Jan Blonski's essay after years

• Authors: Glowinski M.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The author reflects upon Jan Blonski's essay 'Biedni Polacy patrza na getto' (Poor Poles look at the ghetto) nearly twenty years of its publication by 'Tygodnik Powszechny'. He points at the innovative character of the depiction of Polish-Jewish issues in the moral context, outside of all the political embroilments. Blonski's voice is unique, because it acknowledges, in the spirit of the Gospels, that analysis of Polish-Jewish relations is a fundamental issue for the Polish society, a 'homework' that needs to be done. This essay, the author claims, is free from the embroilment in the dualism of the negative and positive myths regarding these relations. He writes about reactions to this text, the letters to the editor and notes one particular voice, which he reads as an internalised nationalist ideology and the dangerous continuation of the nationalist discourse. The article concludes the post scriptum, in which the author refers to another article, published in 2006 by 'Gazeta Wyborcza', regarding the current historical policy, whose proponents see Blonski's essay as a negative reference point. He notes that this essay constantly evokes strong emotions, and, as an expression of critical patriotism, still has its ardent opponents.

Keywords

EN

BLONSKI JAN; HOLOCAUST; POLISH-JEWISH RELATIONSHIPS

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Zaglada Zydów. Studia i Materialy (Holocaust. Studies and Materials)
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 2
• Pages: 12-20
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Glowinski M.

• M. Glowinski, Instytut Badan Literackich PAN, ul. Nowy Swiat 72, 00-330 Warszawa, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07PLAAAA03066301