truckload, and shot in the back of the head as they were marched toward the carefully hidden ditches that became their graves.

Katyn was one of three places where these murders took place. It gained notoriety owing to one of history’s bitter ironies. The Katyn graves were discovered by the Germans in 1942, during their occupation of western portions of Soviet Russia. The Germans, ever eager to score propaganda points, waited to announce the discovery until April 1943, when the “liquidation” of the Warsaw Ghetto was to begin and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising broke out. At that point, the Germans brought to the Katyn mass graves the International Red Cross and the world press. Many pictures were taken and published worldwide. The Nazis hoped to divert the world’s attention from what they were about to do in Warsaw.

Amid all this stood the Poles, whose country had to endure Nazi death camps in the west, and the Soviet Gulag in the east. Katyn was just an episode in this grim competition of atrocities.

It was an episode, but it has remained an indelible part of Polish memory. On Sept. 17, or the 68th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland, Polish President Lech Kaczynski visited Katyn with pomp and ceremony. For the first time, the Russian government agreed to such a public manifestation of grief by the Polish head of state accompanied by many descendants of the victims.

Coincidentally, the Oscar-winning Polish film director Andrzej Wajda made a film about Katyn. The film premiered the same day, Sept. 17, in Warsaw’s Grand Theater. Mr. Wajda’s father was among the officers shot by the Soviets in 1940. Mr. Wajda dedicated his film to his father and his mother, who for years hoped against hope her husband would return from Soviet captivity. The final scene of the movie lasts 20 minutes, and it depicts the laborious process of killing the Polish captives.

There is a positive lesson in all this. At the Katyn cemetery, President Kaczynski made an appeal for Polish-Russian reconciliation. From his speech, it became apparent he did not go to Katyn to complain but to reconcile. Much bad blood exists between Poles and Russians, and it will take patience, forgiveness and wisdom to lay the past to rest. Mr. Kaczynski made the first step…

Perspective, Political,

They’re not speaking for us

…but he is:

The complex of considerations weighed heavily on Rabbi Howard L. Jaffe of Temple Isaiah, who after weeks of thought decided to back the genocide resolution. —It’s very hard for me to support a position that could be detrimental to Israel,— he said. —But for me as a Jew, I have to take seriously Jewish values, and they require us to do what is right and righteous.—

From the NY Times in Armenian Issue Presents a Dilemma for U.S. Jews

The article discusses the conflicts that have arisen between various Jewish communities in Massachusetts and a couple of national Jewish organizations that are advocating against recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The problem with organizations like the ADL, AJC, and AIPAC is that they claim to represent the interests of all people of a certain ethnic group. That’s not bad in and of itself. The fight for respect is a worthy fightHeaven knows that the Polish American Congress has long rallied against anti-Polish defamation and the mis-characterization of Poles, Polish-Americans, and Poland, especially in the MSM.

That being said, such organizations are often self-perpetuating institutions, supported by a small percentage of the community, and held to the fore by those who make a living off that support. Unfortunately, that’s a recipe for loosing sight of the people’s needs as well as their voice.

In the Massachusetts case, the people took back their voice. True freedom of expression recognized.

Christian Witness,

Bridges between the earthly and the divine

From the Buffalo News: A stunning makeover at St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church

Lackawanna church getting a lush coat of imagery

After more than 50 years, the spartan whiteness inside St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church is steadily disappearing beneath a lush coat of luminous Christian imagery.

A huge portrait of Jesus Christ haloed in gold leaf now peers from overhead. Dramatic scenes out of the Bible, such as the healing of the paralyzed man and the raising of Lazarus, are depicted on other sections of the curved ceiling.

The Rev. Theodore Jurewicz, a master iconographer from Erie, Pa., is about a quarter of the way through a stunning makeover of the Lackawanna church. When completed, the ceiling and walls will be covered with 22 scenes of biblical feasts and miracles, as well as paintings of numerous Christian saints and martyrs.

For Orthodox Christians, the colorful icons are not mere paintings: They are considered essential elements of the worship experience and bridges between the earthly and the divine.

—We call icons windows into heaven,— said the Rev. Rastko Trbuhovich , pastor of St. Stephen.

Icons have graced the iconostasis —” a screen that separates the nave from the sanctuary —” since the 90- year-old parish opened a new church at Abbott and Weber roads in the 1950s.

Those icons were —written— by the late Rev. Kiprian Pishew, a legendary iconographer who trained students in the Russian-Serbian style at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville in Central New York.

Jurewicz, 57, was one of those apprentices and is now himself highly regarded in the world of iconography. The parishioners of St. Stephen waited at least a decade for him to become available for their project, figuring that he would be the best iconographer to integrate new frescoes with the old…

An interesting bit of history. Right next door to St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church is Our Lady of Bistrica Roman Catholic Church (Croatian). Interesting neighbors during the Balkan wars – they actually got along amicably and with Christian charity.

Current Events, Perspective, Political

What might have been

It looks like some Democratic members of Congress are backing off their support for the Armenian Genocide resolution (see: Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote from the NY Times).

