Culture Wars: Hearts, Minds, Hate and Ice Cream

Michael Hedges July 22, 2019 Follow on Twitter

Hate speech takes no quarter. Ugly just becomes uglier. Those in media picking that low-hanging fruit often fantasize life that never was or, and worse, punishing all who disagree. And there is opportunity in culture wars; readers, listeners and viewers flock to their self-fulfilling silos.

Last week, Polish right-wing weekly newspaper Gazeta Polska made public it would distribute with its next print edition stickers depicting a rainbow flag covered by a cross with the words “LGBT-free zone” (strefa wolna od LGBT). This followed the annual Equality Parade in June that drew an estimated 50,000 participants in Warsaw, reported Reuters (June 8). The right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, in concert with the conservative Polish Episcopal Conference, oppose gay rights as a “threat to our identity.” The issue is central to PiS campaigning for the coming parliamentary elections.

Gazeta Polska was founded in 1993 and published by Independent Polish Publishing House (Niezalezne Wydawnictwo Polskie), which also publishes Gazeta Polska Codziennie (daily) and a monthly magazine. There is an online edition and a video production company, noted for producing several feature documentaries about the Smolensk aviation crash conspiracy theory promoted by the PiS. The publisher also sponsors several “clubs” around Poland to enhance revenue. Recent circulation data shows Gazeta Polska print edition reaching an average of about 20 thousand per week.

Voices critical of the Gazeta Polska sticker campaign came to the fore. “The normal world values diversity because it is a value in itself,” said opposition (Civic Platform) member of parliament Joanna Mucha to news radio station Tok FM (July 20). “Making exclusion zones reminds me of unpleasant historical situations and is an introduction to the exclusion of other groups of Poles. It is shameful.” She also mentioned that Gazeta Polska is “financed exclusively by the State.”

“German fascists created Jew-free zones,” noted Warsaw deputy mayor Pawel Rabiej, quoted by BBC (July 18). “As you can see this tradition finds worthy supporters, this time in Poland,” suggesting complicity of PiS politicians and the church. He has referred the matter to the prosecutors office as a possible violation of Polish criminal code making punishable the incitement of hatred. And he called out the personal responsibility of Gazeta Polska chief editor Tomasz Sakiewicz.

“Freedom means that I respect your views and you respect mine,” responded Mr. Sakiewicz. “We oppose only the imposition of views by force. Being a gay movement activist does not make anyone more tolerant.” He also complained of the familiar “intolerance of people with conservative views.”

“I am disappointed and concerned that some groups use stickers to promote hatred and intolerance,” said US Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher, a political appointee, in a statement. “We respect freedom of speech, but we must stand together on the side of values such as diversity and tolerance.” A Polish government spokesperson called Ambassador Mosbacher’s statement “unwelcome.”

In response to all this Newsweek Polska is distributing a different sticker: Hate-free zone. It features a Polish flag with a smiley face. “You are a fascist newspaper,” said chief editor Tomasz Lis, announcing the competing sticker (June 19) with no detected smile. “You can take me to court. I will not change my words.”

Hoping to turn the tide of all this hate, ice cream franchise Ben & Jerry’s is turning out a “ Freedom Zone” button for Polish customers featuring a rainbow flag and large heart.

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