NIGDY WIECEJ - NEVER AGAIN, issue 15, summer 2006
SUMMARY:
* The editors’ opening article discusses the problem of far right’s presence within the Polish government following the 2005 elections and the formation of the coalition in spring 2006.
* ‘Akademia antysemityzmu’ (‘Academy of Anti-Semitism’, page 1) by Jacek Zinkiewicz and Marcin Kornak, discusses a controversy over Andrzej Lepper’s honorary doctorate at the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management in Kiev, Ukraine. Lepper is a prominent politician of the Samoobrona party that is now part of the ruling coalition in Poland. The Academy, as the authors of the article reveal, is the largest private university in Ukraine, and became known as having links and respecting politicians and ideologues, both from the West and from the Muslim world, who overtly hold anti-Semitic views. The controversy became a public issue in 2005 when Andrzej Lepper was nominated as Samoobrona’s candidate for a Deputy Speaker seat of the Polish Parliament.
* The letters section (pages 2-3) contains letters from readers as well as greetings letter from Barbara Radziewicz who was honoured as “Anti-Fascist of 2005.”
* The open letter section (page 6) contains a protest statement of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association concerning plans of demolition of historical synagogue building in the city of Poznań, as well as an open letter to the President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, demanding a dismissal of far right politician Roman Giertych from the Minister of Education office.
* The documents section (pages 3-4) contains excerpts from the 2004 report by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, a Council of Europe’s institution. The passages published by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ magazine are the summary of the report on the situation in Poland as well as specific issues and recommendations regarding necessary counter-activities against anti-Semitism in Poland.
* ‘Fałszywe świadectwo’ (‘False Testimony’, page 5) by Anna Konsek, discusses a controversy over the Catholic TV station’s (Telewizja Trwam) material presenting a distorted image of the Woodstock Station Festival. The Festival is known for promoting tolerance and anti-racism, and the TV station attempted to discredit the initiative as allegedly immoral and anti-Christian. The foundation that organises the Woodstock Station Festival every year in the mid-summer (the Great Orchestra of the Holiday Aid, which is a very popular charity initiative, bringing millions of Poles together every year and raising large funds to provide medical equipment for hospitals treating small children) sued the Telewizja Trwam for violating the foundation’s reputation and demanded that the material is no longer shown to the public. In February 2006 the court ordered the TV station to apologise publicly and pay a fine.
* ‘Synagogę wykupić i ... zburzyć’ (‘To Buy Out and Pull Down the Synagogue’, page 5) by Arkadiusz Zacheja is another text criticising suggestions of MEP Marcin Libicki that the historical synagogue building in Poland should be demolished. The author reveals ideological motives of Libicki who has been known for his intolerance and ultraconservative views.
* ‘... czytał Tomasz Knapik’ (‘Read by Tomasz Knapik’, page 7) by Dominik Piłat, reveals and criticises an involvement of a well-known TV announcer, Tomasz Knapik, as a over-voice in pre-electoral commercials of the neo-fascist National Revival of Poland (NOP).
* ‘Baranki Boże mp-trują’ (page 7) by Wiktor Marszałek, tells about the controversial presence of the MP3 files of a neo-Nazi rock band on the web site of the publicly-funded Cultural Centre in Slupsk.
* ‘STOP Wojnie i Piskorskiemu’ (‘Stop the War and Stop Piskorski’, page 7) briefly analyses the problem of infiltration of anti-war movement in Poland by members of the far right. The problem described by the author is attempts by the Samoobrona’s MP Mateusz Piskorski (former activist of neo-fascist/neo-pagan movement) to strengthen links with the Stop the War Initiative. The article contains extracts from a letter sent by one of the leaders of the Stop the War Initiative, describing Piskorski’s attempts to collaborate with anti-war activists, and declaring the anti-war movement’s refusal to co-operate with the far right.
* ‘Przebieranki faszystów’ (‘Disguises of the Fascists’, page 8), by Krzysztof Skiba, is a feature article by a popular rock artist. The text claims that there is a very thin line, if any, between the neo-Nazi movement and the now ‘mainstream’ radical right represented by the co-ruling League of Polish Families (LPR) and its youth organisation All-Polish Youth (MW). In fact, many members of the MW were in a recent past members of more openly violent extreme right.
