I was relieved to receive the still unofficial news that President Duda will not sign the law passed by Parliament recognizing Silesian as a regional language. Its acceptance would mean that it would be taught in schools and used in offices, and that the institutions that promote it would receive state support.
But why should we oppose the recognition of a dialect as a language if some users want it? Why should the Republic of Poland not become the “protector of Silesian identity”? Why not assume that “at a time of increasing external threats, the Republic of Poland, referring to its great traditions of a multicultural and multilingual society, must therefore become the custodian and guardian of all its cultural wealth, which includes the Silesian language and Silesian identity” , as the signatories of the letter to the President written by Szczepan Twardoch call for?
Ten years ago, the same author expressed his position more succinctly, announcing on Facebook: “Fuck you, Poland.” This was in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, which stated:
With respect to the belief of some Silesians in their certain distinctiveness resulting from culture and regional dialect, we cannot accept the suggestion that a Silesian nation is being created or already exists. […] strive for autonomy and a sense of full power for people of Silesian nationality
in Silesia must be assessed as an attempt to weaken the unity and integrity of the Polish state, which is contrary to the principle arising from art. 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
So “the Republic of Poland is the protector” if it fulfills the separatists’ wishes, otherwise it would have to “fuck itself”. Recognizing the Silesian dialect as a language will be the first step in treating the Silesians as a separate nation, as discussed, among other things: Twardoch speaks directly and declares that he is not a Polish writer, but a Silesian. The funds that the separatists will obtain from both state and EU funds for cultivating Silesian culture will open new opportunities for them. If the Silesians are a separate nation, they have the right to decide their collective fate, they can demand independence and they can join another country.
Today such ideas seem unrealistic, but not so long ago it would have been eccentric to consider the Silesian dialect as a separate language. Małgorzata Wołczyk pointed out on the website wPolityce.pl the similarity of the actions of European separatists – Catalonia is their laboratory example: from an official language to a separate state.
Most Silesians consider themselves Poles, and their historical identity stems from this feeling, as evidenced by the Silesian uprisings and heroes of the region such as Wojciech Korfanty. However, you can try to change this status. Self-proclaimed minority spokespersons always try to take on the majority, because only this gives them the opportunity to play a serious political role.
This is what the ‘Silesian autonomists’ strive for, who consider such activities as a lever for their career and contrast Silesian belonging with Polishness. Characters like Twardoch join them. They are unlikely to attract significant groups of Silesians, but they are organized and aware of their objectives, which gives them an advantage at the regional level over the unorganized majority who, while accepting the current situation, are unaware of the threat of it. are unable to cope with the new danger. Especially since the separatists receive significant support from external forces that do not care about a strong and subjective Poland. They are unlikely to achieve their goals, but they will be a factor in destabilizing the country.
The dominant ideology focuses on all identities, including national identities. This is done under the banner of human rights, which, regardless of the foundations of natural law, are arbitrarily defined by the powerful. No wonder the Helsinki Foundation has already spoken out in favor of the Silesian language.
The authors of the quoted letter are right when they state that external threats around Poland are increasing. However, internal separatisms only reinforce this. Russia is trying to generate them throughout Europe, and in the case of Silesia they will also be welcomed by Germany, which is very happy with the autonomy of this region and can refer to history. Poland’s location makes separatism much more dangerous for the country than for Spain.
The Tusk government, which officially proclaims ‘swimming in the mainstream’, that is, submission to the forces that dominate in the EU, will more or less consciously fulfill their wishes. Especially because they fit in with the nice-sounding slogans of minority emancipation. And those in power in Poland today prove with every step they take that they only care about party and personal benefits. The announcement of Silesia’s autonomy will certainly earn them applause from important opinion-forming circles at home and abroad. They don’t seem to care what the consequences will be for Poland.
Source: wPolityce