"Rydzyk and Friends"

Who is Tadeusz Rydzyk? A Polish priest and powerful media mogul. He, through his outlets, and his sect-like follower group, called by its founder the family of Radio Maryja, TV Trwam, and his newspaper Nasz Dziennik, has wide audinces in Poland and around the world. Opinions voiced on them have the potential to influence outcomes of elections and consequently to change the course of history, as we now know from the last election in Poland, his home country. The publication of Tomasz Piatek’s 2-volume book, “Rydzyk and Friends” makes clear the depth of Rydzyk’s ties to Russia. It argues that it is time to take a look at the “father-director" himself, his circle of friends and the projects created by them. On the surface Rydzyk’s message has no overt Russian reference points. But on closer examination it becomes clear how aligned it is with the anti-Western, anti-gay, anti-women, anti-liberal propaganda of Putin’s Russia. The aggressive Putin propaganda media machine is like an octopus with tentacles reaching into many corners, often unexpected. And although it seems that Rydzyk’s Torun broadcast channel is an unlikely ally of Russia it may in fact be working as one. Piatek’s revelations of hidden links between this Polish Catholic media evangelist and Putin’s Russia suggests that “father-director” Rydzyk may be a willing tool of an aggressive regime. In addition to a visit by a Russian delegation to his home base in Torun, Poland in the 1990’s Rydzyk has been favoured with military broadcast frequencies for his Radio Maryja communications channel. This allows him that bring his messages to a worldwide audience. As reported on this blog in the past, Putin’s propaganda campaign against the West includes an “alternative TV channel called RT (abbreviated from Russia Today to somewhat conceal its purpose). RT bills itself as “neither right nor left. Whatever it is not, RT is definitely 100% pro-Putin, albeit mainly by avoiding any criticism of the now notorious regime that is its sponsor. The prominent western presenters, like Chris Hedges, hired by RT to deliver its message are either improbably naïve or cynical about the roles they are being paid to play. Unlike Rydzyk they are definitely on the Kremlin payroll. To give Rydzyk a chance to state the falseness of the suspicions about him an enquiry should be called to clear the air.

27 deaths of Toby Obed: Canada’s shame

When they think of Canada many may have in their minds the innocence of fictional schoolgirl Anne of Green Gables or the smart red uniforms of principled law enforcers the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. But for many in 2019 another, darker, country has emerged. Canada, like Poland, the native land of Joanna Gierak-Onoszko, author of this book (based on her several years of research in Canada and published first in Polish), is having to come to terms with painful aspects of its history. Canada has been generally known around the world as a “good actor” and peacemaker in world affairs, but it was responsible for the deaths of many of the indigenous inhabitants of what are now more properly known as the First Nations of Turtle Island, that is the land now called Canada. “27 Deaths…” recounts the stories of “survivors” of residential schools who were forcibly removed from their indigenous families by the state and placed under the authority of teachers/guardians, mainly religious in nature, whose mission was “to take the Indian out of the Indian”, sometimes at the hands of other victims, themselves also indigenous. Still, many years later, Canada’s oppressive conditions continue for its indigenous peoples who suffer extreme levels of poverty, addiction, trauma, incarceration and suicide. All indigenous peoples, after colonization by their uninvited European invaders, have experienced similar traumas and the wounds have been passed on from generation to generation, especially, for many, an imposed loss of positive identity and self-worth. Only very recently is Canada recognizing its responsibility for what is now seen by many as the genocide of its First Nations. Gierak-Onoszko, like some inside the country itself, doubt the genuineness of Canada’s “Truth and Reconciliation” process, an initiative of the current Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau. Is it just a PR operation prompted by guilt about the gap between Canada’s rosy international reputation and the shocking reality of its impact on the first inhabitants of this land? And the impact continues. Not only are there still native reserves without guaranteed clean drinking water, corrosive prejudice continues in non-native Canada and a disproportionate population of indigenous people is incarcerated in Canada's prisons.The recent discovery of unmarked residential school graves is only the latest evidence of Canada's legacy of racist abuse against its native peoples. With over 120 languages represented in Canada's immigration populations we wonder how many have access in their own tongues to the indigenous experiences recounted in Gierak-Onoszko's pioneering work in Polish. We invite readers to inform us about their own awareness of these matters and what sources in any medium they are aware of and have learned from.