In the Polish sense, the East is Asia. Asia in a geographical sense, but above all, civilization. We've written about geography many times, and it seems there's no request to reconsider.
Today, let us focus on issues related to civilisations, in this sense, which was attributed to them, for example, by Felix Koneczny. But besides specified clarification of the subject does not give the comfort of clarity. The opposition to the East is – what is natural – the West, but was there and is there any civilization that we can call Western or European? We can't. Koneczny himself notes that only in Poland there are 4 civilizations, in 1 territory and at the same time. Let us remind them here: Latin, Turkish, Byzantine and Jewish. In 1 nation, let alone Europe. There's even Arabic in here. Today, more and more peoples travel, things are more complicated. So talking about the West is simply a large simplification.
If we had decreed that Russia is not the East—can it now or always be called the Octocident? In a powerfully reduced and simplified version, for example. Taking this option is very boring, including for many Russians. For example, due to the fact that its higher culture actually fits into European culture. Her culture, music, the full way of portraying the planet are all over the West. And even straight, without the Byzantine connotations. In this day and age, in the fall of alleged higher values, Moscow is the last redoubt of old Europe. Pope John Paul II told us about 2 lungs of Europe. The thought is that they feed 1 common heart. present things went besides far and the Latin lung was simply cut out. If we breathe, it's just one. But let's skip the full controversial context. And in a narrow sense, let's presume that Russia is not the West. We must naturally turn to the East now. But to do so, let us consider what is the East in relation to this area-wide largest state in the world? It is known: Japan, China, and let us add Korea, although it shines light reflected. Something between 1 and the other. Both Tokyo and Beijing are besides not only nations and their states, but besides separate civilizations enriched with national engravings.
So does Russia, or even a part of it (e.g. Serbia, or the Mediterranean Country) bear features or elements that we can call the influences of these 2 old and powerful civilizations? To what degree does Russia participate in their history? The civilizational impact of these 2 far east empires in Russia is actually reduced to a proverbial zero. They don't exist! Are we going back to the West now? But there's truly no point! inactive alive (for them) Mongols stay for rusophobes and another desperates. These inhuman bloodthirsty hordes on their perky horses. So if Russia is not that or that, what is it? The answer is rather simple: it is simply Russia. A appropriate separate continent, a self-sufficient political unit. Finally, a kind of civilizational force. To many, this will sound like a scandal, a simplification and an interpretive mistake. Wrong. any kind of brag? An appendectomy? And yet...
Antoni Koniuszewski
Photo: Amurska Bay on the Pacific Ocean
Think Poland, No. 51-52 (15-29.12.2024)
