Lech Walesa shocks Poland with anti-gay words

AP ^ | 3/3/2013 | VANESSA GERA

[MaryLou1]

"Walesa said in a television interview on Friday that he believes gays have no right to sit on the front benches in Parliament and, if represented at all, should sit in the back, "and even behind a wall."

"They have to know that they are a minority and must adjust to smaller things. And not rise to the greatest heights, the greatest hours, the greatest provocations, spoiling things for the others and taking (what they want) from the majority," he told the private broadcaster TVN during a discussion of gay rights. "I don't agree to this and I will never agree to it."

"A minority should not impose itself on the majority," Walesa said.

The words have enraged many."

[womanvet]

both -- and many other times.

Not only is Wałęsa Catholic, so is over 90% of Poland, which is why the US media could only find 4 people who claim to be offended

[Eagles6]

You’re correct. Should have said twice already.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Could we trade Barry and Michelle for Lech and his wife?

[Eagles6]

Despite the stereotype Poles are not stupid.

Now maybe if we offered them a couple of aircraft carriers too...;-)

[Waryone]

I doubt he shocked the people of Poland at all. I’m sure most of the people there agree with him.

[LibWhacker]

The words have enraged many.

The words have enraged many faggots.

There, fixed it. Leave it to the AP to twist the news to fit its twisted agenda.

[Neoliberalnot]

Lech’s truthful words should enrage no one who is not a pervert. The obvious overstatement of the headline is typical of the homophilic press.

[patrick3000]

Will Walesa also be brave enough to denounce all his countrymen who are illegally immigrating to the Western European countries and undercutting and taking jobs from the “majority” in those countries? I won’t hold my breath...

[Da_Shrimp]

Will Walesa also be brave enough to denounce all his countrymen who are illegally immigrating to the Western European countries

Actually, after Poland joined the EU on 1st May 2004, Poles could legally move to and work in any EU country.

[tanknetter]

The funny thing here is that his comments aren’t really “anti-gay”.

He’s clearly talking about a case where a minority is now making unreasonable demands of a majority. He’s just using gays as an example, and telling them that, as a minority, they aren’t always going to get their way and they need to accept that fact.

[Altura Ct.]

Did it ‘shock’ Poland?

The MSM lies again.

[Caipirabob]

Lech Walesa shocks Poland with anti-gay words

The article is crap propaganda. The truth is that people were rejoicing at his statements. I know this because people would equally take joy at a public expression of common sense here.

[Graybeard58]

Give em hell Lech

Like Harry Truman said, "I don't give em hell, I tell them the truth and they think it's hell".

[stanne]

The Poles remained Catholic through the Communist seige Post WWII. While Czech churches stand empty like museums, for instance, the Polish people are, in general, a model for devotion. Pope John Paul II was Polish. Survived the Nazi occupation of his country - his town- when he was, I think in college. "I would have resigned the presidency rather than legalize abortion". Catholic News Agency, 21 May 2009. No more awards for you Mr. W. List of awards and honors received by Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa's Coat of arms assigned by the Heraldic Authority of the Kingdom of Sweden on the occasion of his admitance into the Royal Order of the Seraphim. According to the intentions of the designer, Adam Heymowskiego, it refers to Polish national colors and the coat of arms of Gdańsk, of which one of the crosses was replaced by a fleur-de-lis, symbol of Our Lady of Częstochowa Apart from his 1983 Nobel Peace Prize,[71] Wałęsa has received many other international distinctions and awards.[9] He has been named "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine (1981),[72] The Financial Times (1980) and The Observer (1980).[9] He was the first recipient of the Liberty Medal, on 4 July 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[73] and that same year received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[74] He is the only Pole to have addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress (15 November 1989).[75] On 8 February 2002, Wałęsa represented Europe, carrying the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, in company with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Africa), John Glenn (the Americas), Kazuyoshi Funaki (Asia), Cathy Freeman (Oceania), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Environment), Jean-Claude Killy (Sport), and Steven Spielberg (Culture).[76][77] Two years later, on 10 May 2004, Gdańsk International Airport was officially renamed Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport to commemorate a famous Gdańsk citizen, and his signature was incorporated into the airport's logo.[78] A month later, in June 2004, Wałęsa represented Poland at the state funeral of Ronald Reagan.[79] On 11 October 2006, Wałęsa was keynote speaker at the launch of "International Human Solidarity Day," proclaimed in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly.[80] In January 2007 Wałęsa spoke at a Taiwan event, "Towards a Global Forum on New Democracies," in support of peace and democracy, along with other prominent world leaders and Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian.[81] On 25 April 2007, Wałęsa represented the Polish government at the funeral of Boris Yeltsin, former President of the Russian Federation.[82] On 23 October 2009, he spoke at a conference in Gdańsk of presidents of all European senates, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first free parliamentary elections in a former communist country – the 1989 elections to the Polish Senate. On 6 September 2011, Wałęsa rejected Lithuania's Order of Vytautas the Great as a result of alleged discrimination on the part of the Lithuanian government towards its Polish minority.[83]

