UNENDING DEMANDS
By Edward J. Moskal
When Jewish organizations demanded the removal of the first crosses that
were placed
outside the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, the Polish American
Congress voted to support their placement. Later, when the number of
crosses became
excessive, in an attempt to be conciliatory, we recognized that the great
number of
crosses could be construed as a purposeful provocation. At the same time,
however,
we noted that bowing to the request for removal would only lead to
additional demands.
It is the old story of "give an inch and they will demand a yard."
Now, having seen the pictures of Poland’s Chief Rabbi, Menachem Joskowicz,
pointing
his finger at Pope John Paul II’s face, we cannot help but observe that our
fears were
justified.
That very day, June 11, the Holy Father prayed for martyred Jews at the
site of what was
the Warsaw Ghetto under German occupation. Likewise, The Polish Church has
bent
over backwards in an effort to avoid conflict with the Jewish community.
Bowing to
Jewish demands on May 28, Polish authorities ordered the removal of the small
crosses. Nothing, however, seems to be enough.
The mood of goodwill was broken when Rabbi Joskowicz broke protocol when he
approached the Pontiff, addressing him as "Mr. Pope," a salutation that is
as improper
in Polish as it is in English. Speaking of the remaining large crucifix, he
then asked him
"to give the order to your men to remove this last cross, as well," an
additional choice of
words that was, to say the least, unfortunate. The object of which he spoke
was, of
course, the cross that had been erected during the papal trip of 1979.
There have been numerous comments in the past from Jewish leaders about the
need
for "sensitivity," yet they feel no need for that quality on their part.
Neither the devotion of
Poles to church and cross, nor the weighty symbolism of the papal cross at
Auschwitz
appear worthy of their consideration. Those who believed the removal of
Christian
symbols from the Auschwitz site would satisfy Jewish demands have now
uncovered the
insatiable appetite of the historical revisionists. The cross, the Pope,
Polish martyrdom
… are mere objects to be buried and forgotten to the self-possessed
extremists.
Adding to the offensive nature of the situation are some members of
Poland’s Catholic
hierarchy and certain factions of Poland’s press, who are willing to
surrender the cross
in a mistaken notion of conciliation. Goodwill is certainly valuable, but
the early Christian
martyrs did not forsake their values and beliefs in return for conciliation
with the ruling
emperors. Instead, they gained an honored place on earth and in heaven for
standing
steadfastly with the cross. If these present-day clerics are unwilling or
unable to uphold
Christianity, or if they find other forms of religiosity more attractive,
it may be
appropriate for them to find their particular brand of salvation by
replacing the Roman
collar with the yarmulke.
Press agencies reported that the Rabbi’s inappropriate demand would renew the
controversy surrounding the cross at Auschwitz, as well as exacerbate the
continuing rift
in Polish-Jewish relations. That is not necessarily true. The issue of the
cross will be
concluded at such time as the Polish authorities discover their backbones,
affirm the
sovereignty of Poland over its own land, recall the suffering of all
Poles--both Christian
and Jew--at the hands of Germany’s Nazis and insist upon respect for Polish
values.
Having stood as firmly and honorably as those who preceded them, Poland’s
leaders
will have broadcast the message that Poland will not be threatened and
bullied.
Poland’s honor having been upheld, Polish-Jewish relations may then move
forward,
notice having been served that Polish interests must be placed on an equal
footing with
Jewish issues.
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To tyle od szefa Kongresu Polonii Amerykanskiej.
serdecznie
Irek
