Spotkamy sie w Chicago

May 3rd is Constitution Day. It is the most significant National Holiday in Poland not connected to the Church calendar. From a World perspective the Polish Constitution is recognized as the second most important document in modern democracy following closely at the heels of the American Declaration of Independence signed in 1776.

The Polish Constitution was written less than 2 years after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. It brought citizens of towns the rights and privileges of the nobility and the peasants benefits of civil reforms.

While the American experiment in democracy started in the colonies thousands of miles from the Crown, Poland's attempt was in the seat of autocratic Europe where thoughts of power to the people were unacceptable to Royal regimes of totalitarian rule in surrounding countries.

The radical socialist and author of the Communist Manifesto Karl Marx wrote, "It [Polish Constitution] was created by a privileged class, the gentry. The history of the world knows no other example of such generosity by the gentry." Along with the reforms, the first Ministry of Education in the world was created with the aim of universal educational opportunities across classes of people.

It was very progressive and it was also the source of pride during the later decades, especially during the 19th century when Polish insurgents and Polish intelligentsia referred to the Constitution as their source of inspiration in the struggle to end occupation during the partitions which wiped Poland off the map for 123 years.

Once the largest Empire in Europe, Poland had fallen weaker and weaker by the 18th century for several reasons including the pre-Constitution institution of the liberum veto or 'free vote' - which in principle permitted any parliamentary deputy to nullify all the legislation.

Stanislaw August, Poland's last king, proceeded with cautious reforms. Men of great intellectual calibre, adopted in 1791 the Constitution which is unanimously described by historians as one of the proudest achievements in Polish history.

Neal Ascherson wrote in his The Struggles for Poland, given a chance, the Constitution would have given the state real authority to last. The trouble was that the idea of reforms in Poland was viewed with growing suspicion in neighboring countries. In effect, the Constitution of May 3rd remained in force for only a year before being overthrown. In 1793, the Second Partition of Poland – this time by Russia and Prussia - took place and what was left of the Polish Commonwealth was a small buffer state with a puppet king and a Russian army.

The celebration of May 3rd as a state holiday was banned during the period of Partitions. After Poland regained its independence in 1918, it was declared a holiday, to be banned again during World War Two. During the communist period, it lost its legal standing as a holiday in 1951 but for the Polish nation it never ceased to be a source of hope and inspiration. Small wonder that Radio Free Europe, which broadcast uncensored news to Poland during the darkest days of the Stalinist period and for several subsequent decades, was launched on May 3rd, 1952 - and that its signature tune was based on the Third of May Mazurka – 'Welcome, morning star of May'. During the communist period, especially the Solidarity revolution, the Third of May was a day of anti-government and anti-communist protests. After the collapse of communism in 1989, it was restored as a state holiday.

As a person of Polish ancestry I appreciate the philosophy and daring behind the creation of the Polish Constitution. Liberty and Freedom have been the hallmark of Polish political philosophy straight through the monumental successes of the Solidarity movement, which defeated Communism. To me the Constitution of Poland is every bit as significant as our American Declaration of Independence and the contributions by Pulaski and Kosciuszko to the American Revolution in advancing the concepts of democracy we enjoy today in the Western World.

This coming weekend I have a choice. I can either stay in town and go to the Cinco de Mayo party at my local Polish fraternal or go to Chicago for the Constitution Parade and ancillary events. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the end to Napoleon III French domination of Mexico at the battle of Puebla 52 years after Mexican Independence. Polish Constitution Day celebrates the ideals of democracy in a way universally applicable to the human race. I don't need an excuse to throw back margaritas and munch on tacos at a Polish fraternal that seems to be oblivious to an important part of our heritage as much as I feel an obligation to remember and celebrate one of the true cornerstones of democratic freedom. Spotkamy sie w Chicago.