It seems odd in light of the President and Congress honoring the Dali Lama (see: Bush and Congress Honor Dalai Lama in Plain View also from the NY Times).

Bush and the Congress are willing to go toe-to-toe with the Chinese who, as of this point in history, can literally squeeze the United States until we cry (i.e., they own all our debt and can ravage our economy). See particularly: China may lead US economy to collapse dumping US dollar from Pravda.

This past August, two Chinese government officials highlighted China’s massive U.S. dollar holdings (which include treasuries) and how it supports the value of the U.S. currency. They also noted that Beijing could use those holdings as a political weapon to counter congressional calls to revalue the yuan and impose trade sanctions on Chinese goods. Chinese state media referred to the country’s stockpile of U.S. dollars as its economic —nuclear option,— capable of destroying the dollar at will.

It would seem that we have more to fear from China than from an almost third world Islamic state like Turkey who depends largely on U.S. support (upwards of $26.5 billion in economic and military aid, not counting other “special” aid programs that specifically target Turkey and IsraelU.S. Department of State: Turkey 09/07 and CRS Report for Congress, Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy, Updated April 15, 2004).

I think a hint to the sudden change-of-heart among the few can be found in the various articles that circulated in recent days. They noted that Turkey would cut off logistical support for the U.S. war effort in Iraq. It appears something like 30% of the fuel and 70% support materials going to our troops in Iraq go through Turkey. For instance, from CNN:

“More than half of the cargo flown into Iraq and Afghanistan comes through Incirlik Air Base, and this base would be a key component of any plans for redeployment of our troops in the future,” they wrote.

Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pentagon planners are looking at “a broad range of options” to keep food, fuel and ammunition flowing to U.S. troops in Iraq if Turkey blocks Incirlik.

“We’re confident that we’ll find ways to do that,” Ham told reporters at the Pentagon. “There’s likely to be some increased cost and some other implications for that, and obviously we’d prefer to maintain the access that we have.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates echoed lawmakers’ concerns last week.

“About 70 percent of all air cargo going into Iraq goes through Turkey. … About a third of the fuel that they consume goes through Turkey or comes from Turkey,” Gates said.

Now if the Democrats were smart they would do all they could to anger the Turks. Let them cut off our supply chain. This might just be the thing that needs doing in order to capsize Mr. Bush’s war. We would end up like the Germans, stuck in Africa or Russia at the far end of the supply chain – only saved because we should be smart enough to get out while we can.

Time to bring ’em home.

But then again, no Democrat wants to end the war either. If they did, they would cut Mr. Bush’s supply of money and material, whatever it takes.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political,

Proclaim it brother

From the BBC: Pope ‘refused audience for Rice’

Pope Benedict XVI refused a recent request by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss the Middle East and Iraq, Vatican sources say.

The Pope refused a request for an audience during the August holidays.

Senior Vatican sources told the BBC the Pope does not normally receive politicians on his annual holiday at the Castelgandolfo residence near Rome.

But one leading Italian newspaper said it was an evident snub by the Vatican towards the Bush administration.

Christian rights

There are at least two reasons why Pope Benedict may have decided peremptorily against a private meeting with Ms Rice.

First, it was Ms Rice who just before the outbreak of the Iraq war in March 2003 made it clear to a special papal envoy sent from Rome, Cardinal Pio Laghi, that the Bush administration was not interested in the views of the late Pope on the immorality of launching its planned military offensive.

Secondly, the US has responded in a manner considered unacceptable at the Vatican to the protection of the rights of Iraqi Christians under the new Iraqi constitution.

The Bush administration has told the Vatican that as coalition forces have not succeeded in securing the whole territory of Iraq, they are unable to protect non-Muslims.

Instead of meeting the Pope, Ms Rice had to make do with a telephone conversation with the Vatican’s number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was visiting the US during August on other business.

Witness can be quiet or loud, subtle or direct. I say Amen to this approach. Would that more Christians witness in such a manner, especially in this country.

Just say no!

Current Events, Perspective, Political

Well, that didn’t take too long…

The bear begins to wake.

Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney are home again. Ah, all is well in the world, except, maybe this time, another country will claim to have God on its side (and remember, regardless of who is doing the claiming, it is a lie).

rosja_bronia_bogata_1874466.jpg

The photo is from AFP via Interia in Poland. I like the one comment that was posted with this photo titled Diabeł i Bóg (the devil and God).

The article is about Russia getting rich off arms sales. In 2006 Russian arms sales reached $6.5 billion, the best ever. Sales were made to 64 countries.

I wonder if I can still hire a firm to construct a fallout shelter? If not, I’m thinking business opportunity…

Current Events, Perspective, Political

Saddam, Saddam, we want Saddam

From CNN: U.S. officials rethink hopes for Iraq democracy

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Nightmarish political realities in Baghdad are prompting American officials to curb their vision for democracy in Iraq. Instead, the officials now say they are willing to settle for a government that functions and can bring security.

A workable democratic and sovereign government in Iraq was one of the Bush administration’s stated goals of the war.

