The Jewish holocaust was an unprecedented event of our century. That horrifying crime and tragedy has become for some an occasion for sowing the seeds of hate.
In the appeal of 11 Jews we read of "the Polish plan perpetuated over the last 54 years which consisted of forced exile of the Jews, ethnic and racial cleansing, the use of torture or threat of force, including torture and death." The appeal touches in a deceitful and malicious way on a truthful and painful subject matter.
The problem of Jewish grievances and anti-Semitic victimization in post-war Poland is very complicated. However, the appeal is not in the name of truth and justice. It equates Poland-including independent and democratic Poland--with the Nazi Third Reich.
The problem of reprivatisation in Poland is difficult, having to do with compensating individuals who have illegally lost their possessions. The victims, not matter what their nationality or religious conviction, should seek remedy in the courts. It is the duty of the parliament to facilitate the process through proper laws.
However, some individuals have decided to use the drama of the Holocaust as a cover for judicial maneuvers to make large sums of money. According to their schema Poland today must pay for the Nazi criminals, who murdered Jews, and communism, which dispossessed Jews among others. The very same Poland that first said "No" to Hitler and fought the Nazis to their final hour. Poland, the land, betrayed at Yalta, which repeatedly rose against communist dictatorship and the first to put an end to it. This country stands now accused of "sweeping plan of ethnic and racial cleansing to wipe out 10% of Jewish minority in Poland that survived the Holocaust."
This interpretation of history shows the authors for how false they are. The document is so rabidly anti-Polish consciousness that one can only equate it with the most pathological forms of anti-Semitism, which exists on the fringes of public arena in Poland. In its appeal, it strikes the cord of the typical anti-Semitic "plot" syndrome and the common generalization of individual with the whole nation and the whole people.
To say of Polish governments--even of the communist ones which I persistently opposed--that they promoted the Nazi "Judenrein" policy, one has to be a cheap rogue without a shred of conscience. Poland never had any plan for an ethnic cleansing campaign. What remained in the aftermath of the war was a country ruined by Nazi occupation and Soviet repression. What remained was a tragedy of a civil war, poverty, and postwar deprivation.
Wrongful acts, indeed terrible incidents typical of dictatorship did take place. These wrongdoings did affect the Jews as well. The Kielce pogrom in 1946 and similar excesses will forever remain as shameful. The 1968 anti-Semitic campaign has been condemned by all public figures in our country. But the accusation by the authors of the appeal: "state-sponsored terrorism . . .murder, rape, assault and torture" perpetrated against the Holocaust survivors" with intent pillage is all a heinous lie. The appeal is a precious present for the anti-Semites and those who hate Polish Jews. Both want Polish-Jewish war; they thrive on anti-Semitism and anti-Polonism. Both are few in number, but it is an aggressive minority without scruples.
This why to all those who the Polish Jewish dialogue dear to their hearts, or who cherish common decency, should voice their opposition to such spreading of lies and hatred. Are they brave enough?
Most of my life has been in the shadow of the Shoah in which nearly my entire family perished. I have experienced the bitter taste of anti-Semitism and often acted vigilantly against anti-Semitic phobias. This is why unreservedly I call today the New York Appeal as a collection of heinous lies.
A oto głos Paweła Wrońskiego na ten sam temat zamieszczony również w Gazecie Wyborczej
