October 05, 2002
While George Partington is linking to some historically timely educational pieces, and Marek is struggling to survive through the fiscal downslide of current history, and b!X is marching to affect the course of future history, I sit and watch a subtitled movie that reminds me, again, why educated dissent is important, why passionate ideals are important, why committed solidarity is important, why continuing to hold the mirror of truth up to our current grotesquely warped American government is important.
The Man of Iron, takes place in the context of Lech Walesa’s campaign on behalf of the Polish workers, and I bought it today at a local Polish festival to give to my son – because the story of Maciej Tomczyk is one he will understand and because his heritage is shared with these people who (usually against immense odds) continue to have such an historical passion for freedom and justice.
So, tonight, I sit and watch the movie with my mother, who, of course, misses the whole point of the story because she’s too busy complaining about how fast they are talking in Polish (she ignores the subtitles because she used to be fluent in Polish and, mistakenly, figures that she ought to be able to follow the dialogue) and how many times they say “fuck.” But I get caught up in identifying with the strength of spirit that has always made me proud to be Polish.
Lech Walesa’s fight against Polish communism triggered changes, for the good, in the economic and political future of Europe. What we need these days is an American version of Lech Walesa to rally our working class people to use their votes and overthrow our reigning family and its ties to big money. We need a little of that
(And as I finish typing this, b!X has posted his photos of the Portland OR rally against our going to war with Iraq here.)
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Old Comments (1)
dzwonki polifoniczne nokia on 14 Jun 2004
Hmmmmm interesting !!!