JEFFREY HERF
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riography on the Holocaust, such as works by Lucy Dawidowicz and Raul
Hilberg, and the essays by Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel. At Auschwitz and
Auschwitz-Birkenau toda y, school chilrlren and visitors should be told the
clear, unambiguous truth about the destruction of European Jewry , rather
than the euphemisms of the oflicial interpretations of "victims offascism," in–
terpretations which ulemselves are an enduring inheritance of European anti–
Semitism.
Speaking honestly about the past has consequences for your
country's foreign policy today. Assuming that democratization in your coun–
try
proceeds as we all hope it does, Poland wi ll become even more of an ac–
tor in world politics, a state with its own fore ign policy. I would make a plea
that as soon as possible, a /i'ee r and more democratic Poland wou ld restore
diplomatic ties with Israel.
It
is wrong, morall y wrong, for this country ,
whose three million Jews were murdered by the Nazis, to participate in the
world's hostility to Israel. As you emerge as a state that can speak with its
own voice, I hope that you wi ll take every opportunity
to
tell the PLO what
successes a policy of compromise, of many small steps, and moderation can
bring. Who knows better than Poles and Jews what d evastation fanati cs
produce? As you have struggled for the right for free elections, I hope your
government will urge the Palestinians not to throwaway yet another
opportunity to participate in elections, and to solve their problems through
peaceful compromise. With your accomp lishments, you are able more than
ever to consign Poland's anti-Semitic tradition to the past. In 1989, your
affinities with Israel include not only the darkest days of Polish and Jewish
history. As you move toward democracy it makes no sense at all (or your
country not
to
have good relations with the on ly liberal democracy in the
Middle East.
We deradicalil.ed American intellectuals with our "second thoughts"
about the new left of the 1960s share with you a fresh appreciation of a
Western tradition orfreedom and equality.
It
is a common heritage. Wher–
ever people value conversation and round tables over violence and hatred,
they will cherish the Polish spring of 1989.
