National Garden of American Heroes
On July 3rd, President Donald Trump issued “Executive Order on Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes“. It includes an initiative to create the National Garden of American Heroes. The Garden will commemorate exceptional individuals representing various dimensions of American life and history. A special Task Force has been created to plan and carry out this mission, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. David L. Bernhardt. Mr. Charles Laudner has been appointed the Executive Director of the Task Force. Candidates to be honored in the Garden, which could be called the American Pantheon, are to be selected primarily on the basis of votes from the public.
For us, Polish Americans, this is a unique opportunity, but also a duty, to bring to the public attention, and have commemorated for the future generations, the works and achievements of our greatest compatriots of Polish origin who contributed most to America.
Now it is up to us to scan our memory and come up with candidates for inclusion. It should be strongly emphasized that the figures in the Garden will remain commemorated for – perhaps – centuries. Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of having as many people of Polish origin as possible there. It is all up to us now.
We have quite a few heroes of wars, people of arts and culture, scientists, engineers, inventors and others with Polish background to propose (as long as they can be clearly lined to America, naturally). It is important to write a short supporting statement explaining their achievements and their value to the United States.
For example, Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pulaski are already widely recognized as American heroes, so we probably should look further and deeper: Gen. Ryszard Kukliński, Col. Francis Stanley “Gabby” Gabreski (two-war ace pilot, one of the 30 most decorated members of the US Armed Forces), and likewise Col. Matt Urban. We should also submit candidacies of Gen. Wlodzimierz Krzyzanowski, Alexander A. Drabik, Ignacy J. Paderewski, Korczak Ziolkowski (sculptor), Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska), just to name a few. It should not do any harm if a candidate’s name is proposed multiple times by several organizations or individuals – to the contrary, it might even help. Just as helpful may be adding links to good publications on the Web, such as this one on the multi-lingual site Culture.pl.
Also worth considering: why don’t we try to work with local authorities in counties and municipalities named “Pulaski” and “Kosciuszko”, across the country? How about other organizations bearing names of Polish American heroes?
The point is that we need to do it NOW: to the best of our knowledge, the deadline for submitting candidates is September 1st, 2020.
Coalition of Polish Americans is convinced that one of the defining elements of American history has been opposition to totalitarian regimes and the pursuit of freedom for all, and therefore heroes of the struggle against Soviet Communism deserve a prominent place in this American Pantheon. We decided to suggest and support Gen. Ryszard Kukliński. The letter of recommendation which we sent to Director Laudner can be found here.
For your reference, here is the Web site where you can get more details on the matter: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/trump-administration-task-force-building-and-rebuilding-monuments-american-heroes. While charles_laudner@nps.gov is probably the best address for submissions of candidates, the site above adds another: americanheroesinfo@ios.doi.gov.
Questions to Presidential Candidates 2020
Coalition of Polish Americans reached out to the Presidential Candidates to obtain their positions on several key national and international issues related to the upcoming election.
In an effort to articulate concerns common to all Americans, including several of particular interest to the Polish American community, we compiled a list of eight policy questions.
We intend to distribute the Candidates’ statements, propagate them through our social media, and share them with our neighbors and other community organizations, in order to help voters make the right decision in the upcoming November 2020 Presidential election.
Questions to Presidential Candidates
- Poland, the Baltic States, and the other countries of Central Eastern Europe are under the growing threat of Russian imperialism. What is your assessment of the current American foreign policy toward Poland? Which aspects of existing military cooperation will you uphold and what changes do you envision, if any, under your leadership? Do you believe current US military presence in Poland is sufficient to deter Russian threats? Would you support permanent US military bases in Poland? Do you support helping Poland modernize its defense industry and armed forces?
- The Three Seas initiative is an economic development and cooperation project of Central Eastern European countries. What are your plans for United States involvement in this project?
- Polish-Americans are among the highest educated and accomplished ethnic groups in the USA. Nevertheless, they are vastly underrepresented in the U.S. government. If elected, would you commit to appoint at least 5 well qualified Polish-Americans to senior cabinet positions?
- Will you recognize the Katyn Massacre of 1940 as the crime of genocide? In this Massacre, the Soviet Union summarily executed over 22 thousand Poles, including 14,700 POW officers, based on their nationality, as clearly stated in the NKVD order.
