Emotions took over

In the last few years I managed to control my emotions quite well. This does not mean I am totally cool and controlled, after all I am not a fish, there is blood in my veins. But today I sort of lost it.

I was going to buy a Sunday newspaper. Approaching the newsagent I heard swearing coming out of the shop. The man working in the shop was arguing with a young man. “F” word was flying frequently. This was rather unusual and I wondered if it is OK to enter the place. The argument did not stop even if there were few customers inside. Three women. I entered, got my newspaper, put myself in the queue and waited till the salesman stops arguing. Rather unusual and confusing situation. And then one of the women in the queue said with anger “Ah, those migrants!” I just noticed that the young man was Asian. I am not sure why I reacted to this statement in rather assertive way. It could have been a reaction related to accumulated frustration triggered off by racist mood in Europe and especially Poland. I was shocked, sad and frustrated listening to the news in the recent weeks. And here, such a comment coming from a nice looking elderly lady. This was too much for me and I had a bit of a speech. “Migrants have nothing to do with this unpleasant situation. The sales person is Australian and swears as much as the other. I am a migrant myself and do not swear, am well behaved and make contribution to Australian life”. The second lady was on my side judging from her smile and facial expression. She started “ Such people…” I must confess that I interrupted (not such a good behaviour I claimed to practice) “There are no SUCH people, there are only PEOPLE, we are all people.” My transaction was completed so I left the place.

The reason why I write about it is because I was surprised to hear such a comment from a nice looking lady. I was also surprised at my own reaction. It seems that nationalistic sentiments are raising its ugly heads in many places of the world. But in Australia??? The place build on migrants? 

Today is an important and sad day for my second country, Poland. This is the parliamentary election day. It is almost certain that Law and Justice Party will win and this means that Poland will change dramatically. Not for the better in my opinion.

The Guardian says:

 "Call it the Polish paradox. As voters head to the ballot box on Sunday to pick a new parliament, the mood is decidedly at odds with the facts.

The country has taken in few refugees during Europe’s year of desperate migration – yet the campaign is marked by introspection and xenophobia (“migrants carry very dangerous diseases,” said the head of the frontrunner rightwing party last week).

The Polish economy is one of Europe’s most robust – but the talk is of mismanagement, tax avoidance and surrender to Germany. Poland should be a confident, big European player but it appears mired in fear, recrimination and an almost pathological antipathy to the idea of change."

And the people who have such views will win. They talk already about forthcoming recriminations directed to people who think differently.