Polish national stadium with the name of a hero?

National hero Ryszard Siwiec/Image courtesy: wikipedia.org

An important and late gesture towards a symbol for the struggle against communism, according to government ministers and politicians, will be made. It is finally a good sign that all politicians in Poland unanimously agree that either the Polish National Stadium or a main street leading to it, will be named after Ryszard Siwiec.

Ryszard Siwiec committed suicide by burning himself, not trying to injure other innocent poeple, in the stands of the Stadion Dzisięciolecia (10th-Anniversary Stadium). It all happened during a yearly harvest festival on the 8th of September 1968 where high profile Communist minsters were present, as a protest for the Soviet-led invasion of Prague, the Czechslovakian capital on the 5th of January 1968, by tanks from countries in the Warsaw Pact.

Communist Poland also joined this horrific and very inhumane action to repress the street riots and uprising in Prague, also known as the “Prague Spring”.

This sad event took place to keep and secure a horrific and cruel Communist system in place. Many hundred people lost their lives during that inhumane invasion.

Heroic intellectual

Siwiec, was a philosopher, former Polish Underground Homy Army soldier (AK), who took part in the fight for an independent Poland from the occupying Nazis and later from the Communists.

Self-immolation in the stands/Image courtesy: wikipedia.org

He was a husband and father of five, but saw his life as a duty to fight for a free Poland and the inhumane totalitarian Communist oppression in Eastern Europe.

He knew that fighting for a free and independent Eastern Europe was his duty, as a honourable person who risked his life on many occasions before. His suicide in the name of freedom was never reported and people were forced to keep quet over this incident.

Dedication for Poland’s best manager?

This stadium is now taken apart, due to the construction of the new Polish National Stadium for the EURO2012 taking place in Poland and Ukraine. Mirosław Drzewiecki, currently Minister for Sport and Tourism in Poland, is looking at all options even seeling the name for commercial purposes to a sponsor.

Legendary manager/Image courtesy: kazimierzgorski.pl

Another very popular option is to name the stadium after the most successful Polish National coach Kazimierz Górski, who led the Polish National Team to the most successful era in its history. Poland was then seen as one of the three best teams in the world, beating football powers with ease.

His biggest success was probably the 3rd place at a World Cup. A team that knocked out England from participating in the upcoming World Cup in Germany, Yugoslavia, Sweden and Italy, during the 1974 World Cup in Germany, only to lose the semi-final to the host in a very controversial way.

But also winning the Gold medal with his team at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, but also wan the Silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

It would be very important to show the appreciation to both heroes, who made us proud to be Polish.

Stadium in the name of two Polish heroes?/Image courtesy: PL.2012

Keep politics out of sports

Excluded from tournament Shahar Peer & Andy Ram/Image courtesy by wikimedia.org

We always relate sports to our European heritage. Thanks to the ancient Greek and Roman athletes we have great role models when it comes to perform sports in everyday life. But there is one thing that the wise and honourable athletes of the Roman Empire and Greek peninsula did. Keeping politics out of sports.

Most famously, in ancient Greece, all wars and battles have been stopped due to the Olympic Games. In the end it all came down to healthy rivalry and the aim of a place among the champions.

Tennis is a new discipline when compared to track and field or discus throwing. It is one of the most popular sports in the world with many followers and athletes. Unfortunately, now this politically untouched area has been hit by a scandal. In some countries this ancient model is not accepted.

Politics in Dubai

Dubai refused to let Shahar Peer, a female Israeli professional tennis player, into the country.

Many have no doubt that this obvious discirimination is related to the recent Israel-Gaza conflict of mid-December, as a small protest and sign of solidarity with the terrorist Hamas group. In Dubai tournament organisers although said that they only want to protect the player from possible attacks and have no political intention.

Fortunately, WTA and ATP reacted quickly and set a record fine $300,000 onto the organisers to prevent future discrimination. All rules set by the ATP and WTA have to be obeyed and if not done the tournament will be taken off the calendar.

