Aleksander Kwaśniewski in the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” gave Prof. Barbara Engelking, and at the same time “broadcast” to her own country and rulers! “Although it is difficult, the pursuit of the truth is necessary and strengthens, not weakens, Polish society,” said the former president. If only they cared about the truth about history!
The former president referred to the event a few days ago. Barbara Engelking and Olga Tokarczuk received honorary degrees from Tel Aviv University.
Lauraka Kwasniewski for Engelking
In his publication in the Israeli press, Kwaśniewski simplified the image as much as possible, creating a map for Engelking.
This act of recognition of Israel contrasts with the backlash their work has received in their homeland, and sometimes even from the government itself.
– wrote a former PZPR apparatchik.
Professor Barbara Engelking, also honored at Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, takes a special place in the public dialogue on the Holocaust in Poland and in the world, political and moral responsibility of individuals and nations, and attitudes of individuals and communities against World War II crimes against the Jews
– added.
But Kwaśniewski’s words about Engelking’s scientific workshop and “irrefutable evidence” (sic) may make the reader laugh.
Based on irrefutable evidence gathered in the course of scholarly research, Engelking’s work is also a testimony to the truth about Polish-Jewish relations in exceptionally tragic times for both our nations. This painful search for truth is admired by some and despised by others
we are reading.
In an Israeli newspaper he attacks the Polish government?!
Kwasniewski did not stop there, as in the following paragraphs he unscrupulously attacks the Polish government. In the foreign press…
The reality is much grimmer when unpleasant truths are questioned by the Polish government’s prime minister and ministers; when efforts to reinterpret history reach the official “historical policy” enforced by state institutions like the Institute of National Remembrance; when the Minister of Education, who oversees the Institute of Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the institution that employs Engelking, threatens to cut subsidies and refuses to fund scientific institutions “whose representatives offend the Poles”. These actions and rulings violate the fundamental principles of freedom of scientific inquiry and constitutional equality before the law
said the former president using a ritual formula.
Ritual formula about “truth”
Discussing crimes committed by members of one’s own nation is never easy
– he added, returning to the issue of “Polish crime in Jedwabne” and the “apologies” he delivered as head of state.
Although difficult, the pursuit of the truth is necessary and strengthens, not weakens, Polish society. After all, there are no criminal nations, there are only criminals of a certain nationality. Revealing the truth about the dark aspects of history clears our consciences and honors those who behaved decently and even heroically at a time of widespread wickedness and contempt in Europe
Kwasniewski wrote. Truth?! It’s just a joke.
I am convinced that Engelking’s publications bring Poles closer to understanding the complexities of their own history and strengthen us as a nation and as members of an international community based on dialogue, respect and reconciliation.
he added solemnly, although it is clear to the naked eye that this story is not about ‘understanding’ and ‘reinforcing’.
Kwaśniewski also named the second recipient of an honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University, Olga Tokarczuk.
As Barbara Engelking and Olga Tokarczuk showed us, we have no choice but to admit the hard truths – we will only come out stronger as a nation. We should be thankful for work like theirs, which sounds like a warning against indifference and callousness. After all, as we have very painfully seen, indifference and silence allow evil to flourish
said the former president.
Failed in Poland? So there are attempts to sell these pseudo-historical fairy tales on the pages of an Israeli daily newspaper. And we know very well how vulnerable this ground is to anti-Polish narratives. It’s even more shameful that this is being done by a former president.
READ ALSO:
– Academic citizens’ clubs on Engelking’s statements: manipulation of history and defamation of the Polish nation
– ONLY HERE. Prof. Żaryn: Decision by Prof. Czarnka, after Engelking’s words, was enough. It represents the interests of the Polish nation
— A descendant of a person killed for helping Jews responds to CBZŻ’s defense of Engelking. “We Don’t Need Fake Friends”
— Tarczynski makes his announcement after Engelking’s words. “Enough of that! (…) The prosecutor’s office must investigate whether it has offended the Polish nation”
olk/haaretz
Source: wPolityce