After the veto - Poland historically is not a "regressive" state

Dear Editor,

In answer to your leader ("Poland and Hungary's wrecking tactics are cynical and irresponsible" Guardian 18.11.2020) which refers to Poland being transformed by the current government into a "regressive outlier", please remember that this is only a very temporary phase in Poland's one thousand year history. Although Poland has always been a religious country it is also the only Christian country to harbour Jewish refugees from Western Europe since the Middle Ages, enjoyed four centuries of parliamentary government and tolerance of other religions before it was partitioned, introduced the first liberal constitution in Europe in 1791, fought for progressive causes around the world as well as for its own independence in the XIXth century under the slogan "For your Freedom and Ours", inspired Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude", was the first country to say "no" to Hitler, ran the most efficient underground state against German Nazi occupation and launched the "Solidarity" trade union movement in the 1980's which inspired the whole world. It will inspire the world again soon.

Yours faithfully,

Wiktor Moszczynski