* ‘Narodowcy o narodowcach’ (‘Nationalists on Nationalists’, page 8) presents two passages coming from nationalist magazines, which show ruptures, contradictions and clashes of interests inside the far right nationalist movement in Poland.
* ‘Antysemityzm – korzenie i leczenie’ (‘Anti-Semitism: Origins and Treatment’, page 9) by Michał Czajkowski, is an article by a Catholic priest who is one of the leaders of Christian-Jewish dialogue in the church in Poland. The author discusses the roots of traditional and modern anti-Semitism in Europe, its essentially anti-Christian moral and theological dimension, and makes a number of suggestions on how to approach the issue on ethical grounds in order to combat it.
* ‘Oświęcimskie Rozmowy o tolerancji’ (‘Auschwitz Tolerance Talks’, pages 11-12) is an extensive transcript of a meeting with a former Ombudsman, professor Andrzej Zoll. The text presents a discussion on the public struggle against racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the context of the legal system in Poland. In 2005, Professor Zoll took part in the Tolerance Talks project organised by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association in the town of Oświęcim.
* ‘Podpis posła ze swastyką. Jak z neonazisty zostać posłem Samoobrony’ (‘A Signature of the Deputy with Swastika. How to turn from a neo-Nazi to a parliamentary deputy of Samoobrona’, pages 13-17) by Rafał Pankowski, is an extensive description of political biography of a current MP, Mateusz Piskorski, member of co-ruling populist party Samoobrona. Pankowski reveals Piskorski’s involvement with extreme right organisations in 1990’s, as well as his current links to Slavonic movements propagating racism and anti-Semitism.
* ‘Nazi-rockowi kandydaci’ (‘Nazi-Rock Candidates’, pages17-19) by Kamil Lutyński, analyses active involvement of musicians from the nazi-rock scene in the 2005 parliamentary elections; a number of far right musicians were running in the elections from on the lists of the Polish National Party (PPN) and the National Revival of Poland (NOP).
* ‘Bojówkarskie fascynacje wiecznie żywe’ (‘Militant Inspirations Are Still Alive’, pages 19-21) by Arkadiusz Zacheja, is an article on the inspirations of a pre-World War II Polish fascist ideologue, recently passed-away Zygmunt Przetakowicz, among the contemporary members of now ‘mainstream’ far right organisations: League of Polish Families (LPR) and All-Polish Youth (MW).
* ‘NOP: Wyznawcy terroryzmu, czyli Osama bin Laden jest Niewinny’ (‘NOP: Believers of Terrorism, or Osama bin Laden Is Not Guilty’, pages 21-22) by Wiktor Marszałek, raises an issue of pro-terrorist inspirations and attitudes among the ranks of the National Revival of Poland (NOP), a party of the extreme right.
* ‘Młodzież Wszechpolska u władzy’ (‘All-Polish Youth In Power’, pages 23-26) by Marcin Kornak, is an extensive analysis of the new generation of far-right politicians taking now seats in the parliament and public offices. The author reveals the recent past biographies of a number of young politicians and officers, emphasising their involvement in actions of neofascist and neo-Nazi groups and organisations.
* ‘Stop bojówkom Giertycha’ (‘Stop Giertych’s Militants’) by Filip Ilkowski, and Deklaracja Koalicji Przeciw Młodzieży Wszechpolskiej (‘Declaration of the Coalition Against the All-Polish Youth’) (both texts on page 27) document a recent movement of resistance against the leading far-right organisation in Poland by groups and associations of the left, including the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association, Workers’ Democracy, Lesbians Alliance, Women’s Alliance 8 of March, Young Socialists and others. The Coalition’s declaration is overtly anti-fascist and calls for a broad fight against intolerance and xenophobia.
