I was in the town of Czyzanów in the Lubaczów territory a fewer days ago, at a conference devoted to the 80th anniversary of Ukrainian genocide in Volyn. The organizers took care of the participation of very well-known scientists active in this topic. The main point of the conference was the discussion "How to talk about Volyn in 2023?" The discussion was attended by: Ewa Czaskoszko, Grzegorz Motyka, Jan Pisuliński, bishop Marian Buczek, retired average of the Diocese of Charkovsko – Zaporoško and Leonid Zaszkilnik from Lviv, representing the Ukrainian side. I wanted to talk and I wanted to talk (mainly due to what prof. Motyka said), but the discussion was stalling, and I had to return to Stalowa Wola.
.
The discussion did not give any fresh answer to the question set out in its title. Ukrainian prof. – the author of the only past of Poland in Ukrainian – as Ukrainian historians did, created intricate intellectual constructions to blur the work of Ukrainians for genocide and to “warn” that only Russians gain from dealing with this problem. Dr Pisulinski spoke in a akin predictable way. He diligently searched for all Ukrainian killed by Poles to show that not only the Ukrainian side was murdered. I got the impression that the ratio of more than 1 100 1000 Poles murdered with exceptional cruelty to respective 1000 Ukrainians murdered, mainly in retaliation for killing Poles, did not impress Dr Pisulinski. True, he did not say it explicitly, but his speculations over the meaning of the word genocide led to uncertainty or genocide in Volyn as actual genocide. Mrs Ewa Czaszko, in fact, gave the number of murdered Poles with boring probativity and reported her contacts with Ukrainians, which show that they deny the fact of genocide, relativize them – like prof. Zakszniknik – and mostly do not have the slightest intention to face this shameful part of the past of their nation. Bishop Buczek's message was interesting, but I will mention to it in a separate text devoted to the attitude of the Church in Poland (I do not consciously compose the Polish Church) towards this anniversary.
.
I am now moving on to prof. Motyka's statement, which has sparked my desire to argue. As an interesting thing to mention, erstwhile I led a conversion from the past of the Polish People's Republic in the past department over 20 years ago, then student Grzegorz Motyka had a credit from this subject and, if I may recall, he received this credit. After what I heard today, I'd have a large problem giving him credit. Well, prof. Motyka said that in discussions with the Ukrainian side there are 2 principles. The first is respect for the partner, and the second is the awareness that Poles "will not choose the Ukrainian heroes". It is in the context of the worship of Stefan Bandera and Jerzy Szuchewych in Ukraine.
.
With respect to the first regulation of prof. Motyka, of course, that's mostly a yes. In order for any discussion to make sense, both sides must be open to their arguments. The problem is that the discussion with the Ukrainians about the genocide in Volyn has been going on for decades and there is simply a reinforced concrete wall, resistant to designation of apparent facts. It is its side of the astonishing phenomenon that there is not even 1 scientist in Ukraine who would recognise the fact of genocide in Poles. No Ukrainian historian or politician dared to criticise in a clear way the scandalous fact of preventing Poles from carrying out an exhumation in places where genocide occurred. How different from the situation in Poland! We have historians, publicists and politicians open to the arguments of the Ukrainian side, most likely more than those representing the Polish point of view. To find that out, it was adequate to perceive to Mr. Motyka and Pisulinski today. Therefore, the partner should be respected, but how long, if the partner constantly contradicts the facts, lies or destroys sources uncomfortable for Ukrainians, how was the erstwhile head of the Ukrainian IPN Włodzimierz Windowych? What would prof. Motyka gotta say about respect for his partner if he asked him about the message of the current Ukrainian IPN chief that exhumations would be possible if the monuments of members of the genocidal UPA were rebuilt in Poland? By the way, as long as I was at the conference, neither Mr Zaskkolnik nor Mr Pisuliński nor Mr Motyka were afraid about this fact, and this is surely a very crucial fact in the discussion on "How to discuss Volyn in 2023?".
.
And finally, we will not choose the Ukrainian heroes they worship. Yes, Ukrainians can worship whoever they want. But would the prof. be of the same opinion if Nazi worship were revived in Germany? Would he say, as at today's conference on Bander, that most likely Hitler will not be a hero for Poles, but since it is for Germans, it is hard – it is simply a German matter. I do not know if prof. Motyka does not realize that Bandera is simply a co-creator of a criminal ideology that straight leads to genocide and not only Poles are not allowed to reconcile with his cult in Ukraine and for this reason besides it cannot be the exclusive case of the Ukrainians.
.
For me, these are apparent things, but it is worth going to Cijanow sometimes to see how bad it is for people to be expected to realize this better than I am.
A Do you know how many Cyans suffered from Ukrainian terror?
Andrzej Szlezak
for: FB
