Memory of Solidarity
During the second day of the Impact Congress, which took place on Thursday, a discussion took place with erstwhile US president Barack Obama and prof. Timothy Snyder. The event was besides attended by a political scientist and philosopher Francis Fukuyama.
At the beginning of his speech, Barack Obama mentioned "Solidarity" and how crucial the movement was to him.
The Solidarity movement was a key thing that inspired me to believe in the anticipation of change He said. – As I think of that series of events: “Solidarity”, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, I think there was a minute erstwhile we felt, I think, a large awakening. The chance that the old planet order can give way to a fresh imagination that we can live in a free, democratic society.
Right, left and polarization
Obama estimated that the extremist right was a threat, but besides noted mistakes on the left side and the centreleft, which frequently avoided compromises. He stressed that the tendency of young people to immediately brand their opponents as racists or homophobes could discourage any voters who did not want to be treated with superiority.
Obama addressed the current situation in Poland in this context, stressing that effective action requires the building of a broad coalition by progressive forces and taking into account the prospects of more conservative communities. He pointed out that openness to different viewpoints is the key to effectiveness.
Every country, nation, has its history, myths, but I besides know that we all have a lot in common. The same challenges concerning how we are to organise ourselves to increase solidarity and trust. How can we navigate the seas of globalisation and fresh technologies, how can we deal with the marketplace so that people working can make a living, support families, so that their children can have better. People's dreams and hopes around the planet are very similar, and circumstantial circumstances make 1 country go in 1 direction and the another in another.
Europeans trust besides much on the US
During a conversation led by American historian prof. Timothy Snyder, who completed the 10th edition of the Impact legislature in Poznań, Obama besides raised issues of American politics, but he never mentioned Donald Trump straight once. He pointed out that he did not agree with any of the decisions presently taken in Washington, stressing the crucial message he would like to convey while in Europe.
Obama stressed that American solidarity towards Europe stems from the attitude of citizens, not administrations. He noted that Polish aid to Ukrainians gives hope, but at the same time he pointed out that Europe could not full trust on the US on defence issues and should make its own strategy. He added that large countries, specified as China and India, must respect common principles of free trade, as improvement commits itself to supporting the global system.
