These are returning Polish military symbols to the Katyń War Cemetery; launching a full-fledged public relations campaign about Russia’s approach to Katyń that includes ending all historical revisionism about this within its “global media ecosystem”; and relocating Red Army monuments from Poland.
Your suggestions sound very commonsensical, with no downside and considerable - potential - upside.
At some point, it might perhaps be possible for Russia to reveal the locations of the other mass graves of the Polish officers killed after Russia’s attack on Poland in 1939.
"Russia’s attack on Poland"? Was Stalin a Russian? Beria? Trotsky? Lenin? Kaganovich? Yagoda? Russians were merely cannon fodder for the gory dream of Bolshevism.
Only the great ones can admit their own mistakes, and even greater ones can do something about those mistakes. If Mr. Putin wants to draw a clear line between Russia and the former USSR, this is one of the good moves.
Makes sense, but there is nothing Russia can do that would cut any ice in poland. It's a project like getting the kkk to devote their lives to community gardening and other service projects.
he Soviet Union overthrew the German yoke upon Poland, so i would not remove the monuments honoring that. ending one historical revision while starting another perpetuates denial of history. Only on acknowledging the complex reality can one move further.
What would you replace them with? I guess you could put up AK (armia krajova) memorials. But Poland won't b e a fully mature country until it can honor the soldiers who died pushing out the germans, while also being able to say, "Yes, but" --yes but you killed Polish soldiers k pre 1941, plus you helped impose a government (albeit run by Poles). Complicated, but for the future there needs to be a dialogue.
The biggest problem remains an irritating and inexplicable amused condescension among Russians as soon as one mentions the Poles to them. I have noted this astonishing aspect every time I have broached the subject with a Russian. At the word "Poles", my interlocutors immediately displayed a condescending smile. I could argue at length about the country's magnificent history, about their cavalry which was the best in the world for centuries and which saved Napoleon's entire French army several times, about the decisive and heroic halt of the Ottomans before Vienna, ridding all of Europe of that peril, I could cite Marie Curie, Chopin and so many other things, I was met with that knowing and disdainful smile. Regardless of the educational or social level of my Russian interlocutor. One word: racism. Generally, many French people have exactly the same smile when Russia is mentioned. The Poles being very proud and very touchy (like the French who consider them a brother people), I imagine that this single irritating smile is a sufficient obstacle to any rapprochement. And this does not only apply to the Poles. The Ukrainians also get their share of condescension. I believe the word "khokhol" is explicit enough. I suppose that the Azeris, Kazakhs and other Uzbeks must also be entitled to their condescending smile and their demeaning nickname. The Russians, who love to present themselves as paragons of fairness and brotherhood, should start working very seriously on these points.
I doubt it will matter any time soon what Poles think of Russians, but there is still an obligation to do the right thing.
About this: "How quickly they’ve forgotten that they exist, among other reasons, because we helped them and continue to help.” I would suggest it is the POLES who need to remember and to stop supporting a country that, in addition to being completely totalitarian, glorifies those who commit atrocities and represents a very serious threat to them even now. Of course I have zero hope that they will come to their senses.
Poland is not likely to come to its senses certainly not under the current president. For Russia the best approach is to forget about this suicidal entity.
Removing RedArmy monuments from Poland. WHO liberated and saved you Poles from what the Gemans had intended for you? Katyn was only killing selected Polish of who hated Russia. With war on the horizon what do you do with potential enemies??
To be honest, I don't expect much from Russia in this respect. They still, officially, insist that there is such a thing as Moldavian Language... Maria Zacharova, a Sinologist profits such silliness...
The problem is that the Poles have always suffered from extreme, delusional megalomania and national narcissism. You can NEVER do enough for a narcissist. He will never be happy or even satisfied.
Two examples: 1) in 1939 picking an OBVIOUSLY TOTALLY unwinnable fight with both the Third Reich and the USSR; 2) now antagonizing the powerful new Russia of Putin, a man who sincerely seeks peace and reconciliation.
I was moved by this video, and though I found Satanyahu and Julensky out of place, it struck me how Putin seemed the most compassionate and moved of all the leaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9EyhYt2TeI
Do you really believe that Poland started the war against Germany in 1939? Had Poland agreed to Hitler's demands, Hitler would have demanded yet more concessions. Hitler was determined to destroy Poland. Period. And do you really believe that Putin is "a man who sincerely seeks peace and reconciliation"? What are the bases for your statements?
Your suggestions sound very commonsensical, with no downside and considerable - potential - upside.
At some point, it might perhaps be possible for Russia to reveal the locations of the other mass graves of the Polish officers killed after Russia’s attack on Poland in 1939.
