11.11.2023. 11.11.

In the 1980s, I only participated erstwhile in the Warsaw demonstration on 11.11. I was at the evening Mass in the Cathedral from where the march went to Piłsudski Square (then Victory) and ended with speeches (I remember Wojciech Ziembiński) before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was cold, dark, gloomy, already then it smelled like an intention, but I was going to shout out with others “Get out of the commune”, “There is no freedom without Solidarity” and to rise my hand with my fingers in the sign of triumph at the sung, thundered “God Something Poland...”.

Going to this march/protest I didn't think much about the provenance of this event, the past of the march and the feast of independency and its organizers, but the impression that "something" is "not like this" was strong adequate that I did not choose for any akin patriotic event. It did not concern me specifically, due to the fact that most likely like many another people, I hoped that the sense of community and goal of Solidarity was strong adequate that differences could affect different matters, but knowing the concepts of independency and freedom of man and citizen, as such, is common, or at least so dominant, that natural differences in the pluralistic society in accents on the form of the dream future Poland cannot have a crucial influence. 1989, he confirmed my (our) delusions. The last decade, Kaczyński, PiS, and the nationalists of this illusion deny besides much and force correction of thinking.

A small past of independency Day, by many overlooked:

Since the first years of regained independency for political reasons and in the name of political interests, his celebration has been more divided than it shared. Today's tensions are fundamentally nothing new.

On 11 November, as an authoritative state holiday, it was not until 1937 and before the war authoritative celebrations were held only twice; in 37 and 38. Historians rather agree that it was the expression of the “historical policy” of the then sanctimonious authorities, who, on the 1 hand, wanted to respond to existing and threatening external threats requiring mobilisation and unification and, on the another hand, to pay tribute and even strengthen the worship of Józef Piłsudski built by the sanation. The first article of the applicable resolution of the Sejm reads: “On 11 November, as an anniversary of the restoration of an independent state existence by the Nation of Poland and as a day to time connected with the large name of Józef Piłsudski, the victorious Leader of the Nation in the struggles for the freedom of the Homeland – is simply a solemn Holy Independence”. It is besides worth mentioning that in this time, the law was passed punishing persons who were critically and improperly speaking about the Marshal for up to 5 years. There is no word in this act about the political community, the community of experience and the common future.

The September defeat and business gave this Christmas date a fresh sense. In the country, the memory of independency Day was an expression of the fight against the occupier and the act of patriotism, a symbolic gesture, and in London the attitude to Christmas was, as I read, ambivalent; it was a military vacation but in the state and nationwide dimension protested erstwhile the authorities in the emigration government took over the critical sanctions of the group. I am not an expert in this area, and a fast and brief approach to the work of historians only allows to say that it is not decently written so I cannot talk clearly.

After Yalta, after the war, we know what happened. Even in 1944, this day was lit in Lublin and Moscow (sic!) but shortly after (1945) it was dealt with for good by establishing on 22 July the day of the "real" regainment of independency and on 11 November was deleted for long years from the authoritative calendar but not only... It seems that the trauma after the failure of the Second Polish Republic, years of sanitization and the failure of the Rising and War, twice the lost independency was strong enough, that it was only in the 1970s, during the waking up and organizing of opposition to the Peerel mutation of the russian system, together with the forthcoming call for independency in any cases with the built story of the Second Polish Republic and the appeal by any to pre-war political traditions, that short and ambiguous for reasons of political disputes existing since its origin, the tradition of Christmas 11.11 returns. With the church, pathetically, always in a more or little historical and always clearer nationalist costume.

It has not been better since our triumph in 1989 and regaining full independency and restoring freedom and civilian rights in Poland. What most likely not everyone remembers again the independency Day was passed before the circular Table talks began, before the PPR was taken over and the civilian Committee took control of the state, namely on 15 February 1989:

Probably due to the fact that it was “before” the content of the first conviction of the Act was avoided, although it is besides interesting that the heirs of those who endured the Festival to save their skin or to search a compromise or both, the festival was reborn.

Over the years, it has not been possible to make the 11.11. nationwide, joyful feast of unifying citizen and citizens in a sense of triumph and success. At least that's what it seems from the Warsaw central perspective. Politicians, the media and above all the organizers and participants of the independency March pay attention to themselves. A loud and many march organized for years in Warsaw by nationalists, more or little utmost nationalist organizations, in part openly professional politically and materially supported by the Law and Justice Offices in the general sense took over this day. It's political day for them.

From my Warsaw perspective, I look at Poznań, Gdańsk and most likely many Polish cities, where there are various, building communities, nice, peaceful, joyful, definitely peaceful events. But unfortunately, that's not what I associate with 11.11. erstwhile I look at the March of independency I turn my eyes, I am ashamed of Poland and I cannot agree with the content and form of specified “celebratory” celebration. In my opinion, it does not fall within the area of "difference of views" or political debate, difference of views. It's a march of hatred, an emanation of force and hostility to all others, people, nations, minorities, all who do not march with them, do not submit to the chanted slogan and nationalistic exultation. For me, the horror and the inverse of what I think about the national community, our statehood, independency and relations with others.

It is besides worth mentioning that, despite the citizens' initiatives, the day of our generation's large triumph – 4 June 1989 – the day of the elections won, the day of the triumph of citizens' freedom and the establishment of democratic order was besides and is being protested and did not receive a holiday, national, state commemoration. What to do, we can't handle history, we can't respect ourselves.

As long as politicians “play” history, ignore facts and thus search a way of gaining popularity, and a crucial part of society due to deficiency of cognition will be inclined to believe in this idealized, myth-filled, empty slogans, lies, and semi-truth propaganda of past will not free from the cursed function of a tool of manipulation. The historians themselves are not blameless. It's moving from generation to generation, in college, too. erstwhile 1 communicative wrestles with another, there is no place to learn, draw conclusions and build a community. Referring to the title photograph; together we all become involuntary slaves of this bad tradition.