Bieganski on the Michael Medved Show; Obama and "Polish death camps"

Michael Medved and the KF: A surprising difference between the two.

Yesterday, May 30, 2012, I spoke briefly on the Michael Medved radio show about US President Barack Obama's reference, during his Jan Karski Medal of Freedom ceremony, to "Polish death camps."

I am very grateful to Michael Medved for allowing me to speak.

I am very grateful to Michael Medved for honoring this important issue.

Medved's callers repeatedly insisted what many are insisting:

"The Barack Obama / Jan Karski / "Polish death camps" controversy is a tempest in a teapot …Poles are silly and overly sensitive … This is an issue that only Polish chauvinists could care about … Give it a rest … Poles are the world's worst anti-Semites, and Poland is the world's most anti-Semitic country."

I used my brief radio time to say that the "Polish death camps" controversy is an important matter, important to everyone, not just to Poles.

A reminder: Michael Medved is Jewish. And he cared about this. And he gave me his platform of a national radio show to talk about it.

Again, thank you Michael Medved.

***

My book, "Bieganski: The Brute Polak Stereotype, Its Role in Polish-Jewish Relations and American Popular Culture," points out that the brute Polak stereotype, root of terms like "Polish death camps," is important to all. Not just Poles or Polish-Americans. Everyone.

***

For years, Polonians who object to the Brute Polak stereotype have been doing two things:

1.) Signing petitions, like the Kosciuszko Foundation petition that addresses, exactly, the phrases "Polish death camps" and "Polish concentration camps."

2.) Writing letters to newspapers and websites that use the phrases "Polish concentration camps" and "Polish death camps."

What Polonia has not wanted to acknowledge is that all this petition-signing and letter-writing have accomplished absolutely nothing.

The Bieganski stereotype is stronger than ever. Not as strong. Stronger.

US President Barack Obama wants Polish Americans to vote for him. He wants to please Polish-Americans. That's why he was honoring Jan Karski!

Polonia's petition-signing and letter-writing have exercised so little power, so little influence, have attracted so little attention or allies to this worthy cause, that no one – not even White House staff trying to please Poles in order to get their votes – knows or cares about Polonia's petition-signing and letter-writing.

So, what is Polonia doing in response to US President Barack Obama's mentioning "Polish death camps" in his Medal of Freedom ceremony for Jan Karski?

Polonia is … signing more petitions. Polonia is … writing more letters.

I see it on the web now. Polonians circulating new petitions, writing new letters.

I see Polonians losing their tempers and calling those who disagree with them "idiots," "dogs," "morons."

I see Polonians insisting that this is all very important because it insults Poles and Poland.

And I see people who aren't Polish saying, "Who cares? Poland is not important. You Poles are too sensitive. Get over yourselves. And besides, Poles are the world's worst anti-Semites, anyway."

And I don't see Polonians able to communicate to others why the Brute Polak stereotype matters to anyone except Polish chauvinists.

In short, I see Polonia floundering. I see the message not getting out. And Poles calling others names on the internet, and not making the case in an informed way, just reinforces the stereotype: this is a trivial matter, Poles are too sensitive, only they care about this.

What does Polonia need to do to address this stereotype? Polonia needs to take up the hard work outlined in the three-part blog post on the Crisis in Polonian leadership, organization, and vision.

***

I am grateful that Michael Medved allowed me to speak.

I want Polonia to allow me to speak, as well.

Since "Bieganski" was published, I have spoken at Brandeis and Georgetown. I have spoken at the Jewish Museum of Galicia, in Krakow, Poland, and in Markowa, a village in Poland where the Ulma family was shot to death by Nazis for sheltering Jews. I have spoken in synagogues and Jewish student centers.

I have yet to speak to one Polish American group.

I have written to the Kosciuszko Foundation. They declined.

I have written to the Polish embassy in the US. They declined.

I have written to the Polish Museum. They declined.

I have written to Radek Sikorski, who never misses a chance to say how much he cares about stereotyping. No reply.

I wrote to a Polish group that sponsors talks by Polish American scholars. They responded: "there was no interest - with the subject being too heavy, too negative."

I'm glad Michael Medved let me speak, and cared about what I had to say – something of importance not just to Poles, but to everyone.

I'm glad Brandeis and Georgetown let me speak.

Polonia, please let me speak.

Again, Bieganski's message:

The Brute Polak stereotype is important to all.

It needs to be addressed for *everyone.*

It is not just a matter of oversensitive Poles or Polish honor.

We can change this, and we must. It is our ethical duty.

Invite me to speak to your group. Support the book. Combat the Brute Polak in an intelligent, informed way that communicates to other people who aren't Polish why they should care.

Thank you.