On August 15, a press conference was held at the monument of Wincenty Witos, during which the Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, emphasized the importance of commemorating the Battle of Warsaw in 1920. The Minister stated that participation in such events “is an expression of patriotism and love for the Homeland, but also respect for and commemoration of the common history of Poland.” The Act on Patriotic Education will be an important new legal act, he presented its assumptionsia.
Wincenty Witos, Prime Minister of Polish Independence
.Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz referred to the historical role of Wincenty Witos, who played a key role in the victory over the Bolsheviks in 1920. — On July 28, 1920, the mission of defending the state seemed hopeless, impossible — said Kosiniak-Kamysz, recalling the decision of Józef Piłsudski, who entrusted Witos with the mission of creating a government.
The Minister of Defense emphasized that unity is key to achieving great things, but to unite, one must know one’s roots. “You have to know where you come from, what our roots are, what our tradition is,” he said at the monument to Wincenty Witos in Warsaw. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, patriotism is “love for the homeland, working for it, respect for others and respect for history, tradition and constitutional values.”
Nurturing tradition in the young generation
.Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also emphasized that the Polish People’s Party cultivates traditions that are of great importance for the future of Poland. He drew attention to the need to invest in the young generation, in education and to build “economic patriotism”. Thus, Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the introduction of a law on patriotic education, which is to be a program not only for schools, but also for the entire national education system. – This is not to be a new subject in school. Patriotic education cannot be limited to one subject – he explained, emphasizing that the program is to include visiting places of historical remembrance and promoting literature important for Polish identity, including the works of Miłosz, Sienkiewicz, Mickiewicz, and Tokarczuk. – This is to be a program for schools, but it is also to be a program of a national education commission created that will accept this program; it is to be a program that will be patriotic education in various elements; it is to be visiting places important for Poland, for our history. Places connected with the Warsaw Uprising, World War II, the Battle of Racławice, the independence uprisings, insurrections and regional events that changed the course of reality and changed our face, such as the Greater Poland Uprising, which became an uprising for the whole of Poland – emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Republic of Poland is a place for everyone
.The Deputy Prime Minister invited everyone to cooperate on the project, which is to support non-governmental initiatives dealing with patriotic education and investments in science. At the same time, he emphasized that Polish patriotism it can accommodate everyone, with different views, who are united by their love for the Fatherland. – This is what this act is about, and there is the Kościuszko program of support for non-governmental foundations that will carry out activities for patriotic education, trips, visits to various memorial sites. It is also a program named after Professor Banach, a great Polish mathematician, investment in the most modern, best experiments in mathematics, physics, chemistry, to build economic patriotism. This is a whole set of solutions, to which we cordially invite everyone – emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The Patriotic Education Act – Modern Patriotism
‘We are capable of great things when we are united,’ said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at the conference. ‘But to be united, you have to know where you come from, where you come from. What our roots are, what our tradition is,’ added the Minister of National Defence, also stating that it is important to know what patriotism is today. ‘It is love for the homeland, it is work for it, it is respect for other people, it is respect for history and tradition and constitutional values; human rights, democracy, respect for views and worldviews and diversity. Because the Republic of Poland is a diverse state and community. But it can be united precisely in love for the homeland. Patriotism is love for the homeland, which can be expressed in various ways,’ he emphasised.
During the conference, Kosiniak-Kamysz also mentioned a second project, concerning the establishment of an institute named after Wincenty Witos, which would commemorate both the Battle of Warsaw and Witos’ role in regaining Poland’s independence.
Prepared by MK
Copyrighted material. Further distribution only with the publisher’s consent. August 15, 2024