* ‘Antyfaszyści spod znaku trzech strzał’ (‘Antifascists from under the Three Arrows Sign’, pages 27-28) by Michał Syska, is a historical account of pre-World War II anti-fascist activity among Polish socialists connected with the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). The author briefly discusses organisations, such as Socialist Action, Red Scouting, and Independent Socialist Youth Association, and their actions against far-right, anti-Semitic militant groups.
* ‘Bo życie kabaretem jest...’ (‘Cause Life Is A Cabaret...’, pages 28-30) by Anna Konsek and Marcin Kornak, talks about an initiative of Anti-Nazi Group in Rybnik (the region of Upper Silesia) called ‘Cabarets Against Racism’. The article also presents a historical overview of cabaret as a form of popular art involved in anti-fascist discourse in 1920’s and 1930’s in Germany and Poland.
* ‘Krew i honor’ (‘Blood and Honour’, pages 30-31) by Andrzej Malinowski, describes the Polish section of international neo-Nazi organisation Blood & Honour, and its links to parties of the far right and populist right.
* ‘Niektórym ludziom należałoby wytoczyć proces myślenia. Kilka uwag na marginesie kampanii R@cism Delete’ (‘Some People Need to Be Put On Trial of Thinking. A Few Notes On the R@cism Delete Campaign’, pages 32-36) by Bartek Gutowski, is an extensive analysis of the problem of racism and anti-Semitism on the web sites, as well as a thoughtful reflection on how to counter those phenomena in the context of the Polish and EU policies. The article is followed by a few practical hints on what individuals can do to fight successfully against racist contents online.
* On pages 36-39 are communiqués released by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association between March 2005 and March 2006: Racism In the “Ruch” Distribution Network (March 2005), Anti-Racism at the Woodstock Festival (August 2005), President of the NEVER AGAIN Association Honoured by the Polcul Foundation (October 2005), Crowning of the Kolporter Korona Football Club (October 2005), Nazism on the Internet – In a Polish Way (November 2005), Anti-Fascist of 2005 – Against Racism and Social Exclution (January 2006), Nazi Incitement on the Internet (February 2006), Thierry Henry Supports Polish Anti-Racist Activists (March 2006).
* ‘Zamalować Kraków’ (‘Cover Krakow With Paint’, page 39) by Bolesław Kurczab, tells about an initiative by Anti-Nazi Group in Kraków to cover racist and nationalist slogans and signs that could be found on the buildings in Kraków.
* ‘Napisy na murach’ (‘Writing On the Walls’, page 40) by Mateusz Kostański, is a critical reflection on neo-nazi and racist graffiti on the buildings in Polish towns and cities.
* ‘Trzask łamanych stereotypów’ (‘The Snap of Broken Stereotypes’, pages 40-41) by Dariusz Paczkowski, tells about an anti-racist initiative by an environmentalist organisation Klub Gaja in co-operation with the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association and the International Youth Meeting House in Oświęcim. The initiative was a series of workshops and discussions focused on countering stereotypes and xenophobia.
* ‘Parszywe idee wydają na świat parszywych synów’ (‘Dirty Ideas Have Dirty Sons’, pages 42-45) is an interview by Anna Malinowska and Jacek Purski with Krzysztof ‘Grabaż’ Grabowski, a leader of popular rock bands Pidżama Porno and Strachy na Lachy. The artist shares his views on neo-fascism, xenophobia and racism, as well as tells about his co-operation with the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association in the Rock Against Racism campaign. The section contains also lyrics of three anti-fascist songs by Krzysztof ‘Grabaż’ Grabowski.
* ‘Piosenki bez refrenów, melodie bez emocji, teksty bez bohaterów’ (‘Songs With No Choruses, Melodies With No Emotions, Lyrics With No Heroes’, pages 46-47) by Anna Malinowska, is a review of several rock albums by Polish rock artists with anti-fascist message.
* ‘To’ (‘It’, pages 48-49) by Rafał Kasprzak, is a critical reflection on the book Alterland by Marcin Wolski. The author of the article reveals ambivalence of the book and analyses its right-wing bias and underplaying of the destructive role of fascism in the modern European history.
* ‘Aryzacja bohatera literackiego’ (‘Aryanisation of A Literary Character’, page 50) by Paweł Dunin-Wąsowicz, is another reflection on the ambivalence of some contemporary literary works and literary critique as far as subjects of ethnic origin and ‘race’ are concerned.
