On August 20, 2016 members of West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society met at Abick’s Bar in Detroit to record memories of their old neighborhood. The excerpts of their stories were used in this film. The interviews were videotaped by Rafał Nowakowski; this film was made by Alina Klin.
THE POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS DOES NOT WANT THE JUST ACT OF 2017 APPLIED TO POLAND
A dangerous United States Congressional Resolution for Poland soon may be enacted. The full title of this resolution is: “Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act of 2017”. This resolution, the JUST ACT OF 2017 has two components: Senate Resolution 447 (S. 447), and House of Representatives Resolution 1226 (H.R. 1226).
The United States Senate voted-up without opposition, on 12 December 2017, S. 447. Now the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives is considering H.R. 1226.
In a general way, the JUST ACT OF 2017 requires the United States Government to observe how 46 countries are fulfilling their obligations to implement numerous agreements on compensation and/or restitution of both private and communal moveable and immovable property, and other commitments, like the maintenance of historic sites and monuments.
The specific purpose of the JUST ACT OF 2017 is: “To require reporting on acts of certain foreign countries on Holocaust era assets and related issues, and for other purposes.” This would require the United States Government to observe and monitor, pressure is a more honest description, compliance by Poland and other countries that participated in the Prague Holocaust Era Conference’s Terezin Declaration (2009).
Poland is the principal target of the JUST ACT OF 2017, because the largest portion of private property formerly owned by Jews (which amounts to 20% of the total of despoiled and nationalized private property), and now claimed by Jewish individuals and organizations, is located in today’s Poland. This private property on conquered Polish territory, called World War II era private property, was first despoiled by Nazi Germany and then nationalized by the communists. Compensation payments to redress these crimes against private property should be sent to Berlin and Moscow, not Warsaw.
Moreover, Poland already satisfied, by acceding to a 1960 bilateral treaty, all claims for private property in Poland owned by United States citizens before September 1, 1939. Today, the United States Congress and the Office of Holocaust Issues in the Department of State is pressuring Poland to pay lump-sum compensation on behalf of transnational Jewish organizations like the World Jewish Congress, and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The World Jewish Congress recently opened an office in Warsaw. This pressure on Poland is unwarranted. The exceptional role of Poland and the Poles in World War II and her armed resistance to the imposition of communist dictatorship by the Soviet Army makes a moral and historical case for NOT applying deleting H.R. 1226 to Poland.
Two members of the House of Represenatives introduced H.R. 1226: Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY14), and Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ4). In 2008 Congressman Crowley introduced a House of Representatives Resolution calling on Poland to pay lump-sum compensation for World War II era Jewish private property. In 1991, Congressman Smith organized the Congressional Caucus on Poland to pressure Poland into paying lump-sum compensation. Moreover, in 2005, Congressman Smith introduced a House of Representatives Resolution calling on Poland to pay lump-sum compensation.
This is why the President of the Polish American Congress (PAC), Mr. Frank J. Spula, wrote a forceful letter, addressed to Chairman Ed Royce, and by extension his 46 colleagues serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This letter strongly encourages these 47 members of the House of Representatives NOT TO APPLY H.R. 1226 to Poland. If they ignore this sound advice from the PAC, then Polish Americans will not vote to re-elect these members of the House of Representatives on 6 November 2018 in Congressional Elections.
John Czop
Director of Policy Planning
11th Annual Wolervine Ball – Polish Students Association
For last few years the PAC Ann Arbor Chapter warmly supports The Wolverine Charity Ball organized by the University of Michigan Polish Student Association.
This years’ 11th Annual Wolervine Ball will take place on Saturday, February 3rd at 7:00 pm at the Michigan League. All the proceeds will be donated to the Kosciuszko Foundation – Teaching English in Poland Program.
The dinner options are a fish or a pasta dish, however the Michigan Catering will give students more information about the dinner option hopefully by this week.
As always there will be a silent auction, a dance performance by Polanie Song and Dance ensemble and a music from DJ Mario.
