Litopy's UPA

[Zbyszek]

Originally Posted by Kathy

The whole issue is not black and white, as it has been portrayed here. However, I am not saying it is right. It is akin to the modern divisions in Iraq. I believe the denigration of nations, the denial of historical truths (by both sides) and the hatred exhibited demonstrates a lack of intellectual and spiritual awareness. But it existed and, based on the posts here, still does exist. Even in you.

I'll be back some time in the future to respond further.

How fortunate we are to have Kathy moderating this board... She really takes her mission seriously and she gives us knowledge wtihout insulting anyone. Weeds of hate started to grow in this forum so she appeared again to cut them down. Now, we badly need Kathy's presence again.
Again and again, I would like to say that new Poland has little to do with the old one. With the growth of personal freedoms, new, more insightful historic acoounts are released and we slowly, painfully approach the truth. It is similar to what happened in Germany after the Nazi system has been defeated.
For a moment, I was surprised at the amount of anger triggered by Michael's posts. Quickly, the original subject of discussion was forgotten and the guilt tossing/wound memorizing dominated the scene.
Probably I should not be taken by surprise.
All close relationships turn too easily from love to hate. I sometimes could not understand how a couple of once loving people can generate so much hatred involving full mud-slinging and taking their own children as witnesses of their of own true or invented sufferings.
Poland and Ukraine have a border now. It is a border of peace and intensive exchange of people and ideas. Many facts show that this is a blessed solution . Abrupt divorce of Poles and Ukrainians reminded dissolving the Gordian knot.
The generatin subjected to such experiment could be called lost generation. We are fortunate descendants to be born after the storm. Let us thank God for this fortune.

One more conclusion - Ukraine ultimately did not need to fight for independence in 1991. Peaceful option saved many human lives and sufferings. I feel that some angry voices show their ill-time regret.
Poland found internal freedom without fights as well in 1989. I really admired moderation of both conflicting sides. Some stupid (and influential) politicians in Poland now seem to "regret" that communists were not wiped out by force.
God save us from such sentiments now and in future! One of disputing political forum members on our TV in 1989 said something I really liked: even if the anticommunists exiles every single communist party member behind the Ural mountains, there will be no major system change unless the very foundation of the communist system be shaken and repleced by democratic procedure. Yes, ugly communist leaders have to be judged and sentenced to prison terms but the rest is subject to patient transformation.