“If the fact can only be spoken with a whisper, it means that the country was overrun by enemies,” said Wilhelm Schwobel, and unfortunately he was right. Only late did I appreciate the aphorism. most likely due to the fact that I grew up, grew up, and then lived for many years in a country where the truth, or what we truly believe, we utilized to talk loudly.
True, for decades, saying something that was not in the taste of the mainstream meant talking to the wall, but fundamentally it could be dealt with on almost all subject. At the very least, at the hazard of deadly fatigue of a narrow auditorium. Of course, there were exceptions, dangerous and even more dangerous topics. Those who moved them were subject to social ostracism. And occasionally even publically lynched and sentenced to civilian death. This was the destiny of Darius Ratajczak, whom the haters of tolerance punished with death in the most literal sense of the word.
Overall, however, it was good. Especially in the eyes of those who, like me, have seen a part of the world, without question, a glass screen. It didn't look bad in the bigger picture. All the more so, that behind the background he was doing then restrained by the political correctness of the European West and the Eurasian East, for which freedom of speech was never an exaggeration.
However, all fairy tale will yet end, and picturesque colorful mirages replace gray, brutal reality. The symbolic minute of the bubble burst was the outbreak of war, but it's only a contractual date. Eventually, all parties prepared for this conflict not for weeks, not months, but years. Poland, with its quiet and happily forgotten by all provinces, has abruptly become the base of the main theatre of action. In this performance we are inactive standing in the back, due to the fact that we have been assigned the function of method staff active in the operation of theatre machines and the rearrangement of decoration elements. However, we are to do this efficiently and professionally, without undesirable murmurs.
It started with censorship. First single portals and websites of tiny perfect environments. And the first edition. Then another. And another one. Like in “Process” Kafka content disappeared (and disappeared) from public space on the basis of secret orders of secret organs. And although the organization apparatusists boast that it is on their orders that the ABW is fighting the freedom of the press, the curious herself does not confirm. erstwhile asked directly, even in parliamentary interpellings, she answers: we don't have your coat and what will you do to us?
Meanwhile, on the wave of rusophobic amok, persecution began in the workplace. Many publicists have been killed, but individuals have besides been rather private. The largest scale, however, was the scandalous phenomenon adopted in academic environments. Scientists with a large global acquis, specified as Prof. Anna Raźny or Prof. Stanisław Bielen, were subjected to actual ostracism. In many cases, they are even removed from academic life.
Unfortunately, however, this is not the end. After censorship of the net and persecution of opinion-makers, it was time to intimidate average people. By judgement of the Legnica territory Court 72-year-old Mr. Henryk Miketyn was sentenced to 3 months of probation for 2 years, the work to work 6 months for the injured Ukrainians, the failure of the telephone as a tool of crime, the payment of a conviction in the paper and a fine. His “crime” was that he had an opinion different from the government about the Russian-Ukrainian War. Namely, he thought not all rations were on the Ukrainian side. This is not the only specified sentence.
Ms. Renata Gypsy, a Sosnowiec accountant, received a warrant from Art. 257 of the Criminal Code. The incriminated evidence reads: "Who is publically insulting a group of people or a peculiar individual due to their national, ethnic, racial, spiritual or non-religious affiliation or due to specified a reason violates the physical integrity of another person, is subject to imprisonment until the age of 3."
What was Mrs Renata's terrible "crime"? Well, in social media, it was indescribable about banners and “banjores” (this is neologism, without a dictionary definition). The Prosecutor's Office, and the court for it, considered that these terms were identical to the word "Ukrainians". possibly on a rule: hit the table, the scissors will speak.
What strikes the most about this case, however, is the way of conducting "investigation". Although the authorship of the alleged act is uncontested here, the prosecution considered it appropriate, among others, to interview Mrs Renata's neighbors. What was this expected to bring to the case? – it is unknown. Thus, it can be felt that this was an effort to intimidate by exerting social pressure.
After the publication of these cases, I received from all over Poland quite a few information about people who affected akin absurd harassment. Ms Marzena from Wrocław was brought to justice for “glorifying the war in Ukraine.” According to the press, “putin’s delight could be seen in her posts.” A terrible crime. Mr Damian of Silesia was expected to insult Ukrainian people in social media in a more indeterminate way. And so on, and so on.
One could signify the substance with the statement: happy Poland. due to the fact that there must be a happy country where the police and the D.A. are bored to specified an degree that they must invent crimes and criminals. But I'm not laughing. due to the fact that those who should take care of our safety, those whom we should trust, at the command of their political principles without freezing the eye, break the law. They're active in an operation to intimidate citizens. Closing their mouths.
Because this isn't about Mr Henry or Mrs Renate or the others. It's about planting fear. To be afraid to talk and compose what we think. To take our freedom.
Let's not get intimidated. Freedom of speech is the first and most crucial of freedom. If we let them take her away, we'll lose more soon. Freedom of conscience, freedom of assembly and individual freedom. Then we'll wake up with a grim authoritarianism. Then it'll be besides late.
Przemysław Piasta
