Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A genuine tragedy

This past weekend a plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, the Polish Defense Minister, and a number of other Polish government officials crashed in Russia en route to the 70th anniversary commemoration of the Katyn massacreAll aboard were killed.

This is a genuine tragedy.  Lech Kaczynski was truly one of the good guys.  He was a fervent anti-Communist in the 1970s at a time when being an anti-Communist in Poland was an act of genuine courage (or insanity).  Kaczynski's activism landed him a stint as a political prisoner.  He was a member of Solidarity almost from its inception.

This man stood bravely in the face of the ultimate destroyer of men - Totalitarianism - and came away a winner.

He was active in Polish politics from that nation's liberation from the Soviet Bloc until his death.

Genuine men of courage like President Kaczynski are to be honored, not just in death, but in all times.  They endure persecution and prison so that others might be free.

Godspeed, President Kaczynski!

*------------------------------------*
*------------------------------------*