SAVE THE DATE FOR “CHOPINIANA”
25th Anniversary of “CHOPINIANA”
Sunday, October 21, 2018
at
American Polish Cultural Center
2975 E. Maple Road, Troy, MI 48083
Performing:
The Macomb Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Cook, Music Director
&
Kazimierz Brzozowski – Pianist
Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Poland’s Independence
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
Polish American Congress Meets in Washington, D.C
Polish American Congress Meets in Washington, D.C
September 25 – 28, 2017
The Polish American Congress (PAC) held its annual Council of National Directors (CND) Meeting September 25-28, 2017. The Hilton Garden Inn, near President Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, VA., was the venue for the CND’s business meetings and banquet on September 25. On Tuesday 26 September the national directors and their guests boarded a bus to Washington, DC for an all -day-event, POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS ADVOCACY DAY FOR POLAND ON CAPITOL HILL, which included, for the the first time, a Reception/Rally in prestigious Congressional Meeting Room, North, with brief speeches delivered by members of the Congressional Caucus on Poland and Polish Government officials representing the Embassy and the Polish Cultural Institute in New York City. The CND continued its business meetings at the Hilton Garden Inn on Wednesday and Thursday.
The keynote speaker and Guest of Honor at the CND’s opening session was Reverend Miroslaw Krol, newly appointed Chancellor of Orchard Lake Seminary in Michigan. Reverend Krol thanked the PAC for playing a major role in helping Orchard Lake to continue its mission on behalf of the Church and Polonia.
The members of the PAC Executive Committee, Mrs. Micheline Jaminski, Honory Consul Debbie Majka, and Messrs. Anthony Bajdek, Hubert Cioromski, and Richard Mazella delivered their reports at Monday afternoon’s session. Mrs. Bozena Kaminski’s well received report on Polish Affairs included remarks by a surprise guest speaker: Mrs. Anna Holden, Unit Chief, Counter Terrorism Division, U.S. Department of Justice The PAC is making good progress.
The Guest of Honor at Monday evening’s banquet, Piotr Wilczek, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, praised the achievements of the PAC from its establishment, in 1944, to the present. Ambassador Wilczek called on the PAC to continue its advocacy for permanent NATO armed forces bases in Poland, with troops from western Europe and North America, at this time of resurgent Russian imperialism and aggression. Professor Marek Chodakiewicz’s keynote address called on the PAC and Polonia to open their checkbooks so we can persuade official and public opinion that a strong and truly sovereign Poland protects United States National Security Interests and promotes American values of freedom and free enterprise in the lands between the Baltic and Black Seas.
POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS ADVOCACY DAY FOR POLAND ON CAPITOL HILL had two components. First, PAC national directors, who represent the 19 states where the PAC has Divisions, and their guests, visited the offices of their United States Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. They delivered two strong messages. First, resurgent Russian imperialism requires strengthening NATO’s northeastern flank to ensure Poland’s security. Second, members of the House of Representatives should co-sponsor H.R. 2388. President Spula persuaded Congressman Mike Quigley to sponsor this resolution calling for Poland’s prompt accession to the Visa Waiver Program. Soon there will be a similar Senate resolution.
ADVOCACY DAY FOR POLAND ON CAPITOL HILL concluded with a Reception/Rally in Congressional meeting Room, North. President Spula asked Congressman Quigley to sponsor this prestigious room for the PAC’s event on the evening of 26 September from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Brief speeches were delivered by:
Mrs. Bozenna Buda, Washington DC Chapter, Friends of Saint Pope John Paul Foundation II
Congressman Mike Quigley (Illinois) who was the Key-Note Speaker
Congressman Tim Murphy (Pennsylvania, first vice-president Rick Pierchalski’s is his top Polish American constituent)
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (Ohio, introduced by PAC National Director David Milcinovic)
Congressman Lapinski (Illinois, introduced by National director Mary Anselmo)
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (Michigan)
Pawel Kotowski, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington D.C.