Never again

The WTA Tour Chairman Larry Scott spoke of Shahar Peer “who was victimized by an unjust policy of discrimination by the UAE.  These actions are also intended to send a clear message that our Tour will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and that we will never allow this situation to happen again, in UAE or elsewhere.”

Solidarity

Now more and more players show solidarity with Shahar Peer and already informed the public of their boycott of the Dubai tournament next year. Agnieszka and Urszula Radwańska, two sisters from Poland, but also Andy Roddick, are among many players that will not participate next year. But also TV stations and broadcasters declared their slidarity and took the tournament off air.

Andy Ram, another Israeli professional tennis player was also about to get his visa refused, but in the end under the pressure from the ATP, the player could participate in the tournament.

Dubai as liberal as it claims to be, have no political or diplomatic ties with Israel.

A dangerous result

Hugo Chavez another Socialist/Communist Dictator?/Image courtesy of visionamericas.com

Results from the Venezuelan referendum worry on what is coming up next in international affairs. It is a possible defeat for future democracy and freedom, but I am not surprised that people who voted for Mr. Chavez are very short sighted and narrow minded, as a result of the ongoing leftist propaganda and brainwashing of society.

It is the will of the people in Venezuela, which accepted the amendments to the Constitution. Fair enough. But do they really know what they got themselves into?

Experts say that Chavez deliberatly played on the poverty, criminality and everything that is bad in his country, to force through his ideas of a socialist/communist revolution.

Cruel system

I know, from my own experience, that Socialism in any of its forms is a cruel system. Did not history already show us what will happen? Socialism is just a cover word for dictatorship and Communism. It evolves very rapidly into Communism and repression.

Why go so much against peace in the world? I would not be too worried if he would use mild and peaceful verses in his speeches, but all his anger and hate against the West is just to worrying.

Socialism/Communism = Dictatorship, money on arms, ties with dictators

Chavez already showed with his arm deals, military co-exercises with Russia, strong ties with Cuba and Iran, that he is not going to stay away from any means in order to protect the revolution in his country, but also wants to secure a place as a world power for God knows which reason.

Why does not he use the money to modernise the country? I am quite sure that infrastructure, education, health system and other important civil projects need improvements.

Refusing free thoughts

He even rejected entry for the Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Former President of Poland Lech Wałęsa, the one who brought down Communism in Eastern Europe through famous strikes. He was invited by the democratic opposition in Venezuela for talks and to give lectures.

Why? Becuase Chavez knows that Lech Wałęsa would endanger his struggle for complete power and a socialist dictatorship with him at the helm for another century if you like. It is fair to argue that he might want to stay in power with force in a few years time. Relating to dirty practices and oppressing methods.

This is just the beginning of censorship and repressing of thoughts. Next up is foreign and oppositional media…

Did the people there really experience what it means not be free? You might get some benefits from it, but what if you are not able to go abroad, roam around freely and most importantly think freely?

Just a cover

Any benefits hat come from socialists are just cover on what goes on in the background, where normal citizens do not have the rights to look into and where equality does not apply.There are only equal rights for a special group at the head of the state, the rest has to adapt to everything they say.

I just want to tell the people of Venezuela that what they chose is not a good choice, it is not the future. We know from history what can happen in the name of Socialism.

Democracy and the freedom is in danger in this South American country.

Schocking study: Nazis as schoolname patrons

Nazi patrons over schoolchildren in Germany

Its the 21. century and if you might think that we have already completely cleaned out any forms of the cruel systems such as fascism or communism, you are mistaking.

An unbelievable study by a German historian suggests that there are still schools in Germany with Nazi school name patrons. Members of the SS, SA, NSDAP give the names to at least eight schools, in Saxony. This is a sickening study, that shows the true face of some local authorities in Germany, who do not want to change voluntarily the names of mass murderers, war criminals, unless the media gets involved. But also the central government does not take enough measures to completely eliminate cases of modern National Socialism.

This is a clear message by the school and local authorities in Germany: We support Nazis! We negate the Holocaust and all its atrocities!

Why does not this study cause so much media coverage as the case of the Lefebvrist Bishop? Why is not Angela Merkel reacting to this shocking study?