But for the first time, exasperated front-line U.S. generals talk openly of non-democratic governmental alternatives, and while the two top U.S. officials in Iraq still talk about preserving the country’s nascent democratic institutions, they say their ambitions aren’t as “lofty” as they once had been.

“Democratic institutions are not necessarily the way ahead in the long-term future,” said Brig. Gen. John “Mick” Bednarek, part of Task Force Lightning in Diyala province, one of the war’s major battlegrounds.

The comments reflect a practicality common among Western diplomats and officials trying to win hearts and minds in the Middle East and other non-Western countries where democracy isn’t a tradition.

The failure of Iraq to emerge from widespread instability is a bitter pill for the United States, which optimistically toppled the Saddam Hussein regime more than four years ago…

Recap: We send 160,000 troops to a foreign country that did nothing to us (probably more like 400,000 with rotations and all). We take over 3,700 US Service deaths, tens of thousands of casualties, in excess of 500,000 Iraqis die (see all the gruesome numbers at Iraq Coalition Casualty Count) destroy the country, while our own roads and bridges fall apart, all so we can install a new Saddam?

Wouldn’t it have been well enough to leave the old guy in place? He had a government that function[ed] and [brought] security…

Also see Wonkette: U.S. Generals Finally Admit They’re Not In Iraq For ‘Democracy,’ Either (caution – strong language).

Lord have mercy on us.

Current Events, Perspective, Political,

He just doesn’t get it…

Some statements from President Bush on Independence Day, 2007From the Washington Post in: President Defends War on July 4th: Bush Compares Iraq To Revolutionary War.

“We give thanks for all the brave citizen-soldiers of our Continental Army who dropped pitchforks and took up muskets to fight for our freedom and liberty and independence,” Bush said. He added: “You’re the successors of those brave men. . . . Like those early patriots, you’re fighting a new and unprecedented war.”

New and unprecedented because it was created in the mind of Mr. Bush’s neo-con advisers, those who push the commander-in-chief’s buttons. New and unprecedented because we are fighting against people who did nothing to precipitate our invasion, did not seek our help, and perfectly well don’t want us there. They want us less than the Colonists wanted their King George.

You cover your abuse of our citizen soldiers, who you are using as your personal hamburger, with faí§ades of glory. To the extent that we are involved in foreign adventures in Iraq, Kosovo, Korea, or elsewhere, our soldiers bear no resemblance to the resolute ideals of our Founding Fathers. Our founders fought for hearth, home, and self-determination… kind of like the folks in Iraq, fighting against our ill conceived venture.

Perhaps our citizen soldiers would be better successors if they were home, protecting our borders, or helping us in natural disasters.

Now for the fear mongering:

“If we were to quit Iraq before the job is done, the terrorists we are fighting would not declare victory and lay down their arms. They would follow us here, home”

All of them? Now how many Iraqis are there? Perhaps a few, perhaps one or two (I’m sounding like Dr. Seuss).

Of course they have no right to be ticked, our supporting Israel above all things (even ourselves) and our little jaunt through Iraq, leaving the country poor, in debt, with its infrastructure destroyed, its Christian population killed-off, with neighbor against neighbor, a puppet regime in place, and, and, and…

No Mr. Bush. No freedom for the Iraqis, no illusions, no allusions to our experience. No Mr. Bush, just criminal incompetence seeped in blood.

You cannot compare yourself or your adventures to anything the Founding Fathers did on that day in Philadelphia. At best you can compare yourself to a drunken and abusive father.

Current Events, Perspective, Political,

Pardon thy iniquities Mr. Bush

The Young Fogey links to: Bush lets Libby off the hook and posits:

What’s really disturbing is Libby’s bosses will get away with what they did.

To me it’s kind of like reflecting on the Paris Hilton story (thank you, thank you Mika Brzezinski), but reflect I do.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney will never face a war crimes tribunal or be held to account – getting away with it. But conscience is not so easily satisfied.

I know that it is easy to paint people black and white. Mr. Bush and his cohort are certainly in the black end of the scale – fear mongering, do whatever it takes to get what we want, who cares who dies types. At the same time, I do not think that those caught in the grips of perversion are without humanity and souls.

Unless they are truly mentally ill (I don’t think so) and devoid of humanity, like a fictional serial killer, the pangs of guilt eat away.

Mr. Bush may ask himself: ‘Can I let the Scoot man (I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby) suffer for what I and my people have done?’

Certainly not! Mr. Bush has shown remarkable loyalty to those who do his bidding.

Other Presidents would have cut Rumsfeld loose long before Mr. Bush did. Messrs. Gonzalez and Cheney would have been long gone as well.

But, in Mr. Bush’s world, he is the decision maker. He holds on to a fading illusion like a drowning man gripping sand. All he has, and will have left, are those glimmers of conscience for the dead servicemen and women he has refused to honor, the neo-con fascists he remains loyal to, and those whose sentences he will commute (and later pardon).

Know for a certainty, however, that whatever your hands or the hands of the infidels have wrought will never, as they never did of old, change the Cause of God or alter His ways. — Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, CXIII, 12

All Right Reserved © 2005 - 2023