-- THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR LUKASHENKA - MARIA SOBUNIEWSKA AT THE JAGIELLONIAN CLUB: "The wave of protests currently sweeping through Belarus is an absolutely unprecedented event in the country's history. Despite numerous attempts to incite strikes, they have never before reached such a scale. Not only intellectuals are rebelling, but also workers and employees of television or middle-level administration. (...) The process of removing Lukashenka from power (even with a well-functioning opposition) may take several years at least. This does not change the fact that Belarus is entering a new phase. Lukashenka will not give up power easily, and we can only hope that it will happen without bloodshed. The speed and nature of the transformation depend not only on the quality of the opposition and the strength of the protests but also on the support of Western neighbors. For now, we must encourage Belarusians to develop a well-functioning civil society in their country." -- WORKER PROTESTS ARE CLEARLY POLITICAL, NOT SOCIAL, WHICH IS EXCEPTIONAL - SOBUNIEWSKA CONTINUES: "The exceptional nature of the worker protests lies in the fact that their demands are clearly political, not social. The main ones remain the recount of votes and the cessation of violence on the streets. On Monday, August 17, due to unfulfilled demands, workers began a strike. On that day, Lukashenka visited one of the protesting industrial plants. He was met with a sharp reaction from the employees who, not allowing him to speak, chanted: 'Leave.' https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2020/08/29/poczatek-konca-lukaszenki/ -- SZUMOWSKI ON A MILLIONAIRE'S YACHT - SE: "Who exactly is the businessman on whose boat Szumowski is vacationing? Szemioth primarily owns or has had stakes in over a dozen companies involved in fish farming and frozen seafood production, among other things. But that's not all. Szemioth is also a diplomat. He serves as the Honorary Consul of Iceland in Poland." https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/polityka/polaczyl-ich-zakon-aa-RKRk-5Uzj-piMJ.html -- NOT SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IS A CATASTROPHE - PIOTR ZAREMBA ON POLSAT NEWS: "Let's be frank: not sending children to school in the autumn means a return to lockdown, which would be a catastrophe. A return, if only because a significant number of parents would have to stay at home with the children again. We don't know the epidemiological situation in the autumn, but while I understood the early restrictions, despite the cries of 'libertarians,' because the healthcare system needed to be prepared for the worst, I now view a return to them as a dramatic last resort." -- ZAREMBA APPEALS NOT TO EXPLOIT EVERY GOVERNMENT MISSTEP ON COVID TO RAISE A STINK: "However, we must restore normalcy. I strongly appeal to the opposition, and also to opposition media, not to use every government hesitation or imprecise move to raise a great clamor. In Poland, everything is politics, but let's make it a bit more rational and bearable in this sphere. One should not raise a cry even if the number of infections slightly increases. We are all learning about COVID, mistakes are made everywhere. In France, too, parents don't fully know the conditions under which their children will return to classrooms. This is unfortunately natural when operating by trial and error." -- LET'S NOT CREATE LOST SCHOOL YEARS - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: "The social losses resulting from not attending school will be significant, and we should avoid them at almost any cost. Let's not create 'lost school years,' and perhaps even a 'lost generation.' Moreover, the risk for older students will not be lower if they don't go to school. It was already considerable during the relatively normal summer holidays and will persist in September. Remote learning is shorter than normal classes. Do you really believe that when almost everything is open and available, young people will avoid public places or their own company? We have to grit our teeth and just do it. Just do it! Will we avoid exceptions in the most endangered areas? I might consider that if I were in charge. But I understand the resistance in this case, because it's fear that directors will take the easy way out. If such endangered areas start to increase, the question will arise whether to reintroduce a lockdown. In my opinion, we should postpone moves in this direction for as long as possible." https://tygodnik.polsatnews.pl/news/2020-08-28/w-polsce-kazdy-spor-jest-polityczny-zaremba-o-powrocie-dzieci-do-szkol/ -- MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI ON ADVERTISING MARKET BLOCKADES: "However, blockades in the advertising and distribution market, various