- “Outrageous” and “disgraceful” – these are the places where the latest PiS has been commented on the most, including references to the Auschwitz camp. He was also sharply criticized by the Auschwitz Museum
- “The tragedy of millions of victims cannot be used in political battles. This action is unworthy and has no justification,” President Andrzej Duda wrote in response to the incident.
- Other important information can be found on the Onet home page
Outrageous PiS place
Praised by PiS politicians, rebuked by the opposition, historians and journalists. The ruling party’s latest venue, where the author advised against participating in the June 4 march and used images from the former site of the Nazi Auschwitz camp, generated a huge wave of comments and outrage today.
The Auschwitz Museum takes a firm stance in this regard. “The instrumentation of the tragedy of those who suffered and died in Nazi Germany’s Auschwitz camp – on any side of the political dispute – is an affront to the memory of the victims. It is a sad, painful, and unacceptable manifestation of the moral and intellectual corruption of debate public,” the Museum said in a statement.
In his interview with Onet, Marek Zając, secretary of the International Auschwitz Council and chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation Board, did not hide his anger. “Auschwitz is the largest cemetery in world history, a holy place for millions of people around the world. It is unacceptable to use Auschwitz for any political purposes, Marek Zając told Onet. And he emphasized: – Regardless of the intentions of the authors of the place, the film must be removed and an apology must be made for it.
“It was the fox that started the avalanche”
We also asked Prof. Grzegorz Berendt, chairman of the International Auschwitz Council, who, however, emphasized that he was speaking “on the spot” on behalf of himself, and not the entire MRO.
In an interview with Onet, the historian admits that it is completely unacceptable to refer to the problem of crimes committed in extermination camps in the political struggle. But he doesn’t just mean PiS politicians or writers of those shameful places.
– Spot is an element of the election campaign, but it also refers to what Tomasz Lis wrote on social media, and what should not have happened – said Prof. Berendt.
Remember: Commenting on President Duda’s decision on Lex Tusk, a publicist took to Twitter on Monday: “there will be room for Duda and Kaczor.”
After a wave of criticism, Lis removed the entry and apologized for it. “I am very sorry for my entry about “chamber”. It is clear that I had in mind cells, but I should have foreseen that people of ill will would adopt an unreasonable interpretation. I hope Mr. Widower and Mr. Kaczyński will pay for their crimes against democracy , but after Humanly, I wish them good health and a long life,” he wrote.
“The rooms are clearly related”
– In our historical code, sending anyone to a room is clearly related to the gas chambers in the camp created by the German-Nazi invaders – added Prof. Berendt.
– This entry should also be widely condemned, as it creates a context for hate speech. You shouldn’t use such arguments, you shouldn’t get into such a narrative, because it is the path that leads us astray – said the professor.
Several commenters pointed to the fact that Lisa’s inclusion, while embarrassing, is a one-person position, currently unrelated to any media. Spot containing photos of the former Auschwitz camp was published on the official account of the ruling party in Poland. Because of this, public relations pointed out that we are dealing with a different caliber of violations.
However, Prof. Berendt, emphasized that Tomasz Lis still has such reach on the network that some local media will not be embarrassed. He also pointed out that the PiS point itself should not reach elements about the Holocaust.
“I call for repentance”
– As chairman of the International Auschwitz Council, I will ask both parties to come to their senses – stressed prof. Berendt. He added that he hoped the snowball that had created in the discussions would stop soon and that we would not have to face this escalation of the situation.
Let us remember, however, that in recent years the language of public debate has left much to be desired. Internet entries lead to controversy, scandal, and even diplomatic clashes. Hate speech fueled by political opponents has spread so widely that it has involved the tragedy of certain people. Anti-Semitic and xenophobic voices were also heard.
The answer to the collapse of this public debate was the famous speech by Marian Turski, a former prisoner of the Auschwitz camp. In 2020, he said to those gathered at the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp: – Don’t be ignorant. Auschwitz didn’t fall from the sky.
Subsequent years have shown that we do not draw sufficiently from the teachings given to us by the authorities. – Once upon a time someone formulated the idea that we must do everything to make the Pole wise before decay. All I can say is that it has failed again, but we must move for the good, not improve based on things that cannot happen – stressed prof. Berendt.
Question for Beata Szydło
In the PiS lineup, the spot published today caused quite a split. The party staff who was in charge of the preparations were very pleased with him. Unofficially, however, politicians acknowledged that they had paid too much and that they were ashamed to involve Auschwitz in the election campaign. Officially, the place is cursed by President Duda, who recently isn’t on good terms with anyone. But Beata Szydło, who is a member of the Auschwitz Museums Council, still does not give her opinion on this matter.
Moreover, his presence in the composition of the Council was also controversial from the start, and soon after his appointment, e.g. prof. Stanisław Krajowski and Marek Lasota, PhD. The two protested against the politicization of the Auschwitz Museums Council.
We asked prof. Berendt, who also sat in it.
– It is a question for the prime minister as to whether he is aware that such a place is being created. I will only repeat that camp symbolism should not be used and no one, no party from the political scene should send political opponents into the chambers – concludes prof. Berendt.
We tried asking the former prime minister if he knew the contents of the spot made by the party he represented as vice president. However, he did not answer our calls.
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