America's
tragedy - a tragedy
of all mankind
Poles show their solidarity with Americans
The message
of unimaginable attacks against the United States stroke Polish society. President
Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek expressed on behalf of the Polish
nation our solidarity with the American nation and with actions the American government
will eventually undertake to uproot terrorism around the world.
Polish streets and churches were crowded with people who wanted to honor victims, to pray
for them. On the sidewalk, in front of the American Embassy in Warsaw, a flock of
residents lighted candles to commemorate innocent people who were killed by those guided
by hatred. A moment of silence was observed by the Polish media. The flags atop state
institutions were at half-state.
Polish Parliament issued a statement condemning terrorist attacks, emphasizing that the
aggression was aimed also at all states committed to freedom and democracy. Community
of free and democratic nations faced the war with hidden enemy (...) In this very
difficult and painful time we are together with the American nation. Polish Parliament
named these attacks as a crime against humanity. The Parliament supported the position of
NATO - We are ready to fulfill alliance commitments according to Article 5 of the
Washington Treaty. Parliament's statement invoked words of John Paul II who named this
attack "a black day in mankind's history".
At the Polish Embassy in Washington we met with our American friends, representatives of
Polish American community and all Embassy staff for a special event to pay tribute to all
victims.
This tragedy touched deeply every one of us. It is as
if we all have lost someone close. The dramatic minutes of September 11th will
have left a lasting impression in the hearts, minds and souls of people around the world.
We all ask ourselves two basic questions – how could this happen and what can we do to
help?
We can help by being united. By showing
solidarity with the great American nation, by being at the side of our friends in the time
of trial. Isn’t this really how true friends are tested?
This tragedy, though it may have struck New York and Washington, has dealt a blow close to
each and every one of us, to all those who share the common values of democracy and peace.
We Poles know how these values must be cherished and that they do not come easy. The
phrase, which we carried through history on the banners of our common heroes “ For
Your Freedom and Ours” has not lost any of its meaning. To the contrary, today we
all are Americans, we are all citizens of America.
The hours of Tuesday morning, September 11th shook the foundations of the world. Nothing
will ever be the same. We will not be the same. We have come to experience the evil in its
most cruel form – with no face, no name but with a mission to take away from the mankind
our most precious of all achievements – peaceful and brotherly co-existence, happiness
and freedom and the deep belief that the horrors of the past can never be repeated.
In these difficult moments we join in grief with the families of the victims with our
deepest and most sincere condolences. We join with the President of the United States and
the US Government in their efforts to capture and bring to justice the perpetrators of
this unprecedented crime. We pledge that in this time of trial American people can count
on our friendship. We are at your side.
There are no words to describe our feelings. Maybe simple words of Polish President
Aleksander Kwasniewski - we are standing shoulder to shoulder with You America are
the most proper...
Przemysław Grudziński,
Ambassador