Izabela Gola, Polish Cultural Institute, New York City
Dr. Lucja Swiatkowska Cannon, Chairwoman of Polish Americans for Trump Advisory Committee
Mrs. Monika Jablonska, author of a new biography of Saint Pope John Paul II
Mrs. Anna Wellisz, strategic communications expert on correcting the image of Poland and the Poles
Mr. Brandon Weichert, expert on Russia
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of the great hero of the American Revolution and patriot of his native Poland, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a delegation representing the Polish American Congress and Polonia throughout the United States, laid a wreath at the Kosciuszko Monument located in LaFayette Square, across from the White House. Members of the delegation were Micheline Jaminski, Hubert Cioromski, and Dr. Mark Pienkos, who delivered remarks about Kosciuszko. In 1910 the Polish National Alliance gave this magnificent monument to the United States. President William Howard Taft presided over the dedication ceremonies.
The PAC Council of National Directors resumed its business meeting on Wednesday. Ian Brzezinski, Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center, of the Atlantic Council explained the various measures taking place to protect Eastern European nations that are NATO members, including the Republic of Poland.Wednesday’s meeting continued with discussions on ways to improve communication within the organization, as well as action on resolutions.
The PAC annual meeting continued
Founded in 1944, the Polish American Congress is an umbrella organization representing at least ten million Americans of Polish descent, many of whom also are citizens of Poland. The PAC promotes civic, educational, and cultural programs designed to further knowledge of Polish history, language, culture, and encourages Polish American involvement in civic affairs For further information, please visit our website: www.pac1944.org
On behalf of the Polish American Congress, Polish Americans, and friends of Polonia, elected national officers of the PAC laid a wreath at the Kosciuszko Monument in LaFayette Square across from the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2017. Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the death of this great American Revolutionary General and patriot of his native Poland are:
From the left: Richard Mazella, Dr. Mark Pienkos, Micheline Jaminski, Hubert Cioromski
Dr. Mark Pienkos
John Czop
Director of Policy Planning
Polish American Congress
1612 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006
Tel.: (202) 296-6955
Fax: (202) 835-1565
Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Polish-American-Congress
Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/polishamericancongress
“O Polakach ratujących Żydów było zdecydowanie zbyt cicho”
O Polakach ratujących Żydów podczas II wojny światowej było zdecydowanie zbyt cicho, dlatego ufam, że wniesiony przeze mnie projekt ustawy o ustanowieniu 17 marca Narodowym Dniem Pamięci Polaków ratujących Żydów podczas II wojny światowej zostanie uchwalony przez Sejm, co będzie istotnym bodźcem do kontynuowania, a zarazem zintensyfikowania koniecznej pracy na rzecz upamiętnienia polskich bohaterów – napisał w liście do uczestników Międzynarodowej Konferencji „Pamięć i Nadzieja” prezydent Andrzej Duda. List odczytał minister Adam Kwiatkowski.
Artykuł na ten temat czytaj tutaj:
A Letter from Edward Wojciech Jesman, President and National Director of PAC of Southern California
Edward Wojciech Jeśman
President & National Director
PAC of Southern California
https://www.facebook.com/edward.jesman/posts/474037869662583
A MESSAGE TO MY ENGLISH SPEAKING FRIENDS! Dear Friends! Please do not trust your official media stories of Poland being overrun by 60,000+ fascists, racists, Nazis and other far right elements. Such claims are false and baseless. To see how Warsaw Independence Day March of 2017 really looked like please click on the link enclosed below. No burning cars! No vandalism! No arrests! Instead you see: Deep pride! Love of the country! Real sense of community and overriding patriotism! Appreciation of our long and rich history and culture!… Unfortunately, large number of media sources in the United States has branded the celebrations commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Poland’s Independence of November 11, 2017 as a social and political menace full of unchecked nationalism, racism, fascism and Nazism. Media channels have edited their footage of the march in ways, which completely misrepresented its character and further enhanced their “reporting” with highly distorted commentary full of unsubstantiated claims of violence and insinuations of alleged general mayhem perpetrated by the marchers. Multi-generational, patriotic participants, full of pride and love of the country, have been belittled, disparaged and unfairly labeled with onslaught of appalling and engineered fake news overflowing with obvious anti-Polish bias. The deliberate mischaracterizations of Poland and her people, create an untrue and