NIGDY WIECEJ - NEVER AGAIN, issue 6, winter 1998
SUMMARY:
"NIGDY WIECEJ" - "NEVER AGAIN" is the only magazine in Poland dedicated to the problem of racism and fascism. Issue 6 brings a variety of articles putting the struggle against racism in a historical and international perspective.
The editorial written by M.Kornak informs about the newly released compilation record "Music Against Racism" featuring Poland"s top rock artists which is a part of an anti-racist music campaign launched by "NEVER AGAIN" Association. The editor thanks those who support the "NEVER AGAIN" team despite death threats coming at us from nazis.
The Letters section (p.2-5) contains numerous messages of support for "NEVER AGAIN" and the anti-fascist movement, most notably for our campaign "Let"s Kick Racism Out Of Football”. In his letter the editor of "Green Brigades" monthly discusses alleged links between some New Age groups and fascists. The chairman of Laotan Students" Organisation urges the international community to protest against human rights abuses in his country.
The Documents section (p.6) includes an open letter by the Catholic Intelligentsia Club in Warsaw distancing itself from the anti-Semitic views expressed by Father Jankowski. There is also an open letter to the President of the City of Warsaw signed by the Anti-Nazi Group and the Youth Organisation of the Polish Socialist Party calling for an end to fascist literature sales in the streets of Warsaw. A. Bodnar argues that both Polish and international law demands a ban on nazi groups ("Prawo jest po naszej stronie" - "Law is on Our Side", p.6).
Articles by J.Puchan and S.Zgliczynski (p.7) discuss the failure of the far right parties contesting the recent national election in September 1997 and analyse their prospects for the future.
J. Pastuszek (p.8) writes about the stiring up of anti-Ukrainian prejudice in the border area of Przemysl.
The article "Skandal na Kongresie FZ" - "Scandal at the Green Federation Congress" (p.8) is the editor"s comment on the outrageous invitation by the Polish Green Federation for the notorious anti-Semite Marek Glogoczowski to speak at their Congress in September 1997.
"Katalog wypadków" - "The List of Incidents" compiled by M.Kornak (p.9-14) is a regular feature listing the activities of the far right in the recent months.
On p.14 we announce the Brown Book project ("Program Brunatna Ksiega"), an initiative aiming to record and condemn racist and anti-Semitic remarks made by "respected" public figures.
R.Zenderowski points to the complex nature of the cultural roots of fascism ("Falsz prostych odpowiedzi" - "The Falseness of Easy Answers", p.15).
In his interview Father M.Czajkowski argues that the Catholic Church should not tolerate racism ("Nacjonalizm jest grzechem" - "Nationalism is a Sin", p.15-17).
M.Kornak ("Moze nie tak zaraz do gazu, ale..." - "Well, they shouldn"t be gassed, but...", p.17-19) writes about his own experience of discrimination suffered by the disabled and about the increasing number of attacks against disabled people perpetrated by the extreme right.
T.A.Olszanski ("Polska dla Polaków?" - "Poland for the Poles?", p.19-24) presents numerous ethnic minorities living in Poland.
A.Deja ("Polski faszyzm przedwojenny" - "Polish fascism before World War 2", p.24-28) writes about the history of fascism in Poland.
K.Pankowska ("Doktor dusz:Janusz Korczak" - "The doctor of souls: Janusz Korczak",p.29-31) reminds the heroic figure of Janusz Korczak, doctor, writer, and founder of an orphanage for Jewish children, murdered by the nazis during the war.
In "Kim jest Boleslaw Tejkowski?" - "Who is Boleslaw Tejkowski?"(p.31-32) G.Bogusz reveals less known facts about the contemporary fascist leader"s involvement in the Communist Party under the previous regime.
"Czasami tolerancja jest tchórzostwem" - "Sometimes tolerance is cowardice" (pp.32-34) is an interview with Schizma, an alternative rock group with strongly anti-nazi views.
In the section "Wykopmy rasizm ze stadionów" - "Let"s kick racism out of football" (p.34) there are quotes from famous footballers condemning racism.
On the same page there is a report by A.Buchta who participated as representative of "Never Again" in an international anti-racist conference organised by the UNITED network in Slovenia.
"Katalog wypadkow - swiat" - "The List of Incidents - World" (pp.35-38) compiled by A. Paluch documents the recent activity of the far right worldwide.
"Wielkie falszerstwo, czyli rzecz o Holocaust denial" - "The Big Lie - Holocaust Denial" by M.Warchala (pp.38-39) gives an account of the development of so-called "historical revisionism", a pseudo-academic branch of nazi ideological tradition.
"Prawdziwe oblicze Trzeciej Pozycji" - "The Real Face of Third Position" by R.Pankowski (p.40) sketches out the background to Third Positionist ideology pointing out its anti-Semitic core.
On p.41 the figure of Michael Walker, a dangerous nazi theorist infiltrating the green movement, is presented. This article is based on a feature published in Searchlight magazine.
"Ulubione postacie kultowe FN" - "The favourite cult figures of the FN" (p.42) describes the manipulation of French national symbols by the fascist Front National.
"Nawrócony na krzyzu" - "Converted on the Cross" by A.Wisniewski (p.43) is a story of an American ex-nazi who decided to undo his racist past.
"Wszyscy i tak wiedza o co chodzi" - "Everybody Knows It" by W.Szeda (p.44) is a report on the nazi music scene in Germany.
In " Przeciw twierdzy Europa" - "Against Fortress Europe" (p.44-46) K.Majchrzak discusses cases of institutionalised racism in the German republic.
There are also reviews of tapes, magazines and books of an interest to the anti-fascist reader.