Vladimir Putin attacks Poland
While the western world is celebrating christmas, for orthodox christians the festivities are still several days ahead. Therefore, Russian media’s topics may be surprising to some of us. Last Tuesday, the Russian president Vladimir Putin gave a speech to the military brass and accused Poland of starting the Second World War.
According to the Russian state television Vladimir Putin ended his end of the year speech to high ranking military officials with accusation towards the Polish diplomats from the 1930s!
He referred to the 1938 appeasement pact when the Allies agreed to the partition of Czechoslovakia.
What’s more, he reserved particular criticism for Poland, namely stating that Poland’s ambassador to Germany at the time was a Nazi sympathiser.
“Essentially they colluded with Hitler. This is clear from the documents and archives,”
Particular critique was reserved for the Polish ambassador at the time, Józef Lipski. Apparently, Putin said this about him: “That bastard! That anti-Semitic pig,”
“He expressed full solidarity with Hitler in his anti-Semitic views,” the Russian leader added.
According to Polish analysts, there are several reasons why Putin is singling out Poland.
First, is the practical seizing of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline due to US sanctions. Poland is afraid that this project will jeopardize Europe’s energy security and boost the Russian military presence at the Baltic Sea. It also breaches the trade rules of the European Union.
Moreover, Russian leadership suffered a propaganda defeat on its favourite topic – the Second World War. In march, 1945 Russia ended the war as an Allied power but in the beginning of the world conflict, in september 1939 Moscow was one of the aggressors attacking Poland together with Nazi Germany. In October, Soviet and German troops even staged a parade to celebrate this victory.
Today Russia denies this alliance, especially after the European Parliament condemned the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and blamed modern Russia for rewriting history.
It is worth noting, that Józef Lipski fought in France as infantryman during the Second World War and voluntarily joined the Polish Army.
What’s more, the source of Vladimir Putin citation is a book entitled “Small nations in times of crisis and confrontation” by an Israeli politician Yohannan Kohen, who was born in Poland, and as a 20 year old emigrated to Palestine before World War 2.
Archbishop of Krakow Marek Jędraszewski: Christians in Syria are still prosecuted
Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski was a special guest of Tv Republika, where he talked among others things about the difficult situation Christians face everyday in Syria. How do they cope with living in a war zone and have they lost hope? All of that and more on the matter had the metropolitan bishop of Cracow who recently visited the turmoiled Middle Eastern country.
“They live by hope everyday. They still have faith that they can start their lives anew. Of course, the situation in Syria is very difficult, especially where the Islamic State came to life. The Christians there had to choose between three ways of living, or more specifically with two and the last one was more of a conclusion. The first one, was to convert to Islam and if they didn’t agree to that, they were forced to pay a huge tax every month. The last solution was to be beheaded. Simple as that. We shouldn’t be surprised, that those who survived the initial attack and were mentally and financially prepared for it decided to run away. Only the poorest had to stay behind. Nonetheless, they don’t lose hope. Especially since there’s been a little bit of peace for some time now, and they can build new churches, teach their kids religion and the Catholic church is able to send proper aid. This gives them much hope. It’s hard to say whether it was safe or not, I preferred not to know too much. Even still, it was very sad and difficult to walk around the destroyed cities. It felt like I was in Warsaw after the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. These were places where the military wouldn’t let anyone enter a month ago. They let us in, but we couldn’t take pictures. The pain and suffering were overwhelming. We want to help them as much as we can”- says Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Metropolitan Bishop of Cracow.
Gingerbread Gliwice
Now an invitation to the city of Gliwice. They build there a little Gingerbread town consisting of 237 houses, tenements, a fortified fortress, a prince’s castle in the company of dozens of gingerbread men. There’s even a chocolate train that emerges from the darkness. Illuminated with the glow of Christmas trees. Obviously the city smells of cinnamon, cloves and ginger and I can bet that it wouldn’t last If you happen to plan to visit the city of Gliwice – hurry up!
Christmas Eve story
The 10th Christmas Eve for the homeless took place yesterday at the Kamienica Theatre in Warsaw. The director of the theatre Emilian Kamiński goes out of his way to bring Christmas joy to those who don’t have a roof over their head.
More than 200 people gathered at the main hall of the Warsaw theatre, where they had the unique chance to experience Christmas atmosphere, eat a warm meal, exchange wishes and sing carols.
“Every bird makes a nest, so it’s in human nature as well to have a home. A life without a home is something I cannot accept. Every man should have a home, so we’re trying to guide these people, so they could escape their homelessness”- says Emilian Kamiński, founder of The Atut Foundation and Kamienica Theatre.
Christmas meals were handed out by City Guards, led by senior inspector Alfred Paplak nicknamed “the angel of the homeless”. Food packages were also given away.
“We’ve known a lot of them for years. There are many positive cases of people who seize to be homeless, who find jobs, get married. We always say: don’t give up, it’s possible, search for the right way!- says Justyna Sieńczyłło, actress.
For the homeless, this day was very special. Thanks to Emilian Kamiński they could feel the Christmas spirit and family warmth, which they so rarely have in everyday life.
Christmas wishes from The President and First Lady
Christmas is here, Poles in Poland and abroad are gathering around the tables for christmas eve dinner. We read Holy Gospel, wish all the best to each other and eat twelve traditional vegetarian dishes. Poles celebrate this as a part of lent. An important detail to mention: one can get their presents only after all meals are done and christmas carols are sung! Let us listen to the christmas wishes from the Polish presidential couple: President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Duda!
For this christmas we would like to wish all the best to all of our fellow Poles who live in the country and abroad. We wish you health and joy and happy moments with your families.
On christmas eve we sit around the table and unite according to our national traditions. Let’s sing together our beautiful christmas carols.
May no one be lonely and sad in this unique time, for christmas is the time to smile and be together.
Let us remember about those in need. Let us show compassion to those who might not experience it in everyday life.
I hope this Christmas will be a very special time for us all.
We wish you a joyful time!
Merry Christmas!