The cheerful barracks of the concentration camp. This is how Poland was known in a very Slavic black humor and, logically, in a sphere of trust, throughout the Soviet bloc. Cheerful and unruly, since the Polish people, chastened by the domination to which they had been preyed by various empires, was not exactly the most receptive to submitting to the power of Moscow after the Second World War.
With an identity reinforced by the repression and annulment of foreign powers and very reclusive in itself, Polish society was certainly not the most permeable to the homogeneous socialism imposed by the Soviet Union. As much as the Eastern Bloc tried to use the country as a symbol of decentralization and cooperation between peoples with the signing of the Warsaw Pact.
The Polish did not become a more socialist society neither in culture nor in education, where Russian was always a foreign language, despite belonging to the same Slavic family as Polish. And it was not particularly so in the Church, stronghold of tradition and a sign of national distinction twice: against socialist agnosticism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
The fact is that this real socialism became alien to the factories themselves, where the movement arose that would end up marking the beginning of the end of the entire political and military structure built from Moscow: the Solidarity union, born within the strike committee of the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk.
That neither the Soviet Union nor the Poland of General Wojciech Jaruzelski knew how to estimate the power of a labor protest or that the West pulled the strings and gave wings to the opposition to the regime by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the leader of that revolt, Lech Walesa, will continue to be part of the historical debate. Like access to the Chair of Saint Peter of the Archbishop of Krakow, Carol Wojtyla, the first and only Polish pope in history.
The fact is that in just a decade Poland managed to disconnect from the Soviet Union in a largely peaceful process that marked the way for other socialist republics. This was stated by Walesa himself in his appearance before the United States Congress in November 1989 -the excerpted speech we offered, known as “We, the people”-, after legislative elections in Poland in which Solidarity managed to turn to the People’s Assembly.
A milestone that meant the dismantling of socialism from within and the disconnection with Moscow. The same yearned for, in the words of the leader of Solidarity, other countries of the Eastern bloc, or Soviet republics such as the Baltic or Ukraine.
“Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the Cabinet, distinguished members of the House and the Senate.
“We the People. With these words I wish to begin my speech. I don’t need to remind anyone here where these words come from. And I do not need to explain that I, an electrician from Gdansk, also have the right to invoke them.
“I stand before you as the third foreign non-head of state invited to address the joint chambers of the United States Congress, to speak to you on behalf of my nation. To speak to the citizens of the country and the continent whose threshold is guarded by the famous Statue of Liberty. It is such an honor for me, such a solemn moment, that I can’t find anything to compare it to.
”Ladies and gentlemen, the fundamental and most important thing I want to tell you is that the social movement that bears the beautiful name of Solidarity, born in the Polish nation, is an effective movement. After many years of struggle, it paid off and the results are there for all to see today. He set the direction and developed a form of action that has changed the lives of millions of people who speak different languages. Has shaken the unique thought.
And the fight was carried out without resorting to violence of any kind, a point that cannot be overemphasized. We were locked up in prisons, deprived of our jobs, beaten, and sometimes killed. And we didn’t even hit a single person. We don’t destroy anything. We didn’t break a single pane of glass. But we were stubborn. very stubborn. Prepared to suffer, to make sacrifices. We knew what we wanted, and our power prevailed in the end.
”It was a consistent and persistent movement, of never giving up. And that is why after all these hard years, marked by so many tragic moments, Solidarity today triumphs and shows the way to millions of people in Poland and other countries.
”Ladies and gentlemen, ten years ago, in August 1980, the famous strike that gave rise to the first independent trade union in communist countries began in the Gdansk shipyards, and soon grew into a vast social movement, supported by the poles nation. And I must say frankly that it was important. I was an unemployed man at the time, fired from my job for earlier attempts to organize workers to fight for their rights. I jumped over the shipyard wall and rejoined my former comrades, who promptly named me strike leader. That’s how it all started.
”When I think back to the way we went, I often think of that jump over the fence. Now others jump fences and knock down walls. They do it because freedom is a human right. But there is also another reflection that comes to mind when I think about the path we left behind. In those early days, we received many warnings, admonitions, and even condemnations from many parts of the world.
“‘What are those Poles up to?’ we heard. ‘They are angry!’, ‘They are endangering world peace and European stability!’, ‘They should keep quiet and not make anyone nervous’. From those voices we deduce that other nations have the right to live in comfort and prosperity, they have the right to democracy and freedom, and only Poles should give up these rights so as not to disturb the peace of others.
”Looking at what is happening around us today, we can affirm that the path of struggle followed by Poland in search of human rights, a struggle without violence and characterized by typical Polish stubbornness and firmness in the search for pluralism and democracy, shows today many people, and even nations, how to avoid the greatest dangers of conflict.