unacceptable image of Poland as a backward country overrun by fascists. The dissemination of an image of Poland as a country full of bigotry, intolerance, racial bias, xenophobia and antisemitism clashes with the facts. Nothing in fact could be further from the truth. Poland is a modern, economically, socially and politically developed country. She is safe to live in and known around for her hospitality. Media reporting, full of falsehoods and absurd exaggerations, truly pains us, Poles, because it not only tries to undermine Poland ‘s sovereignty and eliminate our traditional values but also tries to establish and propagate bad image of Poles and Polish Americans. Media’s conduct in obvious way institutes, condones and perpetrates anti-Polish bias and amounts to hate speech. We Poles are astonished, shocked and angered by the scope and intensity of the most recent anti-Polish propaganda campaign, which is directed at nothing less than the suppression and elimination of Polish sovereignty and Polish way of life. Needless to say that we view media’s anti-Polish agenda as hostile, political, unprincipled, intellectually flawed, professionally dishonest and morally and legally corrupt. Such continued conduct is absolutely unacceptable. Their actions are widely viewed as harmful and damaging to the interests and safety of Poland, Poles and the Polish-American community of the United States… Edward WojciechJeśman
PAC-MI President responds to Detroit News bias reporting
It is obvious that Monday’s Detroit News online article reporting on the Independence March in Poland, which took place on 11-11-17 reflected, in orientation and emphasis, political preferences and not reality on the ground. The Independence March’s main theme “We want God”, proclaimed by the first huge banner at the head of the march, was difficult to miss. A huge crowd of 60,000 people gathered to manifest their patriotism, love of the country, and growing pride in being Polish. There were some banners out of place and there was a swift reaction of governmental officials, predictably unreported by the media. Three hours later Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Poland, Professor Piotr Glinski, and on Monday, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, as well as the Chairman of the ruling party PIS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, stated clearly that several out of context signs noted by the leftist media are considered by the authorities as a provocation against Poland.
We are still waiting patiently for the day when reporting about events in Poland becomes accurate and balanced and free of self-serving political prejudices.
Ann Bankowski,
President
Polish American Congress
Michigan Division
Polish American organizations react to racist remarks on Saturday Night Live
Polish American organizations joined in on the protests demanding apology from the producers of the popular comedy show Saturday Night Live, which in the episode aired on November 4, included a racist remarks about Polish Americans, as well as allowed its host for this SNL episode, comedian Larry David, to make distasteful jokes about picking up women at Nazi concentration camps.
Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski, the President of the Piast Institute issued a demand to NBC and Saturday Night Live to retract the insulting, racist remarks and to offer an apology to the Polish American community for it.
SNL’s skit mocking Sarah Huckabee Sanders contained gratuitous remarks about someone being as a “Polack as dumb a box of rocks.”
“This ugly insult, uttered without context, was obviously a search for cheap laughs when creativity fails,” writes Dr. Radzilowski. “It sought to pander to one of America’s remaining respectable bigotries. It goes without saying that a similar remark about women, African Americans, Hispanics, gays or other group would have raised howls of public outrage. That it did not raise outrage, shows how far we as a society that purports to acute sensitivity about bigotry and racism, still have to go.
“It is customary in such replies to recount the role of Polish Americans in building America, serving with honors in its wars and contributing to the commonwealth. That record speaks for itself and we do not have to justify our right to be equal citizens of the United States. The issue is larger: every person, every group in our nation-indeed in our world-deserves to be treated with dignity and not held up to public mockery, insult and debasement.
“The Polish community deserves to receive a public apology from NBC and SNL for this utterly ignorant characterization. The American public needs to recognize that racist remarks such as these are an affront to our national ideals and a rupture of public civility no matter about whom they are made.
The National President of the Polish American Congress, Frank Spula, in his letter to Chief Executive Officer of NBC Studio, writes that “since the airing, our office has been inundated with countless calls and e-mails expressing outrage and concern over this remark.
