Solidarność jako piękna pamiątka

Solidarity as a beautiful memorabilia I have written this reflection as both, a social movement researcher and a Polish citizen at the same time. The text is the analysis of the uses and abuses made not only by politicians who have interpreted Polish history of the eighties, but also, by the leading trade union who defines itself as the only successor of Solidarity, while in fact, Solidarity in the eighties was not only a trade union. It was a total, three-dimensional social movement encompassing citizens, workers and independence. Thanks to this unique synthesis, there took place a great breakthrough which covered not only Poland but also the whole soviet camp. Growing amnesia forces us to put the question: who, in todays’ reality, needs a real memory of Solidarity’s input to Polish history? Answering this question it is worth to exclude political parties and their allies fighting for power. It is fascinating to observe how contemporary Polish society is changing and what are the scopes of discussion among the new political actors emerging every year. Naturally, the focus is more on the future than on the past. The heritage of Solidarity wanes gradually but still remains alive among some of social milieu composed of three different groups: the biggest one is old Solidarity militants looking behind with melancholy and bitterness, the second are young leaders of new social movements who are conscious of the historical role of Solidarity as a social movement as well as the differences between the old and new times. Last but not least we should remember about the new generation of scientists who are focused on Solidarity phenomenon. Most of them are historians rather than sociologists.