Going into the center of town today from where we live I couldn't help but notice the absence of Polish flags hanging from, flats, houses or on cars. Tomorrow is Independence Day in Poland, celebrated with parades in many cities and towns. It is a national day in Poland celebrated on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland's sovereignty as the Second Polish Republic in 1918 from the German, Prussian and Austrian Empires. Following the partitions in the late 18th century, Poland ceased to exist for 123 years until the end of World War I, when the destruction of the neighboring powers allowed the country to reemerge. It is a non-working in Poland. This year, November 12th is also a non-working holiday.
It just struck me as odd that, tomorrow being the day it will be, so few flags are visible. In 2012, during the World Cup Soccer Championship Tournament, if Poland was playing in a match you could see Polish flags everywhere in flats, houses and on cars 2-5 days before the match started. Yes, in the center of town there are many flags, but outside of it not so. It's not that people are not patriotic, because they are, maybe it's just not important to show the flag. I'm sure I will get comments telling me to go back to America because of this comment.
I have mixed emotions about human beings. They tire me, frighten me, horrify me, scare me to death, sicken me, bore me, anger me and disgust me. There are other who amaze me, enjoy life, are a pleasure to be with, do wonderful things, are helpful to others, are creative, genuinely care about the world and strive to make it a better place. When I see the news of yet another mass shooting in the United States all I can do is ask why? Yes, the U.S. must hold the record for such things but then comes a stabbing of people in Australia and again...why? Is the "Devil" loose in the world? Did God release him from Hell and say "Go forth and do what you do?" I can't believe that but something is seriously wrong in the world today that this continues to happen so often now. Humans are a violent race. Brother against brother. Cain killed Abel and it began.
On the bright side, The Unity Church where we got married will email me a copy of the document stating exactly where, when, by who, in what city, our ages and when we got married. That should satisfy the Civil Registry. Should! I can only hold my breath that it will.
I can't say the weather was on the bright side though. A gloomy, gray day but at least the temperature was 48F. Still, not bad for November.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
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3 comments:
Maybe because of Pia is now on power and people don't support this way of celebrating it this year in Poland where the nationalists could go for the march regardless the ban from Warsaws president. The ban was rejected by the court.,,
it mend to be ,,because of Pis.... At lease Poznan is celebrating with mucis, fun and cheer and good food
https://epoznan.pl/news-news-90212-Tlumy_na_Imieninach_ulicy_Swiety_Marcin
Hi David and Joan,
Yes, that IS perplexing-- the little show of flags (it should not be dependent on the politics of the day, but the love of your nation, period. If you came back to America this past year, here, you would no doubt have enjoyed many a celebration of Polish heritage and Freedom and Independence regained. Surely, in the Midwest. And, here, in Polonia Chicago I attended a lovely event (and another day returned to the museum to slowly tour the exhibit devoted to relics and reminders of the vast history of Polish striving to fight for, support and uplift their homeland). This celebration was hosted by the Tatra Mountain Cultural Foundation, and it was a splendid afternoon, of music, singing, dancing, scholarly and sentimental speeches, awards, crafts and artists on display, and great food and fun. I and the hundreds of other attendees were delighted to participate in this grand remembrance of our heritage....
A couple weeks later, I attended a circulating film-fest dedicated to this 100 years' celebration-- historical, dramatic, inspiring (esp. the very detailed documentary on the life of Paderewski-- artist, statesman, humanitarian, great soul). I always had admiration for him, and seeing the new information in this film just increased my respect. What he did for Poland was endless and immeasurable. But, noble Poland has had many illustrious figures who stepped in to "save the day". Those flags should be flying there in legion. Too bad they
were scanty...what a shame!
Because, of course, there were many flags out and about Chicagoland-- on cars, homes, businesses, esp. during Polish Heritage Month of this year. At least, we Poles here, remember....
~Stephanie
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