Burning a flag
Yesterday one of the Polish biggest political parties came up with an idea that hanging the flag on May 1st, 3rd and November 11th (Polish national holidays) should be obligatory. What’s worse the politicians from other parties think that it is a good idea.
You know what? It is the worst idea I have ever heard of. Hanging the flag should be imposed by my internal will, by pride of my country not some silly regulations.
Give me a reason to be proud of Poland and I will hang a flag!
Dexter 12:03 am on February 24, 2009 Permalink |
I’d be happy to live in a country, where people respect their national flag, like it is in the States. I’d be happy to live in a country, where people enjoy their tradition, are not ashamed of it and can make something cool about it, like it is in Bavaria. I’d happy to live in a country, where people are proud of their country goods, like it is in France. Finally, I’d like to live in a country, where the term “country” is not dimmed by stupid & selfish actions of “so called” political class, being sick only about the power. I wish it was Poland
Jakub, can you really define Poland? It’s not a mass of stupid people around us. It is not a collection of current, previous and future government actions. It is much more than the law hurting people, who believe in the Constitution. It is not only a place between the Baltic Sea and Tatry. It is not only last year, or ten, but the history, much longer then we can imagine. A country is quite virtual entity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on-53-C9ITI
Jakub Pawlowicz 4:50 pm on February 24, 2009 Permalink |
Dexter – thanks so much for your comment.
I think the problem when talking about Polish national identity starts in defining it. We, as a nation, were divided for the past 200 years, not only geographically but also mentally, so the definition is divided as well. Thanks to it polish people do not trust each other but what’s worse they cheat on each other. In the meanwhile 90% of them claim they are catholics where (ironically) cheating is a sin. And that’s fine for them to cheat on each other and then confess on Sunday making “some more room” for another sins.
I also think an assumption that Poland is (and have to be) a catholic country is genuinely wrong. It hurts me as I am not a catholic but everything I have is thanks to this country.
Another great example is polish national addiction to celebrate anniversaries. Two years ago we had 35th anniversary of a draw (!!!) with England on Wembley. That’s fu..ing nonsense! Next year there will be 600th anniversary of Polish win on Grunwald fields. What for? It would be better to focus on making some advancements in the future but celebrating past events makes us think that we were great once and now we are not. It’s hard to admit but probably nothing would bring us back these times.
The last thing is about politicians. They do not resemble Poland to me, but unfortunately they think they do. I don’t want Poland to be the 1st, 5th or 10th power in the Europe – I want Poland to be a part of Europe. I don’t want to see politicians vetoing EU reforms just to show everyone that we have the power to do it. Finally I don’t want people in the other countries to think about us as the ones who stopped Turkish army on the fields of Vienna in 1683 and we they have to respect us.
How this helps us escape from the label of “these who steal cars”? It doesn’t.
I would like others to think of us as joyful people, good workers, makers of the best vodka and ones who trust and can be trusted.
I hope the youngest generation will not follow their ancestors’ path and in 50 years we will have a really trustful and cooperative society proud of the Polish soil. Believe me or not but I would like to be proud of Poland.