* ‘Komiks – sztuka dojrzała, cz. 2’ (‘Comics – A Mature Art’, part two, pages 51-52) by Marcin Kornak, is a continuation of the author’s series of articles on the art of comics as placed in the context of antiracist and counter-antisemitic discourses, published in ‘Never Again’ magazine (see also issues #13 and 14).
* Pages 53-59 contain the ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Stadiums’ (‘Wykopmy rasizm ze stadionów’) section. The heading refers to the several years long campaign being organised by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association under the same slogan. In the section are: an interview by Jacej Purski and Marcin Kornak with the president of the Polish Football Association, Michał Listkiewicz, on multicultural and antiracist dimensions of football and on combating racism against football fans; a historical article by Jacek Świąder on multicultural roots of football in Poland, discussing contribution of national minorities and foreigners to Polish football in early 20th century; and two reports on antiracist campaigns in football, one organised by the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association and TVN television, and another – Football Against Racism in Europe Action week.
* ‘Lewica partiotyczna, czyli skrajna prawica’ (‘Patriotic Left Means Extreme Right’, page 60) by Michał Syska, is an insightful analysis of nationalist and conservative tendencies among the parties and movements of the so called ‘patriotic left’ on the contemporary political scene in Poland.
* ‘Ukraina: Faszyści korzystają z zamieszania na scenie politycznej’ (‘Ukraine: Fascists Take Advantage of the Chaos on the Political Stage’, page 61) by Natalia Sineaeva and Rafał Pankowski, analyses links between the ‘Our Ukraine’ party of Victor Yushchenko, and nationalist and anti-Semitic organisations.
* ‘Antysemityzm na Ukrainie’ (Anti-Semitism in Ukraine, page 62) by Franziska Bruder, is a reprint from Der Richte Rand (no. 96/2005) that reveals outcomes of the research on anti-Semitism in Ukraine that was carried out in 2002 and 2003. The Jewish Studies Institute in Kiev notes the rise of anti-Jewish incidents since 2002.
* ‘Nasze prawa do wolności’ (‘Our rights to freedom’, page 64) is a reprint from Respublika Krym (no. 29/2005) that is a manifesto by musicians of the band Grin Grej (Green Grey) who call for greater civil rights and freedoms in Ukraine.
* ‘Negacjonizm historyczny i zaprzeczanie Holocaustowi w Rumunii i Mołdawii’ (‘Historical Negativism and the Holocaust Denial in Romania and Moldova’, pages 64-66) by Natalia Sineaeva, is an extensive analysis of the Holocaust denial, which discusses both the international dimension of the phenomenon and its specific manifestations in Romania and Moldova. The author takes into account historical background of fascist movement and anti-Semitism in Romania and Moldova, as well as the contemporary political contexts and networks that are conducive to dissemination of Holocaust denial discourses. The article also briefly touches upon the issue of official reactions to racism and anti-Semitism in both countries.
* The ‘Reviews’ section (‘Recenzje’, pages 68-72) presents 9 books. Among them are Ł. Wojdyła’s analysis of lyrics in far right rock bands, a collection of essays on homophobia in Poland (edited by Z. Sypniewski and B. Warkocki), three testimonies of Holocaust victims, and R. Modras’s book on anti-Semitic influences in the Catholic church in Poland in 1930’s. There are also reviews of the famous movie on the Hitler’s last days, ‘The Fall,’ as well as of a CD album by a London-based antiracist and multicultural band Mattafix.
* ‘Katalog Wypadkow – Brunatna Ksiega’ (‘List of Incidents – the Brown Book’, pages 73-93) by Marcin Kornak, is a detailed record of violent acts and other incidents committed by members and sympathisers of racist and neofascist groups in Poland in the recent period. The ‘Brown Book’ also keeps record of intensifying acts of homophobia, verbal acts of racism and anti-Semitism among politicians, acts of demolition of property belonging to religious or national minority groups as well as attacks against young people belonging to anti-fascist groups.