Unfortunately, after the era of Hope, we entered the Vanity times.
At one time, after the fall of decaying communist regimes, it seemed we were entering an era of Truth. And this Truth—in everything, as we thought—would give Hope that the nations of Europe, exhausted by the civil wars of the 20th century, would enter an era of Peace.
The main problem was the Franco-German conflict, which had been ongoing since the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. From the humiliation of France and the triumph of Germany. Then World War I brought the humiliation of Germany and the triumph of France. Then World War II—again the humiliation of Germany. The question arose—what next?
This vicious cycle needed to end somehow.
And international mechanisms were created to ensure this era of Peace and reconciliation.
In the sphere of security, to prevent European peoples, especially the French and Germans, from lunging at each other’s throats, NATO was established—at least within it, conflicts on the scale of the two world wars should not occur.
In the economic sphere, the Coal and Steel Union was created, later transforming into the EU. This was meant to regulate economic contradictions.
And in the humanitarian and ideological sphere, numerous joint cultural and educational projects like Erasmus in science or Arte in television were launched—they were supposed to alleviate old grievances and speak in the name of Truth.
I mention some Truth here with a capital letter several times. Back then, we still believed in our rationalist illusions that there was some common Truth for all of us—French, Germans, Poles, and Ukrainians—that if we knew and declared it, everyone would live in accordance with it. How naïve we were…
Around the turn of the millennium, we began to exit the era of Enlightenment and rationalism and enter the era of post-truth, of complete relativism and amoralism.
It turned out that there is no single fact-based Truth. That is, it probably exists, but it has become irrelevant.
There is my truth, your truth, and finally, a button truth—meaning there is no Truth as such. Paraphrasing—if there is no Truth, then anything is possible…
Truly, as it is written in the Revelation of John of Patmos, “Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations” (Apocalypse 21:7).
At one time we (and I am writing about the circles around the tiny civic organization called “Ji Magazine”) tried to transfer the successful experience of Franco-German reconciliation to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Here are a few examples of such efforts:
Ji Magazine, No. 10 Ukraine-Poland. At the end of the century. 1997.
Ji Magazine, No. 11 Ukraine-Poland. Dialogue at the Border. 1998.
Ji Magazine, No. 12 Ukraine-Poland-France-Germany. Second Dialogue on Borders. 1998.
Ji Magazine, No. 14 Ukraine-Poland. Role and Place in European Integration. 1999.
And it was not only about publishing magazines and books, but also attempts to actively work with various communities in both countries — more precisely, in four countries: Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and France. In other words, it was hard “field” work…
Then, there was the epic reconciliation at Lychakiv Cemetery involving almost the entire intellectual elite of Poland and Ukraine at the time, led by Jacek Kuroń (Jacek Jan Kuroń, 1934–2004) and Myroslav Marynovych.
I wrote this name – and realized that to today’s adherents of post-truth, these important names mean nothing…
For them, these are matters of long past days.
But at the time, it seemed that this process of mutual understanding, like the case of the Polish magazine “Kultura” in Paris led by Prince Jerzy Giedroyc, would shape the general atmosphere of Polish-Ukrainian relations. We were forming a Ukrainian-Polish intellectual context. Not just us, of course. But when Ukrainian elites enthusiastically squandered the post-socialist legacy of the USSR, we, like Don Quixotes, lived in the illusion of Truth, which we tried to convey to the Ukrainian public to the best of our abilities.
We did not overlook either the good or bad pages of Ukrainian-Polish relations. Such as the catastrophe that occurred in Volyn in 1943–1944.
Here are a few examples of such efforts:
Magazine Ї, No. 28 Volyn 1943. The Fight for Land, 2003.
Magazine Ї, No. 74 Volyn Wolyn 1943, 2013.
These are materials and hundreds of seminars, in which we tried to comprehend what happened from the perspective of Truth.
But the goal was not only to find the Truth, but most importantly — to give a chance to the Future, unhampered by the demons of the past.
However, the era of titans of spirit like Jerzy Giedroyc (Jerzy Władysław Giedroyc, 1906–2000), Mieroszewski (Juliusz Mieroszewski, 1906–1976), Bohdan Osadchuk (1920–2011), Czesław Miłosz (Czesław Miłosz, 1911–2004) has passed.
The leaders of nations have shrunk.
The era of the Vulgar has arrived.
The troubadours of post-truth and immorality have emerged — and not just in Poland and Ukraine: Vladimir Putin, Silvio Berlusconi, Nicolas Sarkozy, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban — what a delightful bunch! I wouldn’t invite them over — they would steal a spoon.
And post-truth lies not only in falsehood but in telling half-truths, only one’s “truth.” This is what Karol Nawrocki does today. As well as a vast number of adherents of simple solutions.
On top of this, there is the real fear of the masses, the rabble that has foamed over and emerged from the underground… They know their half-truth… From the same source…
Let us not carry only our half of the truth — the tragedy was on both sides of the border, and so I anxiously observe my old acquaintances, both Ukrainians and Poles, to see if they have been affected by this plague. Because the leprosy literally fills the air.
Therefore, to those of us who have not yet been infected by the decay of post-truth, it is important to speak the Truth.
In all these Ukrainian-Polish matters, as much as we have the strength to speak the Truth — “Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’; ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).
But standing by the Truth is no easy task…
And those who don’t feel the strength in themselves should better remain silent… Though this too is complicity in half-truth…
But it is important not to throw out our Future with the waste.
Our Future, both Ukrainian and Polish.
And that’s where it’s heading.
In fact, the Future of this modest corner of the world, which we proudly call Europe, is in question today.
Vampires have emerged and are preparing for us the hell of mutual struggle.
Those who naively think that the hell of the 20th century cannot be repeated are mistaken.
We have already seen the savagery of homo sapiens in Bucha and Donbas… And the savagery has no bounds…
They revel in mutual hatred.
So, I return to the eternal struggle between Truth and post-truth. There is nothing new in it – this battle has been ongoing since ancient times, as evidenced again in the Revelation of John from Patmos – “…now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour…” (Apocalypse, 2:18-19).
On the cover: Lviv. Cemetery of the Polish Eaglets. Photo from open sources
