Freedom Day!

 

Scusi, ci farebbe entrare nella piazza che i bimbi sono stanchi dopo piu' di un'ora di coda? 
Prego, signore, fate passare i bambini il sollecito poliziotto armato fino ai denti.
E fu cosi' che tre mamme italiane, attualmente espatriate a Varsavia, si ritrovarono insieme a tantissimi polacchi, ucraini, studenti in exchange e turisti, nella piazza sotto massima sicurezza per assistere al discorso del Presidente Obama nel giorno del venticinquesimo anniversario delle prime elezioni libere in Polonia, il Freedom day.

"(..)Twenty-five years ago today, we witnessed a scene that had once seemed impossible -- an election where, for the first time, the people of this nation had a choice.  The Communist regime thought an election would validate their rule or weaken the opposition.  Instead, Poles turned out in the millions.  And when the votes were counted, it was a landslide victory for freedom. (...)
The images of that year are seared in our memory.  Citizens filling the streets of Budapest and Bucharest.  Hungarians and Austrians cutting the barbed wire border.  Protestors joining hands across the Baltics.  Czechs and Slovaks in their Velvet Revolution.  East Berliners climbing atop that wall.  And we have seen the extraordinary progress since that time.  A united Germany.  Nations in Central and Eastern Europe standing tall as proud democracies.  A Europe that is more integrated, more prosperous and more secure.  We must never forget that the spark for so much of this revolutionary change, this blossoming of hope, was lit by you, the people of Poland.  (Applause.)
History was made here.  The victory of 1989 was not inevitable.  It was the culmination of centuries of Polish struggle, at times in this very square.  The generations of Poles who rose up and finally won independence.  The soldiers who resisted invasion, from the east and the west.  The Righteous Among the Nations -- among them Jan Karski -- who risked all to save the innocent from the Holocaust.  The heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto who refused to go without a fight.  The Free Poles at Normandy and the Poles of the Home Army who -- even as this city was reduced to rubble -- waged a heroic uprising.
We remember how, when an Iron Curtain descended, you never accepted your fate.  When a son of Poland ascended to the Chair of Saint Peter, he returned home, and here, in Warsaw, he inspired a nation with his words -- “there can be no just Europe without the independence of Poland.”  (Applause.)  And today we give thanks for the courage of the Catholic Church and the fearless spirit of Saint John Paul II.  (Applause.)
We also recall how you prevailed 25 years ago.  In the face of beatings and bullets, you never wavered from the moral force of nonviolence.  Through the darkness of martial law, Poles lit candles in their windows.  When the regime finally agreed to talk, you embraced dialogue.  When they held those elections -- even though not fully free -- you participated.  As one Solidarity leader said at the time, “We decided to accept what was possible.”  Poland reminds us that sometimes the smallest steps, however imperfect, can ultimately tear down walls, can ultimately transform the world.  (Applause.)
But of course, your victory that June day was only the beginning.  For democracy is more than just elections.  True democracy, real prosperity, lasting security -- these are neither simply given, nor imposed from the outside.  They must be earned and built from within.  And in that age-old contest of ideas -- between freedom and authoritarianism, between liberty and oppression, between solidarity and intolerance -- Poland’s progress shows the enduring strength of the ideals that we cherish as a free people.(...)
(...)This is the Poland we celebrate today.  The free and democratic Poland that your forebears and some who are here today dreamed of and fought for and, in some cases, died for.  The growing and secure Poland that you -- particularly the young people who are here today -- have enjoyed for your entire lives.
It’s a wonderful story, but the story of this nation reminds us that freedom is not guaranteed.  And history cautions us to never take progress for granted.(...)
(...)Finally, as free peoples, we join together, not simply to safeguard our own security but to advance the freedom of others. Today we affirm the principles for which we stand.
We stand together because we believe that people and nations have the right to determine their own destiny.  And that includes the people of Ukraine. (...)The Ukrainians of today are the heirs of Solidarity -- men and women like you who dared to challenge a bankrupt regime.  When your peaceful protests were met with an iron fist, Poles placed flowers in the shipyard gate.  Today, Ukrainians honor their fallen with flowers in Independence Square.We remember the Polish voter who rejoiced to “feel the taste of Poland again.”  Her voice echoes in the young protestor in the Maidan who savored what she called “a taste of real freedom.”  “I love my country,” she said, and we are standing up for “justice and freedom.”  And with gratitude for the strong support of the Polish people, she spoke for many Ukrainians when she said, “Thank you, Poland.  We hear you and we love you.”  (Applause.)    Today we can say the same.  Thank you, Poland -- thank you for your courage.  Thank you for reminding the world that no matter how brutal the crackdown, no matter how long the night, the yearning for liberty and dignity does not fade away.  It will never go away.  Thank you, Poland, for your iron will and for showing that, yes, ordinary citizens can grab the reins of history, and that freedom will prevail -- because, in the end, tanks and troops are no match for the force of our ideals. 
Thank you, Poland -- for your triumph -- not of arms, but of the human spirit, the truth that carries us forward. There is no change without risk, and no progress without sacrifice, and no freedom without solidarity.  (Applause.)