Angela Merkel was quick to ask for an explanation from the Vatican. But to tackle and denounce such public institutions in her own country, is not seen as a priority.

Action has to be taken immediately. The elimination of Communist patrons from school names has already been completed, but the presence of SS members in school names is not something that disturbs or even irritates the German population.

Over the last incidents, a stronger and LEGAL presence of the Neo-Nazi Party NDP in local governments, the war in Gaza and over-criticising Israel and now the inaction about Nazi names at schools, it seems that the radical form of fascism and anti-Semitism, that we fortunately only know from history books and our elder family members, is returning to a daily practice in Germany, and was just hidden over the last few decades.

One school were pupils went out and protested at the Nazi patron of their school, is a good and promising action taken. This one example shows that some students and pupils actually learn and understand the information absorbed during the hisotry lesson. A history lesson taught at the same school, with the Nazi patron.

Hope for a reduced nuclear weapons arsenal

A nuclear bomb/Image courtesy of wikimedia.org

Barack Obama in his first weeks at the Oval Office shows that his period as President of the United States of America will be based on more peaceful and open politics.

One important step towards a less violent and aggressive future in of the world, is certainly the reduction of nuclear weapons in the world.

According to an article in “The Times”, the US is ready to work on that and make this reduction programme a priority throughout Obama’s presidency period, even though it brings risk to US state security.

The declaration to reduce warheads comes shortly after Iran successfully launched a satellite carrier to space but also does not want to stop uranium enriching programme and reports that North Korea will be testing long range missiles/rockets that can reach the US.

Barack Obama wants a new treaty/Image courtesy of Tyronetakesamerica.com

Mr. Obama is spreading the right message to his followers but also eternal enemies of the USA.

Washington’s proposal to Moscow  to reduce nuclear warheads and the re-negotiate the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), should find acceptance at the Kremlin.

Both countries are in possession of approximately 5000 nuclear warheads. The White House proposed to the Russian side to reduce the arsenal by 80% from 5000 to 1000 warheads, in both countries.

A new treaty would warm up relations between Russia and the USA, but the article in “The Times” also mentions that it would take hard negotiation rounds to actually sign a possible treaty. Russia are sceptical of this idea because their warheads are of worse quality and power, compared to the US warheads which are stronger.

A possible victim for a successful treaty might be the resignation of the missile defence system placed in Poland and Czech Republic, of which Russia is a strong opponent.

Medvedev and his predecessor open for proposals/Image courtesy of dailytelegraph.co.uk

Global citizens should be relieved to hear such an optimistic and peaceful appeal by the US President. Let’s hope that Mr. Medvedev, President of Russia, will accept this invitation for start talks.

Wyjątkowa bohaterka całego świata

Elżbieta Zawacka/Żródło zdjęcia: www.prezydent.pl

Urodziła się w 1909 r. w Toruniu. Karierę w Wojsku Polskim zaczynała już w młodym wieku. Po zakończeniu studiów na Uniwersytecie im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, swoje życie całkowicie poświeciła na działanie i pracę dla ojczyzny.

Na początku wojny, w wrzesniu 1939 r., uczestniczyła w obronie Lwowa przed wojskami niemieckimi, a następnie sowieckimi. Rok po rozpoczęciu drugiej wojny światowej, została przeniesiona do Warszawy. Służyła tam jako kurierka, otrzymała tam nowy pseudonim, „Zo“. Była niesamowitą osobowością, uznawaną na całym świecie przez rząd na emigracji jak i aliantów. Jako emisariuszka Komendanta Głównego AK udało się jej przedostać w lutym 1943 r. do Londynu przez niemal całą Europę. Droga prowadziła ją przez Niemcy, Francję, Andorrę, Hiszpanię, i Gibraltar. Wróciła do ojczyzny 10 września 1943 r., jako jedyna kobieta w elitarnym gronie  316 Cichociemnych, na własną prośbę. „Zo“ walczyła w Powstaniu Warszawskim przeciw okupantowi niemieckiemu, a po jego upadku nadal działała w służbie Panstwa Podziemnego. W latach od 1939 do 1945 r. ponad sto razy przekraczała granice jako kurierka, żeby przenieść ważne meldunki i wiadomości.