conspiracies, and adversities mean that we are like a competitor with a sack of stones on their back, having to race against those running in light sports attire, without any burden. Despite everything, after this decade, after these last few years, it is clear that our entire team has achieved a lot. It is a great compliment to us that the statement frequently heard from the III RP camp is that thanks to these media, many falsified operations have failed." https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/515294-kolejna-fala-atakow-na-nasze-media-potrzebna-panstwa-pomoc -- SUCH A PRIMITIVE EXPLANATION OF POLITICS AS FROM TUSK, POLES HAVE NEVER HEARD EVEN FROM LEPPER, WHO WAS SEVERAL FLOORS ABOVE TUSK - JACEK KARNOWSKI: "These words are shocking. Poles have never heard such a vulgar and primitive explanation of politics, not even from the late Andrzej Lepper, who was so ridiculed during his lifetime. He was several floors higher in public statements. No self-respecting politician in Europe would dare to present such a tribal explanation of political goals. I'm not saying some don't think this way, but the thin line between such thoughts and such declarations forms the very fabric of democratic civilization, allowing people with different views to function within a state community. If we cross this line, we become political savages. Tusk has done so." -- WOULD TUSK PROPOSE THE SAME TO GERMANS? IS IT DAILY THROAT-GRABBING? - KARNOWSKI CONTINUES: "Finally: could Tusk propose the same to Germans? How would the offer of 'daily throat-grabbing' as the surest way to win elections resonate in Chancellor Merkel's country? In the pages of 'Der Spiegel'? Would they even print something like that? And in Mr. Macron's country? Anywhere in Europe? Even Alexander Lukashenka, who is pointed at today, does not use such language. Where does so much evil come from in Tusk that he gives such a prescription to his comrades? That he believes we must 'grab each other by the throat'? Is this a political question, or already from the realm of reflection on evil in the world?" https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/515144-skad-w-tusku-tyle-zla-ze-taka-recepte-daje-kompanom -- THE WOLVES SENSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PILE ON BORIS - A PO POLITICIAN QUOTED BY ŁUKASZ ROGOJSZ ON GAZETA.PL: "Speaking in corporate terms, it was a complete screw-up from start to finish – one of the PO politicians we spoke to sharply reviews the party leader. Every possible mistake was made. The wolves sensed an opportunity to pounce on Boris, who is not the strongest leader – he notes." -- PLATFORMA FAILED TO CAPITALIZE ON TRZASKOWSKI'S RESULT - ROGOSZ CONTINUES: "The list of accusations against Budka is longer, however. The party resents its leader for failing to capitalize on Rafał Trzaskowski's excellent result in the presidential elections – despite his loss, his 10 million votes were the third-highest in history – and for the Civic Coalition sleeping through its five minutes of fame. On July 17, Trzaskowski announced the formation of 'Nowa Solidarność' in Gdynia and outlined a schedule of meetings for the next month and a half, after which... he disappeared from public view for over a month. The Civic Coalition also failed to maintain public interest in the new project and thus capitalize on Trzaskowski's electoral result." -- THE ATMOSPHERE IN PO REMINDS ONE OF DEFLATED PUDDING - ANOTHER PO POLITICIAN QUOTED IN GAZETA.PL: "The complaints here are also sharp towards Rafał. After July 12, it was his moment, and he should have seized it. When the game is tough, it's tough, and you have to work hard – assesses one of the former KO campaign managers. Another of our interlocutors does not hide his bitterness about the turn of events: – Nothing has been happening since the elections. The elections ended, and the holidays began. Time was wasted when we had the wind in our sails. We couldn't even leverage the Belarus issue, although we showed with Ukraine that it was possible. That's why the atmosphere in the party today resembles deflated pudding." -- THEY WOULD TELL BUDKA: RESIGN AS PARTY LEADER TOO, BECAUSE YOU FAILED - ANOTHER STATEMENT: "That Budka will give up leadership of the parliamentary club seems a foregone conclusion today. The question remains when he will do it. Resigning now, in the heat of criticism, would also severely undermine his position as party leader. Purely tactically, he cannot give up now. It would be an admission of error and unconditional surrender. Schetyna and his people are just waiting for that to say: resign as party leader too, because you failed – notes a Platform politician well-versed in the party's backstage dealings." https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,26248151,trudne-chwile-budki-wilki-wyczuly-ze-jest-okazja-zeby-rzucic.html -- IT'S NOT THE USA TELLING US THAT TVN IS UNDER STRICT AMERICAN CONTROL, IT'S MS. MOSBACHER TRYING TO CREATE THAT IMPRESSION - MICHAŁ KARNOWSKI: "Of course, one cannot rule out that the direct interests of the American owners of the TVN concern have some significance, but frankly, I believe they are secondary. Large corporations do not operate like that; they have different methods. One post – I understand, but a whole series, turning into an outright grotesque action – that sounds false. It's time to burst this bubble. It's not the United States telling us that TVN is under strict American protection. It is Ambassador Mosbacher who is trying to create such an impression. She is doing it quite effectively, but perhaps too intensely. There is little credibility here." -- FOR DECADES, TVN HAS BEEN PLAYING POLITICS, PROTECTING EVERYTHING THAT TRUMP OPPOSES - KARNOWSKI'S CONCLUSION: "Because do we really think that Donald Trump's administration, fighting for survival – bravely, even heroically – is worried about the Polish deconcentration act? Is he really concerned about this? At a time when the fate of the United States, threatened by a practically Marxist revolution, is being decided – are the US President and his people sending orders to defend TVN – a station that has been playing politics for decades, protecting everything that Trump so dislikes?" https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/515277-to-nie-usa-bronia-tvn-u-to-ambasador-tworzy-takie-wrazenie -- HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES STRAIGHTENED THEIR BACKS LIKE MY MOTHER - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN DGP ON THE SOLIDARITY REVOLUTION: "Thousands, hundreds of thousands of such families, straightened their backs like my mother. It is worth looking at the solidarity movement from this perspective. Before we start discussing political meanings and strategies, let's try to describe phenomena like Solidarity from the perspective of people telling themselves and the world: enough. I think that events like the riots after the rigged elections in Belarus, all historical turning points, should be viewed similarly. The benevolent Edward Gierek, who, let's admit, did not use force against the wave of strikes at the time, is to be the hero of a fleeting, perhaps even laudatory film today. For my parents, for their acquaintances, he became, sometimes forever, sometimes for a moment, a symbol of negligent and corrupt power." -- ZAREMBA ON THE FAMOUS BANTER BETWEEN MAZOWIECKI AND JAWORSKI IN THE INTERNMENT CAMP: "We will probably never resolve the detailed disputes about how one should have behaved at this or that moment. The dilemma was perfectly illustrated by an anecdote about Tadeusz Mazowiecki, a leading Solidarity advisor, and Seweryn Jaworski, a worker activist from Huta Warszawa, meeting after December 13 in an internment camp. 'I told you we should have been tougher,' Jaworski said. 'And I told you we should have been smarter,' Mazowiecki retorted. 'And what did you achieve with your 'smarter'? And what did you achieve with your 'tougher'? This debate continued endlessly." -- THE LIQUIDATION OF THE SYSTEM IS AN INTRINSIC VALUE - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: "Solidarity did not overthrow the communist system. It was dismantled by economic inefficiency combined with the arms race imposed by the United States. But the bloodless Solidarity revolution was an important symptom of the system's crisis. Even if the liquidation of communism was ordered by the old men in the Kremlin for their own interests, they looked at what was happening in Poland. And one can question the model of this transformation a hundredfold with conspiracy theories and real observations, such as the fact that in the beginning, people from the former authorities organized themselves better within it. However, this liquidation is an intrinsic value." -- THOSE COMPLAINING ABOUT HALF-MEASURES SHOULD BE TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE - ZAREMBA CONTINUES IN DGP: "It is worth remembering this. However, I propose a thought experiment: what would have happened if the transformation, managed from the Kremlin from a certain point, had occurred without Solidarity, even the one weakening at the end of the 80s and somewhat grudgingly allowed to the table by Jaruzelski. Those who complain, often justifiably, about the half-hearted nature of the changes, about the pathological role of the former nomenklatura, should be answered: yes, but it could have been much, much worse. We could have had an even more oligarchic economy, less independent and more demoralized intellectual elites, and social life – even more atomized and devoid of civic spirit." -- SOLIDARITY ITSELF, ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCTS OF POLES, DESERVES PRAISE - CONCLUSION OF ZAREMBA'S TEXT IN DGP: "I remember my mother's outrage when, as an ordinary loyal soldier of Solidarity, she went to the Warsaw Cathedral in 1989 or 1990. She wasn't allowed in; the new government dignitaries wanted to celebrate in peace, without crowds. 