"Russia’s attack on Poland"? Was Stalin a Russian? Beria? Trotsky? Lenin? Kaganovich? Yagoda? Russians were merely cannon fodder for the gory dream of Bolshevism.
Only the great ones can admit their own mistakes, and even greater ones can do something about those mistakes. If Mr. Putin wants to draw a clear line between Russia and the former USSR, this is one of the good moves.
Makes sense, but there is nothing Russia can do that would cut any ice in poland. It's a project like getting the kkk to devote their lives to community gardening and other service projects.
he Soviet Union overthrew the German yoke upon Poland, so i would not remove the monuments honoring that. ending one historical revision while starting another perpetuates denial of history. Only on acknowledging the complex reality can one move further.
I understand your view, but Poland will continue systematically destroying those monuments until there’s none left.
They can therefore either be saved or demolished, thst’s how I see it. I’d prefer for them to be preserved in Moscow than lost to history.
"replaced" could be a better word.
What would you replace them with? I guess you could put up AK (armia krajova) memorials. But Poland won't b e a fully mature country until it can honor the soldiers who died pushing out the germans, while also being able to say, "Yes, but" --yes but you killed Polish soldiers k pre 1941, plus you helped impose a government (albeit run by Poles). Complicated, but for the future there needs to be a dialogue.
No, you got me wrong. You say that Russia removed the German yoke from the Poles. I only said that 'replace' would be a more appropriate word."
The biggest problem remains an irritating and inexplicable amused condescension among Russians as soon as one mentions the Poles to them. I have noted this astonishing aspect every time I have broached the subject with a Russian. At the word "Poles", my interlocutors immediately displayed a condescending smile. I could argue at length about the country's magnificent history, about their cavalry which was the best in the world for centuries and which saved Napoleon's entire French army several times, about the decisive and heroic halt of the Ottomans before Vienna, ridding all of Europe of that peril, I could cite Marie Curie, Chopin and so many other things, I was met with that knowing and disdainful smile. Regardless of the educational or social level of my Russian interlocutor. One word: racism. Generally, many French people have exactly the same smile when Russia is mentioned. The Poles being very proud and very touchy (like the French who consider them a brother people), I imagine that this single irritating smile is a sufficient obstacle to any rapprochement. And this does not only apply to the Poles. The Ukrainians also get their share of condescension. I believe the word "khokhol" is explicit enough. I suppose that the Azeris, Kazakhs and other Uzbeks must also be entitled to their condescending smile and their demeaning nickname. The Russians, who love to present themselves as paragons of fairness and brotherhood, should start working very seriously on these points.
I doubt it will matter any time soon what Poles think of Russians, but there is still an obligation to do the right thing.
About this: "How quickly they’ve forgotten that they exist, among other reasons, because we helped them and continue to help.” I would suggest it is the POLES who need to remember and to stop supporting a country that, in addition to being completely totalitarian, glorifies those who commit atrocities and represents a very serious threat to them even now. Of course I have zero hope that they will come to their senses.
Poland is not likely to come to its senses certainly not under the current president. For Russia the best approach is to forget about this suicidal entity.
They have never come to their senses, though I do sincerely thank Jan Sobielski for saving Christendom in 1683. https://korybko.substack.com/p/three-politically-difficult-policy/comment/280222947
Removing RedArmy monuments from Poland. WHO liberated and saved you Poles from what the Gemans had intended for you? Katyn was only killing selected Polish of who hated Russia. With war on the horizon what do you do with potential enemies??
polishreserve offers who had a hatred for Russia.
Wow
To be honest, I don't expect much from Russia in this respect. They still, officially, insist that there is such a thing as Moldavian Language... Maria Zacharova, a Sinologist profits such silliness...
Good advice.
The problem is that the Poles have always suffered from extreme, delusional megalomania and national narcissism. You can NEVER do enough for a narcissist. He will never be happy or even satisfied.
Two examples: 1) in 1939 picking an OBVIOUSLY TOTALLY unwinnable fight with both the Third Reich and the USSR; 2) now antagonizing the powerful new Russia of Putin, a man who sincerely seeks peace and reconciliation.
I was moved by this video, and though I found Satanyahu and Julensky out of place, it struck me how Putin seemed the most compassionate and moved of all the leaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9EyhYt2TeI
Do you really believe that Poland started the war against Germany in 1939? Had Poland agreed to Hitler's demands, Hitler would have demanded yet more concessions. Hitler was determined to destroy Poland. Period. And do you really believe that Putin is "a man who sincerely seeks peace and reconciliation"? What are the bases for your statements?
I agree