”If there is something that threatens European stability today, it is certainly not Poland. Poland is heading towards its own profound transformation; transformation achieved by peaceful means, by evolution, negotiated with all the parties involved, which allows the worst to be avoided. And perhaps it stands as a model for many other regions. Because, as we know, the changes in other places are not so peaceful. Peacefully and prudently, with eyes open to danger but without giving up what is just and necessary, the Poles gradually paved the way for historic transformations.
”We are joined on this path, to varying degrees, by others: Hungarians and Russians, Ukrainians and the people of the Baltic states, Armenians and Georgians, and in recent days East Germans. We wish you luck and rejoice at every success you achieve. We are sure that others will also take the path we have followed, since there is no other option!
”So now I ask: Is there any sensible man who understands the world around him and who can justifiably say today that the Poles had better keep quiet, because what they are doing is endangering world peace? Could we even dare to say that the Poles are doing more to preserve and consolidate peace than many of their frightened advisers? Could we not say that stability and peace are most threatened by countries that have not yet decided to carry out deep and comprehensive reforms, that do everything possible to preserve the old and disgraced forms of government, against the wishes of the of their societies?
”Things are different in Poland. And I must say that our eastern neighbors and their leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, view our task with understanding. This understanding lays the foundation for new relations between Poland and the Soviet Union, relations that are much better than before. These improved mutual relations will also contribute to stabilization and peace in Europe, removing useless tensions.
”The Poles have a long and difficult history, and no one wants more than us peaceful coexistence and friendship with all nations and countries, and in particular with the Soviet Union. We believe that only now are the adequate and favorable conditions emerging for such coexistence and friendship. Poland is making an important contribution to a better future for Europe, to European reconciliation. And also to the vast and important Polish-German reconciliation. To overcome all divisions and strengthen human rights in our continent. But it is not easy for Poland.
”In World War II, Poland was the first country to be the victim of aggression. Their losses in terms of human lives and national property were the greatest. His fight was the longest; Poland was always a dedicated member of the victorious alliance and its soldiers fought in all theaters of the world. In 1945 Poland was, theoretically speaking, one of the winners. However, the theory had little in common with the practice.
In practice, while his allies watched with passive consent, a strange system of government, without a president in the Polish tradition, not accepted by the nation, was imposed on Poland, together with a strange economy, a strange law and a strange philosophy. of social relations.
”The legal Polish government, recognized by the nation and which led the struggle of all Poles during the war, was condemned, and those who remained faithful to it were subjected to the most ruthless persecution. Many were killed. Thousands disappeared somewhere in the east and north of Russia. Civil repression without soldiers of the clandestine army that fought against the Nazis. And it is only now that we are discovering their bones in unmarked graves scattered throughout the woods.
”This was followed by persecutions of all those who dared to think independently. All the solemn promises about free elections in Poland that were made in Yalta were broken. It was the second great national catastrophe after the catastrophe of 1939. While other nations joyfully celebrated the victory, Poland sank back into mourning.
”The realization of this tragedy was doubly bitter, as the Poles realized that they had been abandoned by their allies. The memory of this is still strong in the minds of many. However, the Poles set about rebuilding their devastated country and in the first years after the war they were extremely successful. But soon a new economic system was introduced, in which individual entrepreneurship ceased to exist and the entire economy ended up in the hands of the state, run by people who were not elected by the nation.
”Stalin prohibited Poland from using the aid provided by the Marshall Plan; aid that was used by everyone in Western Europe, including the countries that lost the war. It is worth remembering now that great American plan that helped Western Europe to protect its freedom and its peaceful order. And now is the time when Eastern Europe expects such an investment, an investment in freedom, democracy and peace.
”The Poles have come a long way. It would be worthwhile for all those who comment on Poland, often criticizing Poland, to keep in mind that everything Poland has achieved, it has achieved through its own efforts, through its own stubbornness, through its own ruthlessness. It was all accomplished because of our nation’s unwavering faith in human dignity and what are described as the values ??of Western culture and civilization. Our nation knows well the price of all this.
”Ladies and gentlemen, for the last fifty years, the Polish nation has been engaged in a difficult and exhausting battle. First to preserve its very biological existence. Later to save their national identity. In both cases, the Polish determination was present. Today, Poland rejoins the family of democratic and pluralistic countries, returning to the tradition of religious and European values. For the first time in half a century, Poland has an independent, non-communist government supported by the nation.
”But Poland has taken its new path and will never turn back. The meaning of our work and struggle in Poland is that we create situations and perspectives that prevent Poles from seeking a place for themselves abroad; that encourages them to find meaning in their work and hope for a better future in their own country, in their own home.
”Poland has already done a lot to repair the existing divisions in Europe, to create better and more optimistic prospects. Poland’s efforts are viewed sympathetically by the West. We believe that the West’s contribution to the process will now grow. We have heard many beautiful words of encouragement. Thank you, but I must tell you that the supply of words in the world market is abundant, but the demand is falling. Let the deeds now succeed the words.
”Along with Poland, other Eastern European nations are following this path. The wall that separated people from freedom has collapsed.”
