Independence Day - Welcome to Poland from Anna's blog

I’m not really a fan of politics so I never attend demonstrations. But this day was different and I felt the urge to go to Warsaw in spite of the rainy day. Perhaps, it was my curiosity compelling me to go. Partly, it was because I had nothing better to do this day. And partly because I still believe in the ideal of democracy and free speech although as years keep passing by, the ideal looks more and more bogus. I guess I must be getting old.

But, perhaps, a little about the background. The government wants to pass the law that would limit the foreign ownership of the Polish media. In practice it would make the main oppositional TV network owned by the US company lose its broadcasting license. The deeper reason is nearly two decades long fierce and hateful competition between two main political parties.

Still, any attempt to silence a dissenting voice, shut down a different opinion doesn’t sit right with me. Somehow, I felt my unimportant presence there was some sort of a patriotic duty.

Being there felt weird. It was a bit similar to the church service. But the church of some alien religion. It was peaceful, cheerful even. There wasn’t too much shouting. Mainly speeches, some music, a little bit of dancing, singing of the anthem, of course, hand clapping and showing Vendetta/Victory symbols.

There were also celebrities; popular journalists, politicians and also the former prime minister.

Some photos I've made:

It must have been a good idea to be there because when the event started, it even stopped raining. It seems though the most interesting show took place elsewhere. These are the protesters on the roof of the Ministry of Culture:

Now that was enough about feeling the tiny part of history. Time to get back to mundane daily activities. There is one small detail that got my attention and will probably get stuck in my memory; one old woman wearing a white and red flower crown.