TANGLED REFLECTIONS

 ANDRZEJ WILL

It’s happened. We are in the Union. After difficult political combat, skirmishes, tenders, conferences, interpellations, and similar entertaining scenes, we have become a member of the union of European states. In other words and to summarize, we have become a participant in a relationship of trade, services and many other links and dependencies. At this point the fundamental question arises: are we, as a country, prepared to participate actively in the EU? Actively and yet creatively? Will we be merely passive observers and therefore a net contributor – the kind that pays but gains nothing? In addition to these questions, there are others – are we, as a society, prepared to be in the EU? Are we able to find a place for ourselves among a variety of languages, cultures, habits, mentalities and often personalities?
How to deal with all of this? How to move in this thicket of rules, union directives, new laws that are often incompatible with our traditions, habits and principles from centuries past.
There is no other option - we have to push phobias and current opinions of other nations aside and get to know Europeans and at the same time ourselves. We have much to get to know. Layers of secrets in Polish society are uncountable, not to mention all the inferiority complexes, hatreds, negative thinking, neglect and other vices too embarrassing to name. This work, although it is not too pleasant, must be accomplished. We must know, and be certain of, who we really are. As Poles. This cleansing and simultaneously creative examination of conscience should be carried out in families, societies and finally by individuals. Without this kind of catharsis there is no way to define healthy relationships with other societies. Almost everything will change – our approach to property, citizens’ rights and responsibilities, execution of the law, responsibility, the role of public officials and many other spheres of public and social life. Of course, these changes will be made gradually and with much resistance because habits, traditions, historic circumstances and other explanations will stand in the way of compatibility between the two social systems – Polish and that of other EU countries.
In reality we must change our point of reference, our view of ourselves, while breaking with the stereotype that we are entering Europe. We have always been in Europe and now we have a chance to make up for a 50-year delay. Difficult, but possible and more quickly that it may seem to some. I am not an uncritical euroenthusiast because I also see certain threats to our Polish growth but everything, and I write this with complete responsibility, depends on us – on our activeness, resourcefulness, foresight, and, first and foremost, knowledge about EU states, their processes, lifestyles and methods for resolving social problems.
No matter what we might think, fundamental relations are and will remain relationships between people. I know that this claim sounds like it doesn’t apply to us. But it applies precisely to us, our everyday life and ordinariness. It is about our “good morning” on the stairway, about “sorry” and “please,” about a smile for no reason, about a cigarette butt in the trashcan and not next to it, about peace and quiet at night and help for a neighbor in need. This is where our intensive course in coming to grips with becoming a real member of European society should begin. In order to become a European, one doesn’t need to travel to France or Holland. One must merely change one’s approach to oneself, the environment and one’s neighbors. One’s approach to what is mine and what belongs to the community. What is important and necessary and what is superficial and meaningless?
I know that my writing smacks of pathos and cheap lecturing but in justification please be aware that I am also afraid, that I have many doubts and fears, that I don’t see everything in light and transparent colors. That I do not have the cure for everything, although I am sure of one thing: support can be found in well-understood and conceived Polishness. I will not expand on that concept. We must simply reach back in our memories to the values that many have forgotten such as pride, honor, honesty, dignity. If we add to this our Polish hospitality then we can be sure that we will be quite prepared to participate in the EU and it is for this that I lobby.