“The killing of innocents is not an excuse. Please pardon for crimes and caused harm. ” This is a very important statement. The two former presidents of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko, the heads of churches – the Orthodox Kiev Patriarchate, the Greek Catholic Filaret and Sviatoslav – and Ukrainian intellectuals came forward with an appeal for the establishment of a common day of remembrance of the Ukrainian-Polish conflict. It is an appeal for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, issued on the eve attributable for the month of 73. anniversary of the Katyn Volyn. The signatories ask the Poles and Ukrainians to refrain language of hatred and hostility, which “can outshine forgiveness and understanding.”
At these words the Poles waited 73 years. Ukrainians never admitted: yes, would murder of Poles in Volyn. So, with our hand killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians, fellow citizens of the Second Republic. Because murdering neighbors were Polish citizens, although they were certainly Ukrainians. You tried to erase the memory wygumkować, discard these events. Young Ukrainians do not know anything about Volyn, they are astonished and surprised. Maybe something parents or grandparents to tell, but it’s probably nothing.
In Soviet times, of course, Volyn not said or spoken in a whisper. But a quarter of a century of independent Ukraine was not told about the Volyn well. No mention honestly and openly. Even the contrary, it has become something that many Poles are inconceivable. Glorified UPA, Bandera, the Ukrainian nationalist. They erected monuments to them. Here it was recovered roots of independent Ukraine, revered as the founding myth. For western Ukraine they grew monuments Bandera Kłyma Sawura – as the founding fathers. That’s what the Ukrainians was the patriotism, because OUN UPA fought for independence, also against the Communists and Red Army Poles was nationalism. Ukrainian heroes Poles were murderers of women and children. From the time of independence, more and more did not match the look of Poles and Ukrainians in Volyn, the slaughter Volhynian.
There were attempts of understanding and reconciliation, it began Aleksander Kwasniewski and Leonid Kuchma. But it was addressed to the elite society remained where it was. Every year on the anniversary of Volyn followed rasp, everything sounded insincere and artificial. Somewhere underneath lurked if not hatred, that anger and fear.
A few weeks ago, the head of the Ukrainian parliament Andriy Parubiy urged to refrain from hateful words and gestures, because they do not serve Agreement. Now, the appeal of former presidents and Ukrainian churches. “We ask for forgiveness and so forgive the crimes and wrongs done to us,” – written signatories. It is important that the Poles are also not without fault and you have to talk about it. Talk and remember. Although it is impossible to put an equal sign, because Volyn is a horrible crime. I incomparable with any other in a common past.
The authors wish to appeal to the Poles felt that OUN UPA it was “fair and respectable struggle for statehood and independence.” So at least I understand the words contained in the text. I’m afraid that it might be a difficulty, because murdering innocent women and children, civilians are never worthy of respect. You can understand that it was for independence, which the Poles understand how little that nation. But if all methods are permitted in this fight – it’s a moot point. Today also disagree on terrorism, shooting in the back and torture innocent. This is a question of humanity. Here we can come back in the old rut. To forgive does not mean to accept. Neither forget.
Volyn shared and divides our society. Support for Ukraine in the battle for a better tomorrow, to support the European aspirations, shoulder to shoulder against Russian aggression – is one thing. We are together, we showed it also in the international arena, when Poland fought for sanctions against Moscow after the attack on the Crimea and Donbas. But the drama of Volyn always coming out, like an evil spirit. Without mutual forgiveness will be difficult.
Certainly adversaries be spoken words, ask for forgiveness and forgive. Just as the opponents were the words: forgive and ask for forgiveness from the famous letter of the Polish bishops to the German. It seemed that the Auschwitz and Birkenau can not forgive, nor burnt cities, or murdered loved ones, or the drama of the generation of our parents and grandparents. Smoking crematory ovens, murder in the torture chambers, shed blood. Is it possible to forgive?
But we laid relations with Germany, because together we wanted. Maybe we can do this in relations with Ukraine. Can finally succeed.
Appeal did not sign the president Petro Poroshenko. Nor any of the current political leaders. And without them understanding and forgiveness does not seem possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment