Poland and the EU
For those of you who have been following the news about the EU deliberations, Poland's refusal to agree to the new voting system stirred up quite a lot of anger. They're argument was that the new voting system, based on population, would give Germany considerably more power and lower Poland's sway in the EU. Poland's opposition wasn't what stirred up the anger, but rather the way they argued it. In a heated moment, Lech Kaczynski said that Poland's population would be a lot bigger if Germany hadn't killed a quarter of Poland's population during the war. That comment triggered a lot of response from Western European countries, saying that they've all agreed to put the war behind them and that Poland shouldn't be bringing it up again. Poland needs to move beyond the past and "grow up" to be part of the European Union.
A blogger for the BBC recently wrote a piece on the debate and a bit of historical background (thanks to Christian for the link). However it's the comments afterwards that hit the nail a bit more firmly on the head in terms of Polish sentiment, numbers 18 and 40 doing so especially well.
While Kaczynski's comment was blunt, it got all of Europe's attention for Poland's objection to the voting changes. The opposition to the change isn't simply about Germany's actions to Poland during the War (particularly, the comment is definitely not a call for reparations). It's about Poland's feelings that the rest of Europe (especially Western Europe) has frequently stated it's defense for Poland and then shamelessly turned its back numerous times. When Germany and Russia invaded Poland in 1939, Poland's allies France and Britain declared war on Germany. But they sat on their asses for half a year doing nothing against Germany while Poland disappeared from the map.
And while the War and its aftermath may be a more vivid memory for people over 60, Communism is something that most Poles lived through. Here again, Western Europe just let Poland be taken over by another of its historic aggressors, Russia, providing very little aid for 40 years. Lest someone argue that Poland has done nothing for Western Europe, I beg to differ. (and if you want a more historical event)
With Western Europe having a history of lip service to Poland about equality, which it conveniently forgots when it actually comes time to defend Poland, it's no wonder that Poland is against the EU's current actions. In their eyes, this resembles another case of Western Europe saying "yes, you can be one of us, we'll play nice" to get Poland to join the EU, and then letting one of Poland's traditional aggressors regain power over it only a few years later. Poland is using its voice now to challenge Western Europe to finally uphold its convictions that this is a "European" Union and not simply Eastern Europe's interests getting swept under the goals of the big Western European powers. Poland certainly wants to be a part of unified Europe, but they feel that often they go out on a limb for Western Europe's causes without getting reciprocation. There are European goals besides Western European ones. To have a unified Europe, the East has to adapt* but so does the West. In particular, they need to get rid of their superiority complex that their stronger economies indicate that they are more "mature"--the adults of Europe. To have such thoughts is to ignore the history of the last century, where wars and Communism ravaged Eastern Europe with the West's implicit approval.
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* I, like many Polish people, have really strong issues with the Kaczynski administration. Even Polish conservatives I've met think the Kaczynskis are going too far. The severity of their conservative policies, especially the anti-gay ones, do not reflective the intensity of the many Poles' opinions on these issues. It's similar to saying that Bush's anti-gay stances or theocracy are indicative of all of Americans' political views. As in the US, a very conservative government got elected because of special circumstances and now the country's paying for it for four years (hopefully not for the 8 like America). It's rather frustrating that they are the voice of Poland to the world, because they are taking legitimate Polish international concerns and presenting them in a sharp, reactionary way. A lot of other European countries' objections to Poland are really objections to the Kaczynskis and the policies they've enacted.
A blogger for the BBC recently wrote a piece on the debate and a bit of historical background (thanks to Christian for the link). However it's the comments afterwards that hit the nail a bit more firmly on the head in terms of Polish sentiment, numbers 18 and 40 doing so especially well.
While Kaczynski's comment was blunt, it got all of Europe's attention for Poland's objection to the voting changes. The opposition to the change isn't simply about Germany's actions to Poland during the War (particularly, the comment is definitely not a call for reparations). It's about Poland's feelings that the rest of Europe (especially Western Europe) has frequently stated it's defense for Poland and then shamelessly turned its back numerous times. When Germany and Russia invaded Poland in 1939, Poland's allies France and Britain declared war on Germany. But they sat on their asses for half a year doing nothing against Germany while Poland disappeared from the map.
And while the War and its aftermath may be a more vivid memory for people over 60, Communism is something that most Poles lived through. Here again, Western Europe just let Poland be taken over by another of its historic aggressors, Russia, providing very little aid for 40 years. Lest someone argue that Poland has done nothing for Western Europe, I beg to differ. (and if you want a more historical event)
With Western Europe having a history of lip service to Poland about equality, which it conveniently forgots when it actually comes time to defend Poland, it's no wonder that Poland is against the EU's current actions. In their eyes, this resembles another case of Western Europe saying "yes, you can be one of us, we'll play nice" to get Poland to join the EU, and then letting one of Poland's traditional aggressors regain power over it only a few years later. Poland is using its voice now to challenge Western Europe to finally uphold its convictions that this is a "European" Union and not simply Eastern Europe's interests getting swept under the goals of the big Western European powers. Poland certainly wants to be a part of unified Europe, but they feel that often they go out on a limb for Western Europe's causes without getting reciprocation. There are European goals besides Western European ones. To have a unified Europe, the East has to adapt* but so does the West. In particular, they need to get rid of their superiority complex that their stronger economies indicate that they are more "mature"--the adults of Europe. To have such thoughts is to ignore the history of the last century, where wars and Communism ravaged Eastern Europe with the West's implicit approval.
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* I, like many Polish people, have really strong issues with the Kaczynski administration. Even Polish conservatives I've met think the Kaczynskis are going too far. The severity of their conservative policies, especially the anti-gay ones, do not reflective the intensity of the many Poles' opinions on these issues. It's similar to saying that Bush's anti-gay stances or theocracy are indicative of all of Americans' political views. As in the US, a very conservative government got elected because of special circumstances and now the country's paying for it for four years (hopefully not for the 8 like America). It's rather frustrating that they are the voice of Poland to the world, because they are taking legitimate Polish international concerns and presenting them in a sharp, reactionary way. A lot of other European countries' objections to Poland are really objections to the Kaczynskis and the policies they've enacted.