- Academic freedoms and respect for different views constitute the essence of university in the Western Civilization. The character of the modern university in America has become reductionist, truth-denying and plagued by so-called political correctness. What are your plans to reverse this destructive trend in the academia? What will you do to protect free speech and the exchange of ideas at universities, and to curb administrative or otherwise forcible stifling of free discussion?
- Are you for removal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes? Will you approve HR 141 – Social Security Fairness Act of 2019 – which proposes to repeal WEP? WEP causes a drastic reduction of Social Security retirement and disability benefits for millions of American public servants as well as immigrants, who also worked outside Social Security system.
- Do you intend to approve the Polish-American Tax Treaty, which has been waiting for enactment since 2013? The Convention between the US and the Republic of Poland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion has been signed back in February 2013, and promptly ratified by the Polish Sejm. It was then referred to the Committee of Foreign Relations, and has been waiting for ratification by the US Senate ever since. The convention proposes to repeal taxation of Social Security benefits in Poland and taxation of Polish retirement benefits in the United States.
- The U.S. President stated in his 2019 UN speech that the future belongs to sovereign and independent nations. However, certain actions and language employed by the U.S. government in relations with Poland, such as the way the Warsaw Middle-East Conference in February 2019 was organized, some pronouncements therein by Mr. Pompeo, and many statements by Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher, create an impression that the United States may not at this juncture view relations with Poland as a true partnership based on mutual respect and regard for the legitimate interests and cultural traditions of both sides. What specific measures would you implement to assure Poland that the United States is committed to the creation of a true alliance that fully respects Poland’s sovereignty?
National Garden of American Heroes
On July 3rd, President Donald Trump issued “Executive Order on Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes“. It includes an initiative to create the National Garden of American Heroes. The Garden will commemorate exceptional figures representing various dimensions of American life and history. A special Task Force has been created to plan and carry out this mission, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. David L. Bernhardt. Mr. Charles Laudner has been appointed the Executive Director of the Task Force.
The public may send their suggestions of who should be included via email to americanheroesinfo@ios.doi.gov.
For us, Polish Americans, this may be a unique opportunity to bring to the public attention the works and achievements of our greatest compatriots of Polish origin who contributed most for America.
Coalition of Polish Americans is convinced that one of the defining elements of American history has been opposition to totalitarian regimes and the pursuit of freedom for all, and therefore heroes of the struggle against Soviet Communism deserve a prominent place in this American Pantheon. We decided to suggest and support Gen. Ryszard Kukliński. The letter of recommendation that we sent to Director Laudner can be found here.
Results of 2020 Presidential Election in Poland, Round 2
July 13th, 2020
Mr. Andrzej Duda,, the current President of the Republic of Poland, has been elected for his second 5-year term in the 2nd round of the elections, held on July 12th, 2020..
II Tura Wyborów Prezydenta RP w USA, 2020: głosowanie korespondencyjne, rejestracja
June 29, 2020
Osoby zarejestrowane do głosowania w I turze nie muszą rejestrować się ponownie – zgłoszenie pozostaje ważne na II turę.
Rejestracja nowych wyborców do głosowania korespondencyjnego – najpóźniej do 29 czerwca 2020 r. do północy;
W USA możliwe będzie wyłącznie głosowanie korespondencyjne. Aby móc głosować korespondencyjnie, konieczne jest dokonanie zawiadomienia poprzez wypełnienie formularza na https://ewybory.msz.gov.pl. Na portalu MSZ należy wybrać link “ZMIEŃ SPOSÓB GŁOSOWANIA“. Osoby, które nie dokonają zawiadomienia bądź dokonają tego po dniu 29 czerwca br. nie będą mogły wziąć udziału w II turze wyborów i nie zostanie do nich przesłany pakiet wyborczy.
CPA Statement on the visit of President Andrzej Duda in Washington
The Coalition of Polish Americans is pleased over the visit of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda in Washington, DC. The meeting of state delegations and Presidents Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump in the White House signifies the well-developing cooperation between Poland and the United States.
The geopolitical location of Poland and other Central European countries, as well as the obvious threat from today’s Russia, require building alliances and links with the United States. Only sovereign and economically and militarily strong Poland can be a leader in ensuring the security and development of the countries of the former Communist bloc. This vision of building the future, with strong ties to history, is the basis for the creation of the “Three Sees Initiative”.
It is worth emphasizing that such strong Poland, as well as security and stability in the entire region, is in the best interest of the United States. The US has serious reasons to value this region because of its great strategic and geopolitical importance. That concerns not only the presence and influence of the USA in Europe, but also the necessity to neutralize military threats from Russia.
Poland is therefore in its due position as a USA partner. Leaders of Poland and the United States who are meeting today in Washington, DC, have common interests and will talk about further developing and deepening economic and military cooperation. We hope that the President Donald Trump’s administration takes cooperation with the Republic of Poland with full respect for its sovereignty.
In light of the above, we have to express our outrage caused by statements from several Representatives of the Democrat Party in the US Congress, most notably Mr. Eliot L. Engel and Ms. Marcy Kaptur. They express their opposition to the visit of President Andrzej Duda, based on references to internal matters concerning, inter alia, judicial reform or LGBT ideology. As Coalition of Polish Americans, we demand respect for Poland’s political and cultural sovereignty and the right to establish social policy and internal order in accordance with Polish tradition and culture.
CPA Responds to Rep. Eliot L. Engel Statement on President Duda’s visit to the White House
June 22, 2020
We, the Polish Americans for truth and justice, condemn the demagogical statement issued by Congressman Engel on reported visit by Polish President Andrzej Duda to the White House. This statement is based on misrepresentations of facts, vilification of the Polish people, and ethnic prejudice.
We object to calling President of Poland Andrzej Duda “the leader who has demonstrated autocratic tendencies.” President Duda was elected in direct, free and fair democratic elections by the Polish people. Accordingly, he represents the will of majority of the Polish people, and as their duly elected representative deserves proper respect.
We strongly object to accusing President Duda and the Law and Justice Party of “undermining Poland’s judiciary.” Unlike justice systems in other East European countries, the Polish judicial system has not been purged of judicial criminals, i.e., judges who committed judicial crimes towards Polish workers and members of the Solidarity movement during the 1981 Martial Law and thereafter. Mr. Engel denies Poland the universal right to transitional justice that is afforded to all post-conflict societies all over the world! Instead of welcoming Poland’ efforts to serve historical justice to perpetrators of judicial crimes towards Solidarity workers during the Martial Law period, he protects these judicial criminals by portraying transitional justice efforts as “autocratic tendencies.”
He also condemns the effort of Poland to purge Russian agents from key positions in the military and security forces by portraying these changes as “placing party loyalists in influential positions in the military,” thereby protecting the most dangerous Russian collaborators in Polish security structures.
Next, he claims that Poland sabotages independent media outlets. While the meaning of the phrase is vague, it must be noted that anybody should be free to refuse contacts with those media which routinely engage in hate-mongering, spreading fake news and distortion of facts.
For example, TVN (sadly, American-owned), constantly attacks the Catholic Church, leads media onslaught against any efforts to investigate the Smolensk crash of 2010, stages provocations such as Hitler’s birthday party, with the purpose to use them to present Poland as anti-Semitic, and imposes the gender ideology on the Polish society by supporting LGBTQ parades and events that publicly desecrate religious figures, the Catholic church, and even the Polish Pope, John Paul II. A great majority of the Polish society and the current government, exercising their essential democratic prerogatives, oppose such social engineering, and anyone’s right to do so must not be abridged. In contrast, Mr. Engel, under the guise of defending democracy, brands such choices as “horrifying homophobic and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes”.
Upon piecing together all these accusations, Mr. Engel reaches out for the big stick, claiming that such policies “run counter to the human rights and values that America should strive to uphold.” The fact of the matter is that Mr. Engel builds this scenario to make totally false but politically potent claims. In contrast, CPA believes that the invitation of President Duda resulted from President Trump’s far more objective and balanced assessment of Mr. Duda’s merits as a leader of a nation steeped in the unsurpassed democratic traditions.
As Rep. Engel correctly noted, Poland is a close and valued ally of the United States. The attack on the democratically elected leadership of the close and valued ally of the United States, resorting to highly emotional language, misrepresentations and distortions, is detrimental to the vital interest of the United States. It is also irresponsible and unbecoming for the Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Representative Eliot L. Engel’s Statement can be found here:
https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0D4F0EC3-FAA6-4ED7-896F-442B99C34ABE
Katyn Resolution S.Res. 566
There is still time to contact your Senator. Here is a description how to do it: http://pacnjdiv.myftp.org/index.php/katyn
