Memory of Joseph Oleks

We have heard many warm words present about the late Joseph Oleksy. That he was warm, good, sympathetic, open, curious about the planet and another people. That's the kind of thing you say erstwhile you say goodbye. They are the last courtesy.


Those who have not personally met Joseph Oleks may seem like specified a farewell emptiness. He's not. He grew above the crowd of characters from Polish public life. He was a large figure, despite his political sins and mistakes. He himself admitted that his political ways were very confused. But he was the uncommon case that he didn't make virtue of it. fewer people have the courage to say that you were an opportunist. In the last years of his life, he did a lot – more than everyone else – to straighten his way out. It is characteristic and not entirely accidental that he was not part of the ruling Polish “Salon”. It was His conscious choice. He could have been there. Why wouldn't he? We all remember the video of His comment on eating the meringue. This is the full He – the man who has so always commented on all reproach in public life and artificially inflated authority. I was fortunate to have heard his grumpy but very accurate comments on the presently worn-out idols and idols. He spoke respectfully of the wise people—what I heard myself—and mocked the buffoons and the proud. He has not succumbed to the popular fashion on the left to the worldview of the news. He knew the planet very well, drove and read, and yet – and possibly thanks to this – he did not go crazy like the remainder of the Polish left. For Him, Poland was not abnormal. He experienced Polish matters personally – which I can attest to, although we were frequently different about them. His words in an interview with Robert Mazurek about the church ceremony caused a sensation, and that he was annoyed by the nonchalance of communists towards the Polish tradition. In private conversations, but those that spread widely, he said so often. This did not aid him in his left world. Which he didn't care much. For me, his death is simply a strong experience. I did not know him as long and close as many of my colleagues, but for 7 years he was my regular guest on RDC, the Mazovia radio station of Polish Radio. They besides gotta repeat those words that may sound grumpy on the side – about His kindness, openness, tact, warmth, humour. But he was. besides very brave in his illness. Last time I saw him was December 8th. He was a guest of my show. too the antenna, he complained about his weak voice, but he besides joked and laughed. I know the charges will emergence that I'm making besides much excuses for him. I have my private explanation that the origin of His problem was not bad will, but the inability to say hard "no." But that's just my intuitive theory. At this point, I like to give the level to a noble person, Zbigniew Romaszewski (after Piotr Skwieciński's book "Romaszewskiski. Autobiography"), who said about the 1995 scandal: "I have no clear opinion here. Oleksy is simply a very sympathetic and intelligent man. But I think, unfortunately, that much of the charges were true. At the same time, it is unusual that specified a advanced standing individual as Oleksy was caught. due to the fact that in these circles, things like this are usually covered up. I think Oleksy was for any reason unintelligible to the service. This is evidenced by his later mirroring process, erstwhile it turned out that papers concerning almost all crucial people were lost and only Oleksi someway so strangely survived." Why? Bad luck? I think the word “uncomfortable” explains the most. He did not want to go further along confused paths, he wanted to be more uncomfortable, he wanted to weigh little and little words. He left besides soon. We've lost a lot.