Poland 1979-1989
Living through Poland’s Extraordinary Decade
Memories from Members of Our Community

On April 22, 2018 the Wisconsin Polish American Congress sponsored an extraordinary panel discussion that focused on the period between two electrifying events – the extraordinary first visit of the newly elected Pope, John Paul II, to his native land in June 1979 and the incredible victory of the Solidarity movement in the parliamentary election of June 4, 1989. In between came ten immensely difficult and stressful years for the courageous Polish people.

In the panel discussion at the beautiful Polish Center of Wisconsin, six residents of the Milwaukee community recounted and shared their varying experiences of that momentous time. Four – Irena Frączek, Derek Zarzeczny, Katarzyna Murawska, and Jarek Mielczarek lived through those years as citizens of Poland. Two – Poland-born Jadwiga (Heddy) Moskaluk and Milwaukee native, attorney Eugene Kaluzny were active in southeast Wisconsin working on behalf of Poland’s people. Moskaluk labored to ship parcels of food, clothing and medical supplies to families of Milwaukee Poles and Polish Americans who were enduring great hardships in Poland. Kaluzny, then president of the Wisconsin Polish American Congress, was deeply involved in sending needed goods to Poland through the auspices of the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation and Catholic Charities.

Their comments drew many questions from the audience in the Q & A that followed.

Below are two more photos of the event, along with a most impressive slide show presentation of the Polish crisis of the time that Mr. Zarzeczny presented (to the right).

This program is just the most recent of the many the Wisconsin Division of Polish American Congress continually organizes to inform the public about Poland and its People’s experience – in cooperation with the Polish Center of Wisconsin, other Polish American organizations, and the Polish Studies Committee of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Text provided by the panel moderator, Dr. Donald Pienkos, Professor Emeritus and Chair of the Polish Studies Committee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Photos courtesy of Diane Holytz from the Polish Center of Wisconsin.

More information from the stopacthr1226 website:

Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, intends to suspend the usual congressional procedures and allow voting not on his own bill H.R.1226, but on the Senate Bill S.447! Voting can take place this Tuesday (April 24, 2018). This vote probably happen under “suspension of the rules”, ie the debate may be limited to 40 minutes and congressmen will not be able to propose any amendments. In order for the Bill to be approved, a 2/3 majority of all votes will be required. To become a law the Bill would also have to be signed by the President of the United States.

KEY ARGUMENTS: Act S.447 is a complex legislation with broad and far-reaching domestic and international ramifications which involve and encroach into multiple areas: national security, national defense, breach of the existing international treaties, undermining of the geopolitical allies, creation of dangerous precedence, and ultimate corruption of the existing legal system. Postpone scheduled vote! Conduct proper hearings!

Message suggested on the national Polish American Congress website:

As a member of the POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS and constituent of Congressman/ Congresswoman _______________, I request that on April 24 he/she should vote against S. 447, because it is unfair to Poland, an important and dependable NATO ally, which was a victim of Nazi Germany, and not a villain. Moreover, I request a roll call vote on this bill that calls on Poland to pay extravagant compensation for crimes against private property on conquered Polish territory perpetrated by Nazi Germany and the communists during the World War II era. Compensation for these crimes against private property should be paid by Berlin, and Moscow, not by Warsaw. Furthermore, Poland sent a low level delegation to the Prague Conference and never considered herself bound by the Terezin Declaration.

NOTE:The Terezin Declaration is a nonbinding declaration.