Poco prima, Eric Schmidt si vedeva a qualche centinaio di metri di distanza con il Primo Ministro Tusk per suggellare l'accordo che prevede la costruzione a Varsavia del terzo Google Campus al mondo e sugli schermi del motore di ricerca appariva:

Da settimane in giro per Varsavia cresceva il clima per questi 25 anni di Liberta': posters, allestimenti murales giganti, mostre fotografiche sulla storia di come il Partito Comunista e Solidarnosc condussero la campagna elettorale, sulle infrastrutture create in questi 25 anni, sulla musica e sull'arte di questi 25 anni, con spazi per coinvolgere i bambini, musica, tantissima musica per battere i piedi a tempo e muoversi con un sorriso.
E cosi' e' stato.
Dallo spettacolo della Fontana Multimediale, ai festoni bianchi e rossi per tutta la citta' alla cerimonia nella piazza del Castello, conclusa con una performance orchestrale di jazz briosa e piena di allegria che nulla ha a che vedere con le musiche tristi e cupe che si associano di solito a questa parte d'Europa. Perche' la Polonia oggi e' diventata come si augurava diventasse 25 anni questo manifesto elettorale:

"scegli la tua Polonia"

per chi avesse ancora voglia di leggere su cosa c'e' dietro questo Freedom Day
 

Il Presidente della Repubblica Polacca attuale si chiama Bronislaw Komorowski, (per gli amici suppongo Bronek) ha cominciato il suo mandato prima delle elezioni del 2010 che lo vedevano gia' favorito, poiche' essendo presidente del Senato subentro' al Presidente rimasto ucciso insieme a moltissimi intellettuali, attivisti e politici della Polonia moderna nella tragedia di Smolensk il 10 aprile 2010, che si va ad aggiungere a tutti gli altri anniversarsi sfortunati di questa nazione. Ricapitolando:
- il 3 maggio e' il Giorno della Costituzione, ma di fatto l'illuminato regno del Re Augusto venne spazzato via solo tre anni dopo la sua emanazione,nel 1795.
- l'11 novembre e' il Giorno dell'Indipendenza, riottenuta nel 1918 (dal 1795 appunto), ma duro' fino all'invasione dei nazi nel 1939.
- il 1 agosto e' il giorno dell'Ora W, inizio dell'eroica rivolta dei resistenti varsaviesi, che venne schiacciata del tutto 63 giorni dopo.
Insomma, niente 4 di Luglio di Barbecue e fuochi d'artificio, niente 14 Luglio di vini e camembert e baguettes, niente giubilei della Regina con Robbie e Gary a far cantare le folle.
Mai come oggi la Polonia e'  composta da persone dinamiche e ottimiste, che finalmente possono apprezzare come il frutto della loro tenacia morale e integrita' lavorativa stia cambiando inarrestabilmente in meglio il mondo in cui vivono. Passata la transizione, passata la crisi, passato il peggio, oggi si puo' vivere con gioia un momento che venticinque anni fa sembrava solo un sogno: una nazione libera, prospera, in crescita, impegnata nel lavoro di impresa, negli eventi culturali, nel recupero del passato quanto proiettata vero il futuro, ormai spalla a spalla con le altre nazioni europee in quasi tutti gli ambiti
E percio' il buon Bronek non solo s'e' tagliato i baffi, ha perso una dozzina di kg, si e' comprato delle cravatte piu' allegre e con il suo staff ce la sta mettendo tutta per coinvolgere la popolazione a celebrare anniversari positivi, senza se e senza ma:
- 12 Marzo e' diventato Nato Day, quest'anno ricorreva il 15^ anniversario dall'ingresso della Polonia nell'alleanza. Per i Paesi che storicamente hanno subito la longa manus della Russia, far parte della Nato e' stato il primo passo per sentirsi al sicuro
- il Primo Maggio e' diventato Giorno dell'Unione Europea (quest'anno ricorrendo i dieci anni dall'annessione)
- il 4 Giugno e' diventato ufficialmente Freedom Day, in coincidenza con l'anniversario delle prime elezioni libere in Polonia: dopo i mesi della tavola rotonda tra Partito comunista guidata dal Generale Jaruselski (che nel 1980 proclamo' la legge marziale) e Solidarnosc, guidata da Walesa, finalmente si svolsero le prime elezioni con 35% dei seggi a scelta libera. Solidarnosc vinse tutti i seggi a disposizione e due anni dopo si svolsero le elezioni con 100% dei seggi a scelta libera.
Questo  il testo di un discorso tenuto dal buon Bronek qualche settimana fa ( secondo me ha assunto il miglior speech writer del globo) per invitare la nazione a festeggiare questa ricorrenza ritrovandosi insieme, a creare eventi nella sfera pubblica e in quella privata.

