On Monday I had the wonderful honor of meeting Lech Wałęsa in person. He was one of the leaders of Solidarity- a rebellion in Poland that led to the toppling of Communism and the Soviet Union. Later on he served as President of Poland.
He is a wonderfully intriguing historical figure, who is legendary but also very human. I conducted a massive project on him and the liberation of Poland from the Soviet Union. I stayed up late enjoying his autobiographies, A Way of Hope and The Struggle and the Triumph, and even read them while walking down the halls! Learning about revolutions and the people behind them is one of my main political/historical academic areas. It is very interesting to trace the steps and causes of revolutions. I enjoyed Polish movies, food, and decided to start learning Polish.
I've written to Wałęsa and wasn't expecting to actually meet him!
Oh the joy I had when I found out he was coming to Princeton University which is relatively close to my hometown.
I immediately signed up for tickets, got an amazing second row seat (the first row was reserved) and got to listen.
Here are some of the best parts of his speech.
The Presentation
I wasn't expecting this much laughing! Even my dad was laughing! Lech has a way with humorous metaphors, and analogies.
I realize humor does not always translate cross-culturally, as I discovered using American humor and people are like "what??" but Wałęsa's jokes translated well during this particular speech.
I can see how he captivated the shipyard workers during the strike- humor is a wonderful tool to incorporate in speeches, and it helps to break the ice. He said things like "you all better learn Polish the next time I come!" and talked about his love of coffee. I also loved how much energy Wałęsa has!
How does he do it?
"Coffee! Coffee wakes me up, is the best and then I asked for a second cup and it shows how wise I am."
Nobody Has all the Answers
He encouraged us to go out there and search, find answers and talk to people. Nobody has all the answers to life's questions but the more people we talk to, the more ideas we get and the more face to face conferences and discussions we have could bring the world together. We need solidarity, we need to talk to other humans and find out about their dreams, goals and knowledge. With this in mind, we can work together with other humans to make the world a better place.
Also among these lines, Wałęsa said there is always a common foundation. Even with somebody you have nothing in common with- try to find that common foundation and base of discussion.
You Can Change the World
Alright I know this has been said time and time again, but it is true. Lech Wałęsa was just another shipyard electrician who wasn't even intending to be involved in politics- but now he is a household name and in history books. You have access to technology, vast amount of resources and books. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn and to grow. Even the unpleasant ones can make you into a stronger and better person. Taking the tools you were given, find a problem and work to change that problem. Wałęsa also said another interesting statement "democracy is measured by two means." Part of it is the laws and constitution governing a country-- but most of it is you! The more people make a voice and defend democracy, the more democratic a country is.
The best preserver of democracy is to talk with your fellow people, to learn about their problems and to defend the democratic process.
Wałęsa used many metaphors and personal stories in his speech, at the end he posed for pictures with everybody- and I had a selfie with him!
On a personal note, this speech really spoke to me. As somebody who loves democracy, and wants to understand people it really motivated me to have more meaningful discussions and to seek solidarity.
Thank you Panie Prezydent!
