Lech Jęczmyk (1936-2023) did not come from the national camp, his rich résumé noted no episode related to our movement.
And yet he was close to us. Already in the 1990s, erstwhile an crucial politician of the French National Front, Bruno Gollnisch, came to Poland at the invitation of the National Right, we were at a gathering with him in the flat of Jęczmyk in Żoliborz. There he served as the host and translator.
In fresh years, Barchmyk, before beginning to weaken, was on our wafers at the National Foundation's premises. Roman Dmowski and at the awards galas of the Foundation Award for Best Book on past and thought of National Democracy. What brought him closer to us? Its origin from the solidarity and independency movement? I think a fewer issues – above all, an assessment of the present, but besides of the past. People like Bark, or Józef Białek, Janusz Sanocki, yet Victor Hungarian, Commander of the Katyń Rally – did not follow their erstwhile colleagues from Solidarity or the underground. For example, in relation to Russia, they clearly switched to our positions, did not accept irrational rusophobia, saw that this rusophobia was a convenient tool of the forces of Poland which were not favorable, that it was utilized to quarrel with Russia, and worse, with the Russian people. This was understood by Victor Hungarian, but besides by Lech Jęczmyk.
Although more known as an Englishman, he translates works Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk, Thomas Berger, Philip K. Dick, Max Barry, and as a literary expert science fiction, was besides a lover of Russian culture. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Warsaw. After 1989, he frequently wrote about Russia completely different than we do. These texts published in the volume “New mediate Ages. Felietons collected” (Poznań 2013). The title consciously referred to the celebrated work of the Russian philosopher Santa Bierdiaev. He was convinced that after 1989 it was essential to stay neutral and not join NATO, he felt that Poland had a chance of a different solution. inactive through the dramatic tightening of his relation with Russia after 2010, he wrote:
"If Russia accepts the mission offered by God and history, it will gain a "great idea", without which Russia cannot live, and a large thought will gain a powerful defender in the Russian state. In this historical minute of truth, Poland besides got its chance. This depopulated, depopulated industry, sucked out by abroad banks and brought to the function of a semi-colonial state-non-state Poland has the chance to become a link between Orthodox and Rome in the large work of ending the shameful schism. Will Bishop Budzik find adequate courage in himself to lead his committee into history? Then Katyn, the site of the first gathering of the Church and the Church, would become a sign not only of death but besides of rebirth. due to the fact that we have come to live in a time erstwhile there are powerful changes in history, besides above our heads on the advanced level of metahistory and meta politics.”
This crucial part of his work was almost completely ignored in many notes in the press and online portals. It is worth noting that what Jęczmyk wrote about Russia resembles the way of reasoning represented by Prof. Anna wound.
He was besides able to verify his attitude toward the Polish People’s Republic, writing: “It is simply a fact that after 1956 we were no longer a colony but a vassal state. I believed against this country, but after 20 years of post-communism I do not know what is worse. If I had known that we were fighting to change the honourable Babiuch to Buzek, Balcerowicz and Bielecki (to limit ourselves to the letter B), I would have sat down and spared energy.”
Ending his book “Light and Sound. My life on different planets" (Poznań 2013) said goodbye to Readers, even though he lived for 10 years:
“I thank God that he allowed me to learn about specified titans of spirit and intellect as Father Bocheński and prof. Wolniewicz, that I could perceive to a lecture by Father Krąpc and respective sermons by Bishop Zawitkowski. I besides witnessed a fewer moments where my people were large and beautiful: October 1956, August 1980, the ceremony of Father Popieluszko and the death of the Pope, erstwhile he was not only going to Heaven, but Heaven came for Him. For a fewer days, the planet has become different. present I know that in our not-so-best worlds, only moments like this are possible, and all the more reason I am grateful for them.
For many years I remained outside the Church. Fortunately, I have always respected Catholicism as part of Polishness (now I respect Polishness as part of my Catholicism). Fortunately – yes, I know that nothing happens by accident – I met Father Popieluszko on my way, and my good and patient wife gave for 7 Masses for my neglected soul. In the absence of my own problems, I care about the world, my Church and my Poland. I even arranged specified a prayer: “Holy Virgin, do not let the scum destruct yours and my Poland.” And if I don't realize something, I am comforted by the thought that God knows what he's doing. I'm calm and packed. erstwhile it comes to it, push me with your prayer, erstwhile your turn comes, I will pull you (I hope) from above. With the Lord God.”
Last time I met him in Żoliborz on July 31, 2021, during a celebration commemorating the outbreak in 1944. There I besides took this image (at the top). A remarkable man died, not easy identified, walking in his own ways, independent, not yielding to current trends and fashions.
Hello to His Memory!
Jan Engelgard
Think Poland, No. 31-32 (30.07-6.08.2023)
