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American Anthropological Association Meeting 2017, International press, Marsz Niepodległości, Nationalism, patriotism, Polish Independence Day, xenophobia
The Marsz Niepodlegołości, March of Freedom, has gotten a lot of attention from the international press, no doubt because of parallels with rising nationalism in other parts of the world. The march, organized by radical nationalist parties, was on November 11, Polish Independence Day. Started in 2010, it has attracted more attendees than the official Independence Day celebrations almost since it began.
2017 March of Freedom under the shadow of the Palace of Culture. Photo credit: Radek Pietruszka/European Pressphoto Agency
Here are links to a few articles. Unfortunately, some of them are behind pay walls.
From The Wall Street Journal, “Polish Nationalist Youth March Draws Thousands in Capital”
The next day, “Polish Leaders Condemn Nationalist March” was published.
From BuzzFeed: “March Led By White Nationalist Group In Poland Draws Tens Of Thousands From Across Europe“
From Politico, “White nationalists call for ethnic purity at Polish demonstration“
From The New York Times: “Nationalist March Dominates Poland’s Independence Day”
And a couple days later: “Polish President Sharply Condemns Weekend Nationalist March”
From The Guardian: “‘White Europe’: 60,000 nationalists march on Poland’s independence day”
And a couple days later: “Polish president condemns far-right scenes at Independence Day march”
And in Haaretz: “Tens of Thousands Join Far-right Nationalist March for Polish Independence”
My post about the march: Independence Day: The Emotional Tenor of Populism in Poland
I’ll give a paper about it at the American Anthropological Association Meeting on November 30.
Uncovering Jewish Heritage 
Hi,
I love your thoughtful posts. This one struck me particularly and in specific your comment, “See, I still hold out hope for progress–social progress where people rely on deliberation and negotiation to work out disagreements. They don’t immediately throw bottles and call each other names.” It totally resonated with me but not likely for the reason you might think. I believe our country has forgotten moderates like me, social liberals, fiscal conservatives. See I too, hold hope for progress but in this country I believe we are far from it. The right has moved too far to the right and simultaneously, the same for the left. What is most alarming for me is the group that self identifies or is labelled as Progressive in this country. It seems no one can express their opinion or have a rational debate before one party goes into hurling insults, lumping, and labelling with reckless abandon. Sadly, however, in my personal experience it is not the folks that identify themselves as Right or GOP who immediately devolve into this seemingly childish approach but rather the immediate response from those that claim to be liberals and worse, Progressive. I need to be clear by no means is this universal but it certainly seems in my sphere of influence is pervasive. For example, if I even remotely express that I am not unhappy with some of the antiestablishment messages and approaches currently happening in this country, I have been labelled a white supremast, anti Semite, Trumpette, Trumpster, Xenophobe, Racist, Misogynist etc. and that’s to my face and suspect a lot worse, behind my back. I have witnessed this to many others as well. Ironically, I think both parties need to implode and experience a renaissance. Neither party represents me or, for that matter. most people,, IMHO. Also, quite ironic is many times these comments come from very learned and long standing friends and acquaintances. My point and thought I should share prior to your presentation, is that this feels like an anthropological experience playing out in real time. I believe the worst part of what is happening isn’t in the streets, but the silencing of the moderate masses, like me. We have learned to be cautious and measured in all our commentary and dialog. It is why the polls were all wrong and Trump won the election and why the polls continue to be erroneous as moderates like me are either not being polled or if they are, not being open or truthful. This is beyond a dangerous slope we are on. When I first heard about the derogatory term the Chinese had for us, Baizou, I thought it was extreme but now I am beginning to wonder if they see us better than we see ourselves.
For reference, the Chinese call us “baizuo” or the “white left” on social media. Seemingly a bit of a juxtaposition since China has socialists and communists but not a direct equivalent to our liberal movement. independent of political affiliation, the majority of the Chinese remain nationalistic and anti-immigrant, Zhihu is a Chinese question-and-answer website ostensibly with a large % professionals and intellectuals users commented on a thread of “why well-educated elites in the west are seen as naïve “white left” in China”. In this thread, the comments indicated the term is used in a variety of ways. Generally, however, it was used to describe those who “only care about topics such as immigration, minorities, LGBT and the environment” and “have no sense of real problems in the real world”; they are hypocritical humanitarians who advocate for peace and equality only to “satisfy their own feeling of moral superiority”; they are “obsessed with political correctness” to the extent that they “tolerate backwards Islamic values for the sake of multiculturalism”; they believe in the welfare state that “benefits only the idle and the free riders”; they are the “ignorant and arrogant westerners” who “pity the rest of the world and think they are saviours”.
I thought you might find this interesting in comparing and contrasting some of the recent movements including in Poland.
XOXO Kimmy
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