An Appeal by the President of the Republic of Poland

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On 4 June 1989, we defeated communism. On 4 June 2014, it will be a quarter of a century since that memorable day. As early as today, let us start preparing for that festive, jubilee, citizens’ Freedom Day.

4 June 1989 represents a triumph of solidarity and courage over doubt and political isolation. 4 June 1989 marks the beginning of a successful, large-scale transformation of Poland’s political and economic system. 4 June 1989 is a return of hope for sovereignty for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the beginning of a journey towards European unity.

At that time, we were together. Civic and patriotic life in Poland did not cease despite censorship, repression and the Iron Curtain. The people of the Solidarity movement offered support to one another. Together they mourned the victims of the massacre at the Wujek coalmine. Together they walked behind the coffins of the Reverend Jerzy Popiełuszko and Grzegorz Przemyk. The demands submitted by Solidarity to the communist regime in August 1980 expressed the need to restore human dignity to work, the need that was felt by millions of Poles. On 4 June 1989, acting together, we put our trust in our desire for freedom.

The election on 4 June 1989, even though only partially democratic, was a truly free one: not rigged, not paid for with repression. The election results revealed the real balance of power in society. They brought about profound changes. What won was the solidarity of millions of Polish people demonstrated by their unanimous decision. What won was a sense of community. Therefore, let us be together next year as well. Let us organize this festive day together!

I invite the Poles all over the world and all our friends to celebrate Polish freedom together on 4 June 2014. As early as today, I encourage Poles to begin preparing for this event, so as to make it a large-scale, joint, civic celebration. Freedom knows no bounds. Our Freedom Day is a festive day for the whole free world as well.

I invite everybody to organise joint undertakings. I invite private individuals and institutions, public offices and non-governmental organisations, business circles, public institutions and self-government bodies. I invite those residing in rural areas, in small towns and in metropolises where Polish people live, including those lying across the ocean. I would like the world to have a chance to get to know us on that day as a nation of free people, appreciating their own freedom and supporting others on their not-so-easy road towards freedom.

I encourage those working in the field of culture, sportsmen, media people, scholars, businesspeople and clerical workers to get involved. I am hoping for joint initiatives with representatives of the Churches. I would like to see the role played by priests in supporting the opposition, in keeping up hope and in giving spiritual strength to the Polish people who were fighting for a free state to be acknowledged and appreciated. I invite both those who remember 4 June 1989, and those who were born at that time or later. I invite those who joined Solidarity’s Civic Committees to share their experience with others. I invite the artists of the great national stages, performing artists and off-the-mainstream artists: all those who pursue their artistic activities in freedom and thanks to freedom. I am asking those from the academia and those active in the field of culture to get involved. Freedom needs to be discussed anew and to have its meaning explained; the threats that freedom is facing today need to be reliably identified.

Let us join our efforts to build the most ambitious program for our Freedom Day celebrations. Let us fill this project of ours with the most attractive ideas together. Let us corroborate once again that there is no freedom without solidarity; that today as before, freedom requires solidarity among us.

Bronisław Komorowski

President of the Republic of Poland