April 08, 2007

Polish witch hunt. "Under the law, which was passed last October and entered into force on 15 March this year, 700,000 Poles are required to confess any collaboration with the communists between 1945 and 1989. All senior civil servants, university professors, lawyers, headmasters and journalists born before 1972 must now confess their past sins by 15 May."
posted by HawthorneWingo 17 years ago
  • Did they ever catch the Farting Dissident?
  • That is insane. Completely and utterly insane. I'm sorry - I don't actually have anything intelligent to say except that I hope that this kind of persecution will be acceptable as grounds for refugee status. Also, I hope that Poland is kicked out of the EU, if they don't get rid of the law.
  • Or that the EU strikes down the law (if they can).
  • I completely agree with jb above.
  • Because nothing say 'I reject totalitarianism' like state-mandated auto da fe.
  • Hey, I didn't know there were Polish witches. The things ya learn.
  • Auto da fe, what's an auto da fe?
  • It's what you auto-n't ta do, but ya do anyway! *strikes "jazz-hands" pose*
  • Poland has been the "runway" for a lotta wars. Oppression is nothing new to Poles. Now the ex-commie bigwigs will have to go into hiding. Like the people currently in the seat of gov't once did. How would you like to live in a place whose glory years were 800 years ago?
  • You know what? I don't have much of a problem with ex-commie bigwigs paying for their crimes. There were Polish commies who did some terrible things. What I have a problem with is all the little guys paying for their 'crimes'. If this report is correct, this form is there to dig out every person who secretly collaborated with the security services. That's a lot of people. Secret police, remember, have a way of forcing people to collaborate in little ways. Life under an authoritarian regime is fraught with compromise. This is why, incidentally, we tend to look upon people who don't compromise under an authoritarian regime as heroes. They do something that is deeply risky, and above and beyond what the ordinary person finds themself able to do. On the whole, I think, you shouldn't prosecute or persecute people for failing to be a hero. To do so, for me, violates my understanding of the frailty of humanity. Oh and the gay thing is just nuts. Here's hoping such vile legislation never sees the light of day. It's especially pernicious aimed at the academy, which is one of those specially protected bastions of human freedom.
  • There's a lot to be said for doing it another way. Truth and reconciliation, for example.
  • "...the conservative president, Lech Kaczynski, and his twin brother, prime minister Jaroskaw Kaczynski, came to power in Poland in October 2005" Not only did I not know of these two, but am also disturbed that they could not find a job for brother Ted. Maybe postmaster general?
  • Oh and the gay thing is just nuts. Here's hoping such vile legislation never sees the light of day. It's especially pernicious aimed at the academy, which is one of those specially protected bastions of human freedom. Once again, the academy is under attack from a government which is closely aligned with the pedophiles in the Catholic Church. An oldie but a goodie. Happy Easter.
  • T.U.M's Tips # 157: If you ever get "Polish" in a game of Charades, choose to act is out as a verb, not an adjective.
  • T.U.M's Tips # 157: If you ever get "Polish" in a game of Charades, choose to act is out as a verb, not an adjective. It's a door! It's an open door . . a . . an outside, you're outside! A screen door! Its, you're diving . . a scuba diver . . . driving a boat under - a submarine! It's a submarine!
  • petebest would like to apologize to the filter for that joke. The joke was made in error, and will not be repeated. *click*