Aresztowana w stalinowskim więzieniu

Całą wojnę przewalczyła dla wolniej Polski, a po jej zakończeniu chciała pracować dla dobra ojczyzny. Było to niemożliwe ponieważ Polska nie wywalczyła jeszcze suwerenności i nie zostało uznane przez ówczesne władze komunistyczne. Dołączyła do powojennej konspiracji antykomunistycznej, za co „Zo“ została aresztowana przez UB w 1951 r. W ciemnych latach stalinizmu oczywiście była prześladowana, jak i wielu jej kompanów walki (druchów, kamrat). Jej twarda wola do walki dała jej siłę przeżyć te ciężkie i najciemniejsze czasy w naszej historii.

Po wyjściu ze stalinowskiego więzienia, została profesorem pedagogiki i pracowała na uniwersytecie w Toruniu. Kiedy upadł komunizm założyła muzeum poświęcone kobietom żołnierzom. Napisała wiele książeko kobietach walczących podczas drugiej wojny światowej. Była współinicjatorką Światowego Związku Żołnierzy AK i w latach osiemdziesiątych była związana z środowiskiem „Solidarności“.

Krzyże i Ordery

W grudniu 1995 r., ówczesny Prezydent RP Lech Wałęsa, odznaczył Prof. Gen. Elżbieta Zawacka Orderem Orła Białego, najwyższy order Rzeczypospolitej.
Została też udekorowana dwukrotnie Orderem Wojennym Virtuti Militari i pięciokrotnie Krzyżem Walecznych oraz Krzyżem AK.

Stopien generała brygady Wojska Polskiego, został jej nadany przez Prezydenta RP Lecha Kaczyńskiego w Ratuszu Staromiejskim w Toruniu 13 czerwca 2006 r. Jest ona drugą kobieta w Polsce ze stopniem generała po Marii Wittek.

Warta honorowa, wieczne spoczywanie

Pogrzeb odbył się 17 stycznia 2009 roku zgodnie z ceremoniałem wojskowym. Żegnana przez wojsko, kombatantów, młodzież oraz tysiący mieszkańców Torunia. Ciało Pani Generał zostało przewiezione na cmentarz na lawecie armatniej, kompania honorowa oddała salwy, a orkiestra wojskowa odegrała „Mazurka Dąbrowskiego“ i „Pierwszą Brygade“. Na pogrzebie obecni byli biskupi toruńscy i biskup polowy Wojska Polskiego a także przedstawiciel Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej szef BBN Aleksander Szczygło.

Musimy zatrzymać ją i wielu innych tak bohaterskich ludzi w naszej pamięci, żeby ich życie było dla nas przykładem i impulsem dla naszych działań dla dobra ojczyzny.

Elżbieta Zawacka zmarła mając 99 lat. W dniu 20 marca skończyłaby 100 lat.
Niech zawsze pozostanie w naszej pamięci.

Rafael M. Gurbisz

Żródło: IPN, PAP, Rzeczpospolita

W Świętej Pamięci Elżbieta Zawacka/ Żródło zdjęcia: Nasz Dziennik.pl

Last Judgement for Polish stalinist-era prosecutor

Helena Wolinska died this week in her home sweet home in Oxfordshire. I discussed and wrote about her in my blog “Britain’s incompetence” a few months ago.

After all she escaped the human courtrooms on earth through natural death, but will now stand in front of the last judge who, hopefully, will give her the sentencing she deserves.

The fair and correct sentence her innocent victims in post-World War Communist Poland did not get.

In her active “career” as a stalinist prosecutor, she ordered executions for Polish war heroes, who fought during the Second World War against Nazis and Communists for a free and independent Poland.

Honourable war heroes such as General Emil “Nil” Fieldorf and many other soldiers of the Armia Krajowa (Underground Home Army), were then executed and their bodies thrown into a ditch.

The Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and prosecutors from the IPN (Institute of National Remembrance) appealed to the British government for her extradition to Poland, without success.

Wolinska, saw herself as the victim, called this whole situation and the extradition process a “circus”.

Exhumation of the Polish General

Gen. Sikorski (2nd from l.) with Winston Churchill (middle) (Image courtesy of Troy's Genealogue)

He died on the 4th of July 1943 in a military plane crash in Gibraltar, according to the British government. General Władysław Sikorski‘s death is subject to controversy and assassination theories. Historians and prosecuters now want to find out if he really died during this accident.

It was never completely determined what the cause of this plane crash was, but history experts believe it was an assassination by the British government and the plane crash was arranged to cover up this murder.

He fought for a independent and free Poland. He was a strong character who was able to influence and command politicans in his favour, in favour of Poland. This strong character was an obstacle for many who did not want a strong and free Poland (Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt) and therefore the conspiracy theories about his death do not seem to be far fetched.

Prosecutors from the IPN (Institute for National Remembrance) branch in Katowice, Lower Silesia, received the permission from Metropolita Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz to exhumate and to conduct an autopsy on the corpse of Gen. Sikorski.

His remains are buried in the crypt of the Wawel Castle in Kraków. The exhumation process will initiate on the 25th of November.

64th Anniversary of the heroic Warsaw Rising

"Anchor" Flag/ "PW" Polska Walczy (Poland Fights)/Halibutt

The longest, bloodiest, most heroic, and the toughest Rising in the Second World War took place in the streets of Warsaw. The Polish Underground Home Army (AK) decided that the 1st of August 1944 will be the day to regain Warsaw and to fight the German Nazis off Polish soil. It was the struggle to free Poland from Nazi occupation. The Warsaw Rising lasted 63 days.

Over 200,000 civilians (!!!) were killed in a barbaric way, not through collateral damage, but by allies of Nazi Germany, e.g. the Ukranian National Army. Also 18,000 soldiers from the AK were killed. 15,000 soldiers were arrested as prisoners of war. This was the cost they had to pay for freedom and independence. A rising that made Warsaw and whole of Poland proud and hope for the end of the occupation.

The AK was the underdog in this rising, having hardly any proper weapons and other important utensils needed for battle and were therefore defeated after 63 days of heroic and heavy fighting with the occupant.

But in those 63 days, most of Warsaw was recaptured and held by the brave Polish soldiers.

Until the Nazis decided to destroy the whole city and attack with full force.

Poland was left alone by the so called “allies” United Kingdom, USA, Canada et al. This was not the first time. The first time was during the Blitzkrieg and the invasion of Poland.

This day is not a national day in Poland, unfortunately. But it is celebrated as if it would be, and good so.

On this day many events take place to remember this day in the history of our nation.

It is a day on which we should remember our heroes that fought for the independence of Poland, against the forces of Nazi Germany.

Here a few links:

Warsaw Uprising (wikipedia)

A history book by Welsh world renowned historian Norman Davies: Rising ’44

Warsaw Rising Museum

The Birth of a European Nation

An announcement was made that declared Kosovo’s independence from Serbia.

Kosovo’s parliament begun an emergency meeting to decide on the future of Kosovo.

An overwhelming majority in the parliament accepted the declaration read out by Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

A declaration which splits the political world.

There is also no comprise on this matter among EU member states itself. Out of 27 countries, 20 support independence.

USA recognises and supports this move.

Russia, a close ally to Serbia, opposes Kosovan independence. Future economic and political sanctions are very probable. But no military action has been announced.

Nato troops moved in before the declaration to keep peace between the Kosovo Serbian and Kosovo Albanian groups.

Festivites, parties on main city squares have been planned to celebrate the new freedom.

This freedom is seen as dangerous by many countries with a minority. The minority might use Kosovo as an example to push for independence. Russia, Georgia and Spain have all been suffering from separationist groups.

Kosovo is a possible playground for future diplomatic and political debates between the West and Russia who currently see their relations on the lowest point since the end of the Cold War.