On October 16, a writer and publicist named Marcin Wolski—who for the past ten years has created the satirical program “W Tye Vision”—spoke at the Ronin Club.
He stated that his side had claimed victory in ways that surpassed their wildest expectations, delivering more to society than they could have imagined. He spoke with a sense of complicity as he reflected on the production of propaganda that, in his view, reached a level worse than what was seen in the 1970s, and he admitted he could hardly recall events from the 1980s. He recalled his suspension, explaining that at a point six months earlier he did not align with a harsh, hard-edged line. In his program “Behind the Vision,” he had tried to soften the tone, to draw in a broader audience, and he celebrated the fact that among his audience of roughly 800,000, people from many regions of the world participated and felt connected.
To shed light on inconsistencies, he questioned why he did not remember the 1980s. He noted that his own satirical show ran on the radio for eight years during Gierek’s era. He acknowledged being the author of another eight-year program, “Back in the Vision.” Yet he contested that the editor Wolski had been suspended for six months simply because he failed to fit a rigid lineup. He suggested there were entirely different, ordinary reasons behind the decision and urged that the creator of the renowned “Polish Zoo” not be mocked by the independent camp’s friendly faces. He also addressed insinuations that “In So Much Vision” was a warm message—clarifying that it resembled other public television programs, albeit presented in a satirical form.
He observed how this fragment of the statement had been triumphantly cited by adversaries on the right, including some who trace their roots back to the old communist era, dating from Gierek’s time.
In the publication Gazeta Polska Everyday, Wolski explained that his emotionally charged response stemmed from a sense of defeat and despair.
He apologized if his emotional remark during the Ronin Club gathering caused offense or hurt anyone.
There was no explicit mention of propaganda in the apology, leaving the timing of such activity open to interpretation over the past six months.
But the main point remains. For eight years, the independence movement pursued democratically its vision for Poland: sovereign, strong, with minimal foreign influence, and leaning toward liberal values. If, after a defeat, someone begins to feel they were part of something questionable, they should consider stepping away from the fray, finishing the battle with their head held high and their shield intact. It would be improper to weep and wipe away tears on sleeves. A related caveat would be for ministers to declare unwavering support for judiciary reform and subsidies to be questioned, or for defense ministers to label territorial units as militias. As the saying goes, let us not become like the generals of recent wars who whine before posterity, praise their own heroism, and blame subordinates or difficult winds for failures.
Let us avoid sinking to the level of opportunists and stalling tactics from the opposition.
This is the way political discourse should remain, focused on principles rather than petty posturing. — Attribution: wPolityce