'Mom, it's a normal country,' I explained to her then. Today, I think it turned out to be too 'normal.' But whatever the sins of Solidarity politicians, Solidarity itself, one of the best products of Poles, deserves praise." https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/opinie/artykuly/7808655,zaremba-polityczne-plemiona-legenda-solidarnosc.html -- IT'S THE BEGINNING OF IDEOLOGICAL REVISIONS LEADING TO THE OVERTHROW OF THE NATIONAL PANTHEON - PIOTR ZAREMBA IN RZ: "When Onet and 'Newsweek' marked the centenary of the Battle of Warsaw primarily with stories about the terrible fate of Soviet prisoners of war on Polish soil, I was not surprised. Such times, such fashion. To avoid being accused of traditional patriotism, one must pick at anniversaries to 'find something against Poles.' I think this is just the beginning of ideological revisions leading to the overthrow of the national pantheon. I advised a certain hot-headed supporter of tearing down historical monuments in the USA to go to the monument of Jan Sobieski to punish him for not only living in the times of serfdom but likely accepting it. I will not be surprised, therefore, if they again start calling that Poland, defended in 1920, 'serf-owning' – just like in Bolshevik propaganda texts. Such tones are already resonating in the texts of left-wing commentators." -- ZAREMBA ON THE FIGHT AGAINST VETERANISM - AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH FORMER PRL OFFICIALS LIKE KWAŚNIEWSKI: "[Szczypiorski] wrote in 1991 in 'Gazeta Wyborcza' that former opposition members – he specifically meant Stefan Niesiołowski – have no moral right to be proud of their attitudes from a time when they required risk. As a result, 'Gazeta Wyborcza' and media close to it began fighting 'veteranism.' Stories related to Solidarity were recalled rarely, or in a mocking tone. Zbigniew Bujak, one of the important leaders of Solidarity, put his union membership card up for sale, and Konrad Szołajski parodied Andrzej Wajda's 'Man of Iron' – his 'Man of...' from 1993 is a precursor to Stuhr's 'Citizen.' It seems that the authors of this campaign did not foresee its consequences. People like Bronisław Geremek and Jacek Kuroń, partially stripped of the aura of Solidarity merits, became ordinary politicians, eventually marginalized on the scene. This path was chosen for many different reasons. Out of a desire for agreement with people fully associated with the PRL, like Aleksander Kwaśniewski, but also out of faith in liberal modernization, taken directly from the West, freed from all the burdens of Polish history." -- THE CEREMONIES OF SOLIDARITY CELEBRATIONS ARE PERFUNCTORY AND COLD IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS GOVERNMENT - ZAREMBA CONSIDERS WHY: "The tradition of the Wrocław radicals was only brought in by Prime Minister Morawiecki, considered an alien body within Kaczyński's party. The myth of Solidarity in the right-wing's execution is predominantly a myth of people betrayed, abandoned by their own leaders. The subsequent events fit this perfectly: liberal modernization at the cost of state-owned company workforces from the socialist era, which should have been supported longer or liquidated more gently, but this was not done because an agreement was reached with the nomenklatura bourgeoisie. It is precisely the technocratic banker Morawiecki who has specialized in such statements. This is a myth that may sometimes be useful, but it evokes no pride. Rather, frustration. Hence, the ceremonies of Solidarity celebrations are perfunctory and cold in this government's execution." -- A NEW SOLIDARITY WITH MAZGUŁA AS CUSTODIAN OF AUGUST? - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: "Trzaskowski's New Solidarity is merely a sketch, a lifeless outline. The myth of Solidarity in these people's execution appears as a tight costume. On the one hand, it is difficult to reactivate the formula of negotiations between civil society and an undemocratic government when PiS has a mandate derived from genuine elections. Despite its dictatorial reflexes, it is a product of democracy, illiberal, slightly flawed, but democracy nonetheless. On the other hand, the language of storytelling about those times must be Aesopian. If the Solidarity surge was a bloodless revolution – it was directed against someone. In 1989, we also won 'against someone.' Only that the prominent heirs of the PRL are now generally on the side of PiS's opponents. Colonel Mazguła is not a suitable custodian of August; he just defended martial law. Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz as an ally is also not really suitable. As a result, only empty gestures, allusions, and attempts to imitate the style remain from the Solidarity myth." -- WOULD THAT SOLIDARITY AGREE TO HANDOUTS AT THE EXPENSE OF UNDERPAID TEACHERS? - ZAREMBA CONTINUES: "But would that Solidarity, faced with a different socio-economic model, agree to electoral handouts at the expense of underpaid teachers, a struggling healthcare system, and the disabled? The answer suggested by intuition is 'No.' It is worth celebrating Solidarity; it is an element of national continuity and a true reason for pride. But it is also worth studying its history carefully. Young generations of political commentators and experts from various fields often mock that symbolism and those choices. Yet, one can find wisdom and sensitivity there that is unavailable to today's politicians." https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308289994-Dwa-konkurencyjne-mity-Solidarnosci.html -- RAFAŁ WOŚ ON THE COMBATING OF THE TRADE UNION IN THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CENTRE - writes in Tygodnik Powszechny: "Where does the hostility come from? One of the main arguments of the critics of the union in the ECS is that this union was established 'at the wrong time.' Because, as they argue, it is necessary to maintain 'unity against the PiS threat, which is only waiting to seize any pretext and reclaim the insubordinate institution.' This line of argument makes the ECS similar to other institutions (both public and private) where some employees try to exercise their constitutional rights and form a union. Typically, there will be 'some PiS.' That is to say – according to labor activists – a pretext to say that unions are generally fine, but not here and not now. Not in my backyard – as the Anglosaxons say. Because, after all, we are always 'before a crisis, after a crisis, in restructuring, after restructuring, etc.' Excuses can be multiplied." https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/ile-solidarnosci-w-centrum-solidarnosci-164650 -- INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS ARE VERY ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN IDEOLOGICAL DISPUTES - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: "Large corporations are not standing on the sidelines in this fight for the first time; they are becoming active participants. Under the banner of corporate social responsibility, they are strongly engaging in ideological disputes, and on a decidedly progressive side. When several American states tightened regulations protecting unborn life some time ago, it was corporations that defended the freedom of abortion. Poles well remember how a popular chain selling furniture and interior design items got involved in the dispute over LGBT. Facebook is also a company; it also has its values, which it promotes." https://www.rp.pl/Plus-Minus/308289993-Michal-Szuldrzynski-Biznes-na-wojnie-ideologicznej.html -- WILL THERE BE A PARTY OF YOUTUBERS? - PIOTR TRUDNOWSKI AT THE JAGIELLONIAN CLUB: "'Wolność i Postęp' has an online electorate of one million four hundred thousand people. However, as they themselves emphasize, not all of their viewers are eligible to vote. But in three years, 90% of this audience will reach adulthood. The traditional media circuit and the Internet are completely different worlds. Based on Google Trends data, one can very suggestively show that traditional media are practically silent about the new formation, while the Polish Internet is buzzing with comments and emotions. This raises the question: does an emotion that resonates only online have a chance to break through into the real world?" https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2020/08/29/trudnowski-partia-youtuberow-moze-odniesc-wyborczy-sukces/ -- ŁUKASZ WARZECHA ON THE GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL SLOWDOWN AND YEARS WITHOUT BREAKTHROUGHS - writes in Polsat News: "I am not a technology journalist, but I have been interested in technology since I devoured issues of 'Młody Technik' in the late 80s. Today, I see something strange, but poorly perceived: for a very, very long time, we haven't had any real technological breakthroughs. At the same time, flawed and questionable – even ethically – technological solutions are adopted by a huge group of people entirely uncritically." https://tygodnik.polsatnews.pl/news/2020-08-28/wielkie-spowolnienie-technologiczne-czyli-dziesieciolecia-bez-przelomow/ -- BIRTHDAYS: Marzena Machałek, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski, Ewa Wanat, Jakub Stefaniak, Paweł Bryłowski, Artur Ostrowski, SUNDAY: Jacek Brzezinka.