16 Poland's Time for Tolerance: An Op-Ed

        Nobody wants terrorists-including the Poles-but not every foreigner is a terrorist. Yet Poles seem to always treat them that way. Sixty-nine percent of Poles believe that only white people should live in Poland? The reasoning goes back generations and is not entirely unfathomable when you look at it from a more historical perspective. But this deeply rooted racism still needs to go. Poland will be a lot better off if it can forego the racism of the past and accept foreigners into the nation as equals.
Many of modern day Poland’s racism origins come from the time during and after the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism was not only popular, but admirable. When the few surviving Jews returned home from the Holocaust, they had an impossible time trying to re-integrate. Their homes, property, everything, was destroyed or gone. Poles were not happy to see them come home. The violence and Pogroms against Jews directly following the Holocaust did not make a lot of sense to a lot of people, and yet the severity and reality of it is too intense to ignore. Jews were still murdered, sometimes by former acquaintances. A lot of it comes down to the fact that they were a different race with different values and beliefs that were not welcome in a very nationalistic, white, Catholic nation. And so many Poles stood by and watched happily as Jews were mocked, beaten, and even killed. Most even approved wholeheartedly and believed that purging their nation of Jews was a perfect excuse for their persecution.
Even without the Holocaust though, Poles would be racist and especially anti-Semitic because of all the problems society tends to associate with them. For two centuries, Polish Nationalism has partially been defined by its belief in the threat of Jews to their nation. You can imagine, then, that overcoming racism in Poland is easier said than done. But the point is that it needs to be done. Try to understand a lot of the psychological tendencies for Polish racism. What held back anti-Semitism for the last 50 years has been guilt for the Holocaust. However, as the memory of it fades away, Poles are feeling more and more that the Jews are threatening and infringing on the stability of their society.
       The Poles themselves feel very victimized by other nations, for example, Russia during the communist regime. Because of this, Poles cannot empathize with the Jews as victims because they are focused on their own victimization. They start to see Jews as a threat to their economy as well as their religious standards. They more easily believe in the Jewish conspiracy that Jews are trying to take over the world and will take over their government if they are not careful. Knowing these motivations proves why Poles do not want Jews or other refugees in their country. They associate all the problems in their economy with foreigners and in their minds foreigners become the enemy.
Education is the key to overcoming racism and anti-Semitism. Poles believe rumors and conspiracies about Jews that make them seem like monsters. What needs to happen is a true/real understanding of who they are. The dehumanization of them makes them an easy target. They need to be seen not just as “Jews”, but as equal human beings. That perspective can only be achieved if one is taught about them in a humane light and forced to put themselves in their shoes. That way they can connect with them on a very human level.
Looking at the roots of racism, mostly in anti-Semitism, helps us understand the same racism now shown towards Syrian refugees. The European Union is trying to force Poland to accept more immigrants. But Poland is resisting. Between 2016 and 2020, Poland will only accept 100 Syrian Refugees. They have turned away thousands at their borders. The Polish government is resisting the EU’s refugee quotas, not because of political reasons, but because the people are so against it. The pressure for politicians to stay in office is forcing them to give in to the pressure of the people. The trouble here is that Poland has received tens of millions of Euros as well as ample aid for development and food and clothes from the EU. It is time for them to return the favor.
Creating a more tolerant society is beneficial on a global scale; if Poland accepts more refugees and actually tries to integrate them, the nations of the EU will be better off and most importantly, more refugees will have a place to go. While the racism in Poland may be logical, it is not justified. It is clear that their nation and economy, not to mention, morals, will be better when they accept those who are not conventional Polish into their nation.