‘Solidarity’ became just a word again…
In 1989 Poland a Eastern European country which was part of the communist block gave Europe the biggest gift in history, in the Shipyards of Gdansk Poles started the fall of communism. A movement started by Shipyard workers spread all around the country, uniting the people against the communist regime. The Polish dreaming about freedom and democracy created a civic movement ‘Solidarity’ (pol. Solidarność). Although the communist government tried everything, from anti-solidarity propaganda to brutal acts against the protesters they couldn’t break the spirit of an awakening nation.
The leaders of the movement were simple yet brilliant people like Anna Walentynowicz, Andrzej Gwiazd or the most famous solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa. Working closely together and encouraged by the Polish Pope John Paul II, the ‘Solidarity’ movement became the powerful voice of freedom. This voice managed to run a peaceful revolution in Poland, when in the 4th of June 1989 the first (partly) democratic elections were held, all the countries suffering from the ‘communism disease’ went into the Polish footsteps. Soon a free and democratic Europe became reality.
In few days huge celebration will be held due to the 20th anniversary of the ‘89 free election. This is where the splendour of ‘Solidarity’ ends. Today people forgot that ‘Solidarity’ means TOGETHER not AGAINST. With Lech Walesa accused of treason and being in conflict with most of the other ‘Solidarity’ leaders, we face each day another festival of hatred. When people from the government call present ‘Solidarity’ members by the word bandit, and when ‘Solidarity’ activists forgot about they heritage, we face a sad era in Europe. Those activists started to support specific political options and care more about their own business than about the legend of ‘Solidarity’. Instead of showing who strong and proud Poland has became, they act not better than anarchists on G8 summits, devastating cities and fighting with the Police.
The government is not without guilt in this conflict. Instead of a dialogue with members of the society, they hide between accusing ‘Solidarity’ members of supporting the opposition and fighting the ruling party. The celebrations of June the 4th should be held in Gdansk, where it all begun. Instead the Prime Minister decided to run to Cracow so he could avoid any protesters.
My question is, where in all of this have we lost our true solidarity, we made the worst thing we made out of a freedom movement a simple word again…
MP
It’s sad that no matter where you are in the world, people have forgotten what they really want. Messages so great have been lost in the ways of radical people. Hopefully one day we will all remember the things we want and how we wanted to get them, instead of fighting causing more hurt than good.
Well it is still a long road, but there is no harm in trying.