Bite pieces of my hiatus part I - Plane Crash in Smoleńsk
Since I resigned from attending this weekend's camp organized by my schoolmates I decided to finally move my ass and write about hiatus.
The death of the President along with 95 people in a plane crash
Some of you took notice of a series of articles I posted on 10th April, the day of crash. I won't go into detail again and say what happened where. Enough said that our President, First Lady, the most important politicians and officers in country, plane crew and many others died in Smoleńsk, Russia.
During those days I saw an unending string of journalists and politicians wondering on the telly what happened, why and why in this plane of all. Smoleńsk is near to Katyń, a place where our officials were heading for ceremonies for 70th anniversary of Katyń Massacre when Russian soldiers killed thousands of Poland's finest soldiers.
So, obviously, the media call Katyń and Smoleńsk the cursed place for us, Poles.
From the mourning period, which lasted about 9 days I think, I jotted down a few things to write here later.
Ouch, I see that this hiatus report will last a few posts. So here you are, the end of part one. ;)
The death of the President along with 95 people in a plane crash
Some of you took notice of a series of articles I posted on 10th April, the day of crash. I won't go into detail again and say what happened where. Enough said that our President, First Lady, the most important politicians and officers in country, plane crew and many others died in Smoleńsk, Russia.
During those days I saw an unending string of journalists and politicians wondering on the telly what happened, why and why in this plane of all. Smoleńsk is near to Katyń, a place where our officials were heading for ceremonies for 70th anniversary of Katyń Massacre when Russian soldiers killed thousands of Poland's finest soldiers.
So, obviously, the media call Katyń and Smoleńsk the cursed place for us, Poles.
From the mourning period, which lasted about 9 days I think, I jotted down a few things to write here later.
- Thousands on the streets, coming to leave candles in front of Presidential Palace, coming to see the coffins being driven to the Palace, going to the funeral.
- Russia being unbelievably kind. Putin was put in charge of the investigation, 12th April as the national mourning day in Russia, Medvedev coming to the funeral even though the volcano was polluting the air with it's ashes. Russian side guaranteeing help for families of victims - psychologists, translators, transport, hotel rooms, and everything that for three. You must know that Poland and Russia have been at odds with each other for decades now, with Russia attacking us during both World Wars, but those kind gestures helped us very much to look at Russian people in a kinder way. Let me just quote Witold Waszczykowski: "We did not expect this gentle, kind approach, this personal involvement from Putin." and Jerzy Bahr: "We can sense Russian solidarity at every step of the way.".
- Impossible number of countries all around the world arranging for a day of national mourning for our loss. An official mourning was proclaimed in 18 countries other than Poland. This includes countries of European Union and some odd ones such as 3 day mourning period in Brazil (apparently many Poles emigrated there at some point between World Wars).
- CNN covered the crash whole day long for at least 2-3 days.
Ouch, I see that this hiatus report will last a few posts. So here you are, the end of part one. ;)