Inconsolable: A young member of Poland's Presidential Palace

guard stops for a moment of mourning in Warsaw, April 12, 2010.

Some wonder why the tragic air crash near Smolensk, Russia,

which took the lives of many of Poland's leaders, didn't unify the

nation like the death of bin Laden has their U.S. counterparts.

 

 

Rzeczpospolita, Poland

Osama bin Laden and Why America is Stronger than Poland

 

"Most American elites are united. Tomorrow, the opposition will again call Obama a communist, and he will depict them as callous henchmen of the rich. But today there are congratulations and friendly gestures. For the moment, there are no Republicans and Democrats. … They are stronger than we are, not because they are so much bigger and wealthier, but because they understand the meaning of the word 'nation.'"

 

By Piotr Zaremba

                               

 

Translated By Ewelina Kabat

 

May 9, 2011

 

Poland - Rzeczpospolita - Original Article (Polish)

We can still hear the echoes of American Special Forces putting an end to Osama bin Laden. In newspapers and on TV, some people express indignation toward America and others express support.

 

Some conservatives have suddenly recalled that they are Christians. And some liberals have come to the conclusion that the state sometimes has the right to resort to emergency measures. On the other hand, what if Osama had been killed by [the now-deceased] President Lech Kaczyński? …

 

[Editor's Note: The author asks whether Poland's opposing political parties would unite like conservatives and liberals in the U.S. if confronted with an event as potentially unifying as the elimination of Osama bin Laden - such as last year's Smolensk air crash, when not only the president, but almost the entire Polish leadership was killed. The now-deceased President Lech Kaczyński and his twin brother Jarosław are the founders of the conservative Law and Justice Party. Jarosław now leads the Law and Justice Party, and today's ruling party is the Civic Platform, which is more liberal.]

 

Given recent events, we have an opportunity to observe another type of phenomenon. Most American elites are united. Tomorrow, the opposition will again call Obama a communist, and he will depict them as callous henchmen of the rich. But today there are congratulations and friendly gestures. For the moment, there are no Republicans and Democrats.

 

Could such a thing happen in Poland? The mainstream, which supports the liberal-conservative Civic Platform, would immediately point to Jarosław Kaczyński as the destroyer of unity [Jarosław is known as a polarizing figure, so no matter what he did, the liberals would accuse him of being divisive]. In response, the right-wing Law and Justice Party would not only remind the Civic Platform of Janusz Palikot [a former member of the Civic Platform who is somewhat of an embarrassment], but ask a fundamental question about another difference we can observe here: The American administration pursued an executioner of its citizens, and let's not be squeamish about the word - they took revenge. In regard to the Polish political scene, one might have great reservations about the way Prime Minister Tusk’s team has dealt with the issue of the Smolensk catastrophe [when the prior Law and Justice Party government was wiped out].

 

So the right would say yes to unity, but on condition that Poland will be protecting Poles, which is a really good point; however, the political war didn't begin in April 2010, with the Smolensk catastrophe. Even if we agreed that some people are guiltier than others [of a lack of unity], we'll never rid ourselves of the question: How does knowing who is guiltier benefit us?  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

I have noticed that we are gradually growing accustomed to the new situation. We are constantly being told that divisions aren't necessarily bad - and that they exist everywhere. This is what the majority of right-wing commentators claim - and this is somewhat understandable.

 

Divisions are an essential condition for democracy, but in both the U.S. and Western Europe, there are moments when they disappear. From the time I saw the film All the President’s Men, I've envied Americans their politics, particularly the scene of archival footage in which Richard Nixon appears before Congress, and all of its members stand and applaud. The day after, most probably resumed slinging mud at him. But on that day, all of them belonged to one nation. They are stronger than we are, not because they are so much bigger and wealthier, but because they understand the meaning of the word “nation.”

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Frontier Post, Pakistan: 'As History is Our Witness', China is a More Reliable than U.S.
The Nation, Pakistan: Ignore American Complaints About Friendship with China
The Nation, Pakistan: Pakistan Must Break American 'Begging Bowl'
Hindustan Times, India: ISI Officials to Be Charged in U.S. Court for Mumbai Attacks
Telegraph, U.K.: What Next for Brand bin Laden?
Telegraph, U.K.: Osama bin Laden hiding place visited by Taliban
Global Times, China: Western Criticism of Pakistan is Wrongheaded and Unfair
La Jornada, Mexico: Afghan Official Asserts: 'Osama Blew Himself Up'
Tehran Times, Iraq: West Uses bin Laden's Death to Distract from Bahrain Atrocities
Diario Decuyo, Argentina: Bin Laden's Death is a 'Call to Arms' for the World's Clergy
El Pais, Spain: After bin Laden: West Must Reflect on Methods of Self-Defense
News, Switzerland: The Pope and the Terrorist: Two Misguided Beatifications
Tagesspiegel, Germany: Osama Photo Issue - Obama's Morally Superior to Bush
The Nation, Pakistan: Afghan Official Asserts: 'Osama Blew Himself Up'
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: Finally, It's Beginning of the End for al-Qaeda
Al-Seyassah, Kuwait: Osama Now Being Licked by the 'Hottest Flames in Hell'
Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, France: Osama's Photo: 'The Impossible Truth'
Der Spiegel, Germany: Donald Trump and the 2012 'Campaign of Lunacy'
Excelsior, Mexico: Obama Quiets 'Right-Wing Witch Hunters' ... for Now
Izvestia, Russia: Osama bin Laden: From Abbottabad to Hollywood
Frontier Post, Pakistan: U.S. Raid Exposes Pakistan's 'Unnerving Vulnerability'
Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia: Osama Died, But those Who Gain from Terror War Live
Dar al-Hayat, Saudi Arabia: Osama and His Whole Way of Thinking - are Dead
Daily Jang, Pakistan: Operation Against Osama Spells Trouble for Pakistan
Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran: Obama Seeks to 'Vindicate Bush'
Outlook Afghanistan: U.S. Must Pursue Mullah Omar as it did bin Laden
Pak Tribune, Pakistan: Senators Call U.S. Operation a Breach of Sovereignty
Frontier Post, Pakistan: Osama Episode Puts Safety of Nuke Assets in Peril
El Pais, Spain: Obama 'Decapitates' the al-Qaeda Hydra
Folha, Brazil: Bin Laden's 'Second Death'
Folha, Brazil: Death Won't Kill Osama's Violent Ways or Speech
Dawn, Pakistan: The Urgent Importance of Showing 'Mutual Respect'
The Independent, U.K.: Killing of bin Laden 'Huge Blow' to Islamist Terror
The Telegraph, U.K.: OBITUARY: Osama bin Laden
Telegraph, U.K.: Taliban Commander Vows to Avenge bin Laden's Death
Guardian, U.K.: Hamas Praises bin Laden as Holy Warrior
Telegraph, U.K.: Death of bin Laden is Rough Justice, Wild West-Style
Dawn, Pakistan: Pakistanis Hold Rally in Honor of bin Laden
Dawn, Pakistan: Pakistan Asks U.S. Envoy to Avoid bin Laden 'Spin'

Xinhua. China: Six Children and Two Wives of bin Laden Arrested By Pakistan
Daily Star, Lebanon: Prime Minister Hariri: 'Bin Laden Got What He Deserved'

Daily Star, Lebanon: Lebanese Muslim Preachers Hail Osama for U.S. Attack

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR POLISH VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 24, 2:59pm]