Written by Gerard Hoefling

Posted by Michael Sauers

July 18, 2024

I am writing to address a very disturbing comment that was made to me at a recent family outing. While attending a birthday party at a Phillies game, I was approached by a couple who were close friends with the birthday-boy. While waiting for the game to begin, this couple and I were chatting about Poland. They knew I live and work at the University of Warsaw annually for weeks at a time. In fact, this year was my eighteenth teaching there in an international graduate program.

While much of the conversation was what might be expected in terms of, “Do you like it?”, “What’s the food like?” and so on, they did make one comment that got my attention. They wanted to know my thoughts on the war in Ukraine and did it concern me when I am in Poland. After I responded, they shared that they live in a neighborhood with “many Polish-American friends”, and those friends told them, “Poles hate Ukrainians and do not support the war.” I have absolutely no reason to doubt their Polish-American friends said that, but I do have eighteen years of experience that allows me to assert that their friends are absolutely incorrect.

While Poles, like Americans, are politically diverse and share and articulate many political philosophies, they are overwhelmingly pro-Democracy with the second oldest codified Constitution in the world (ours is the oldest). After years of living and working in the Polish capital of Warsaw and traveling extensively to other cities such as Krakow, Gdansk, Poznan, and Wroclaw, the sentiment regarding the war and Ukrainians was the same everywhere. While there are Poles plagued with the same flaws of racism, nationalism, and isolationism as some Americans, as with most Americans most Poles condemn authoritarianism and rally to neighbors in need.

Polish citizens have welcomed literally millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian aggression. My Polish friends in Warsaw have opened their homes, properties, and businesses to their Ukrainian neighbors while many others have and continue to spend their free time running supplies into Ukraine and bringing people and animals out. Others have gone to the combat zones to fight or provide aid. The government, to its’ credit, has removed border restrictions and provides free transportation as needed. Poles are overwhelmingly supportive of NATO, and deeply committed to combating Putin’s aggression.

So, while those few Polish-American friends mentioned at the Phillies game may think that “Poles hate Ukrainians and do not support the war.”, my experiences have convinced me of quite the opposite. Most Poles need to be honored and applauded for all of their ceaseless support of Ukraine and never-ending condemnation of and resistance to Putin, while some Americans here should be condemned for doing the opposite.

In closing I will say that long before the Russian invasion and ever since, my Polish friends and colleagues have repeatedly stated, “Americans and the West underestimate Putin.” They were and are correct.