[DH]

It is the truth, in Poland as well as here

---

It used to be that way but not now. It used to be that the majority wins and the minority loses. It’s just the opposite now.

As a matter of fact, it is so bad that it takes a ration of 1:100000000000000000000000 for the 1 to win the whole pot.

[DH]

Ooooooops! Ratio = ration

[Graybeard58]

Actually, after Poland joined the EU on 1st May 2004, Poles could legally move to and work in any EU country.

The E.U. just formalized it. We have our own informal North American Union, whereby any Mexican who slips across the border can work in the U.S.

I specify Mexico because, by far, that's where most of them come from.

[Servant of the Cross]

Lech Walesa shocks inspires Poland with anti-gay courageous words once again ...

fixed it.

[stanne]

I'll try that again: Walesa said: "I would have resigned the presidency rather than legalize abortion". Catholic News Agency, 21 May 2009. No more awards for you Mr. W. List of awards and honors received by Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa's Coat of arms assigned by the Heraldic Authority of the Kingdom of Sweden on the occasion of his admitance into the Royal Order of the Seraphim. According to the intentions of the designer, Adam Heymowskiego, it refers to Polish national colors and the coat of arms of Gdańsk, of which one of the crosses was replaced by a fleur-de-lis, symbol of Our Lady of Częstochowa Apart from his 1983 Nobel Peace Prize, Wałęsa has received many other international distinctions and awards. He has been named "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine (1981) The Financial Times (1980) and The Observer (1980). He was the first recipient of the Liberty Medal, on 4 July 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,and that same year received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is the only Pole to have addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress (15 November 1989). On 8 February 2002, Wałęsa represented Europe, carrying the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, in company with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Africa), John Glenn (the Americas), Kazuyoshi Funaki (Asia), Cathy Freeman (Oceania), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Environment), Jean-Claude Killy (Sport), and Steven Spielberg (Culture). Two years later, on 10 May 2004, Gdańsk International Airport was officially renamed Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport to commemorate a famous Gdańsk citizen, and his signature was incorporated into the airport's logo. A month later, in June 2004, Wałęsa represented Poland at the state funeral of Ronald Reagan. On 11 October 2006, Wałęsa was keynote speaker at the launch of "International Human Solidarity Day," proclaimed in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly. In January 2007 Wałęsa spoke at a Taiwan event, "Towards a Global Forum on New Democracies," in support of peace and democracy, along with other prominent world leaders and Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian. On 25 April 2007, Wałęsa represented the Polish government at the funeral of Boris Yeltsin, former President of the Russian Federation.[82] On 23 October 2009, he spoke at a conference in Gdańsk of presidents of all European senates, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first free parliamentary elections in a former communist country – the 1989 elections to the Polish Senate. On 6 September 2011, Wałęsa rejected Lithuania's Order of Vytautas the Great as a result of alleged discrimination on the part of the Lithuanian government towards its Polish minority.

[BwanaNdege]

“Could we trade Barry and Michelle for Lech and his wife?”

That has my vote!

One of the great privileges of my life was the opportunity to hear Pres. Walesa speak, in person, and to shake his hand while introducing my teenaged son.

I made sure my son understood that Lech Walesa, along with Pres. Reagan & the Pope, was responsible for pulling the props out from under the crumbling Soviet Empire.