“Ethnic and racial jokes are necessarily scathing and do great damage, both by perpetuating ugly stereotypes and by demeaning a large number of citizens on the basis of their background and other innate characteristics. These types of remarks are offensive for all communities, not just ours.
“I am hopeful that the writers, executives or hosts who permitted such defamatory, anti-Polish comments to be aired did not do so with malice, as a finding of deliberate ethnic slander over public airwaves could result in a Federal Communications Commission investigation and fine.
“I, as well, as the Polish American Congress, expect that NBC will issue a written public apology for this insulting incident which can be reprinted in the various Polish American media, as well as a commitment to educate and council writers and production staff about preventing racial and cultural stereotypes that mock an entire community representing a large portion of the American populations.”
Ann Bankowski, the President of the Polish American Congress Michigan Division, in a letter to the Saturday Night Live producer, Lorne Michael and to the NBC Programming Managements writes:
“It is with great distress I write this letter on behalf of the members of the Polish American Congress- Michigan, first in response to the extremely distasteful and insensitive opening monologue of Mr. Larry David, on the topic of picking up women in concentration camps.
“Too many of our members, as well as countrymen in Poland, and those who now reside here, experienced and survived, or tragically lost, family and friends under the brutal regime and constant terror of Hitler’s occupation of Poland throughout the years of WWII. Poland lost 20% of its population during that dreadful time and many Polish citizens, Jewish and Gentile, died and suffered in concentration camps. No laughing matter, even for comic relief, to be treated so inappropriately and insensitively. Shame on Mr. David and big disappointment in SNL.
“But that’s not all. We were later subjected to the parody of Ms. Sara Huckabee Sanders in a vulgar and excessively demeaning spoof, in which, to top it all off, she dismisses someone to be a ‘a Polack, who is dumb as a box of rocks.’ We thought such demeaning stereotypes were long gone, but somehow, for lack of better wit and talent, I suppose, such cheap shots are thrown in. Very disappointing and inexcusable!
“We sincerely appeal to your better judgement in regards to such programming and look forward to viewing true comedic genius once again from SNL.”
How can Orchard Lake better serve Polonia, Poland and Poles?
The new Chancellor of the Orchard Lake Schools:
Cyril and Methodius Seminary, St. Mary’s Prep and Polish Mission
Rev. Canon Miroslaw Krol
Invites you to
Orchard Lake Polish Pride Home Coming
Holy Mass
and
Discussion Open to Public
How can Orchard Lake better serve Polonia, Poland and Poles?
What can Orchard Lake do to strengthen American Polonia and our Catholic values?
on
Saturday, October 28th, 2017, 12:00 Noon
Shrine of St. John Paul II at Orchard Lake
3535 Commerce Rd. Orchard Lake, MI 48324
Learn more: (313) 485-0531
www.orchardlakeschools.com
*****
Schools Founded in Detroit Michigan in 1885
*****
Friends of St. John Paul II “Be Not Afraid Foundation” Michigan Chapter
www.jp2mi.org
Polish Americans for Orchard Lake Schools
*****
The Seminary was founded over 130 years ago by Father Jozef Dabrowski, who received this mission from Father Leopold Moczygemba, OFM Conv., the Patriarch of the Polish American Community. During the Seminary’s rich history, it has made an outstanding contribution to the Polish American and broader Catholic faith community, educating thousands of priests and educators. Thanks to Father Dabrowski’s exceptional wisdom, clarity of mission, testament, and example, the Orchard Lake Seminary and related institutions have been uniquely and generously financed by the Polish American community throughout their long and illustrious history.
Thanks to donations and financial support from the 10,000,000-strong Polish American community, Orchard Lake contains the largest Polish American archives in the United States, documenting the rich history of Polish diaspora and its contributions to the United
States. Polish Americans funded the Library and donated volumes of unique historical books and publications, some dating back to 1600. Such a collection is of unique importance: most historical libraries and archives in Poland were destroyed during the cataclysms of the Second World War. Therefore, many unique historical artifacts have survived exclusively in the archive at Orchard Lake.
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