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THE SARMATIAN REVIEW Vol. XXIV, No. 1 January 2004 Debating “first things” in Polish Benedictine Missionary Sister Efrema with Damian, a special care child. Photo courtesy of the Rainbow House in Ełk, Poland, an institution for handicapped persons aged 0-30 maintained by the Polish Benedictine Missionary Sisters. 1002 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW January 2004 by a Texan rather than a Varsovian The Sarmatian Review (ISSN 1059- Karcz. 1019 or a Cracovian. Second, it 5872) is a triannual publication of the Polish Institute After the Holocaust: Polish-Jewish Conflict of Houston. The journal deals with Polish, Central, in the Wake of World War II by Marek Jan incorporates Dr. Hannan’s and Eastern European affairs, and it explores their Chodakiewicz (reviewed by Danusha V. knowledge of several Slavic implications for the United States. We specialize in Goska) . .1021 cultures and several branches of the translation of documents.Sarmatian Review is The Noonday Cemetery and Other Stories by indexed in the American Bibliography of Slavic and Gustav Herling (reviewed by Janet G. Tucker) Christianity. Third, it contains some East European Studies and in P.A.I.S. International . 1022 unique insights, such as that of the Database available on OCLC FirstSearch. Subscription price is $15.00 per year for individuals, A Man Who Spanned Two Eras: the story of largely suppressed story of how the $21.00 for institutions and libraries ($21.00 for a bridge pioneer Ralph Modjeski by Józef Council of Florence and its decrees individuals, $27.00 for libraries overseas, air mail). Glomb (reviewed by Ashley Fillmer) . 1024 were initially accepted in Muscovite The views expressed by authors of articles do not Our Take: American Catholic Parochial- necessarily represent those of the Editors or of the ism . 1026 Russia, and then rejected owing to Polish Institute of Houston. Articles are subject to About the Authors . .1027 the tsars’ desire for power. editing. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials Announcements and Notes . .1028 are not returned unless accompanied by a self- Among the reviewers we again Thank You Note. .1028 addressed and stamped envelope. Please submit your welcome Dr. Danusha Goska, a contribution electronically and send a printout by air talented academic from Indiana mail. Letters to the Editor can be e-mailed to <[email protected]>, with an accompanying who has written her second review printout (including return address) sent by air mail. for us. John Guzlowski’s review Articles, letters, and subscription checks should be From the Editor of Kenneth Maillard’s book argues mailed to The Sarmatian Review, P. O. Box 79119, Christina Manetti’s article that Clarinet Polka practices a Houston, Texas 77279-9119. demonstrates that Polish discourse subtle one-upmanship (called The Sarmatian Review retains the copyright for all has come of age: it has become Orientalism by Edward Said) with materials included in print and online issues. Copies for personal or educational use are permitted by section capable of criticizing itself. regard to Polish Americans. This 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Permission Specifically, it has begun to note is done without ever mentioning the to redistribute, republish, or use SR materials in name of Edward Said or touching advertising or promotion must be submitted in writing that the self-congratulatory attitudes to the Editor. which some World War II survivors on his methodology: a feat that Editor: Ewa Thompson (Rice University). assumed were not entirely justified. surely deserves praise. Editorial Advisory Committee: Janusz A. Ihnatowicz We need to correct information (University of Saint Thomas), Joseph A.Kotarba The reference here is to such stories (University of Houston), Alex Kurczaba (University as Jan Józef Szczepaƒski’s “Boots” given by the translator of Gustav of Illinois), Marcus D. Leuchter (Holocaust Museum published in Tygodnik Powszechny Herling’s (a.k.a. Gustaw Herling- Houston),Witold J. Lukaszewski (Sam Houston State University), Theresa Kurk McGinley (North Harris in 1947. At that time Polish Grudziƒski’s) The Noonday College), Michael J. MikoÊ(University of Wisconsin), discourse began to note that victims Cemetery: Herling was not the Jan Rybicki (Kraków Pedagogical University), founder of the Paris monthly Dariusz Skórczewski (Rice University), Tamara could also be perpetrators while Trojanowska (University of Toronto), Piotr Wilczek remaining victims; that survivors Kultura; Jerzy Giedroyc was. (University of Silesia). can be perpetrators. Of course the Herling was one of Kultura’s Copy Editor: Cyndy Brown (Rice University) collaborators, and he published Web Pages: Lisa Spiro (Rice University). timing of “Boots” was wrong: the Web Address: <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~sarmatia>. story was published at a time when there often until he and Giedroyc Sarmatian Council: James Burns (Houston), Iga J. far more significant crimes were parted ways due to disagreements Henderson (Houston), Joseph A. Jachimczyk (J. A. Jachimczyk Forensic Center of Harris County, Texas), being committed on Polish soil by on policy. Marek Kimmel (Rice University), Leonard M. the Soviet occupiers and their We also would like to acknowledge Krazynski (First Honorary Polish Consul in Houston), the long-term project in which James R. Thompson (Rice University). collaborators—some of whom had been, again, victims. Professor Michael MikoÊ has In this issue: The ability to make these fine engaged: that of providing a multi- SARMATIAN REVIEW INDEX. 1002 distinctions is a sign of a discourse volume compendium to the study of Christina Manetti, Tygodnik Powszechny and the Polish literature in the Anglophone Postwar Debate on Literature in Poland . 1004 coming of age. It is significant that in Kevin Hannan, Polish Catholicism: A Historical Poland, this coming of age occurred areas of the world. The volume under Outline . .1008 in a Catholic weekly, however review deals with Romanticism. BOOKS Received. .1016 restricted its Catholic capabilities Professor Andrzej Karcz gives it a Clarinet Polka by Keith Maillard (reviewed by were by the Soviet occupiers. sensitive reading. Two more volumes John Guzlowski). .1018 will be published, thus bringing a to a Polish Romantic Literature: An Anthology by Kevin Hannan’s essay on Polish Michael J. MikoÊ (reviewed by Andrzej Catholicism is remarkable for closure Professor MikoÊ’s large several reasons. First, it is written project. ∆ 1004 SARMATIAN REVIEW January 2004 Russian migration Number of people who migrated to Russia between 1989 and 2002: 11 million. Percentage of persons of Russian ethnicity among these immigrants: 98 percent. Number of people who emigrated from Russia in the same period: 5 million. The number by which Russian population has decreased in recent years: one million people per year. Number of people from other countries who applied in 2002 to work in Russia as guest workers: 500,000. Source: Russian Nationalities Minister Aleksandr Zorin, as reported by AFP (Moscow), 8 October 2003. Immigration to Poland Estimated number of illegal emigrants in Poland in 2003: from 200,000 to 500,000 persons. Ethnic groups most frequently represented: Armenians, Vietnamese, Russians, Ukrainians, and Chechens. Number of Vietnamese working in Poland as small traders: 20,000. Amnesty conditions offered to illegal immigrants in 2003: first, a one-year permit to work; second, a renewable two-year residence card; after 10 years a possibility of requesting Polish citizenship. Source: Maja Czarnecka of AFP, 8 October 2003. Russian-Polish visa agreements Chief principle of protocols signed between Russia and Poland in 2003 concerning visa agreements between Poland as member of the EU and Russia as nonmember: strict reciprocity in procedures, prices, and demands. Execution by the Russian side of these agreements: disregarding them, Russia demands HIV certificates from truck drivers, and written invitations from Russia or confirmed hotel reservations. Source: Michał Pawlak in Donosy, no. 3587 (8 October 2003). Polish economy as reflected in opinion polls Percentage of Poles who described their economic situation as “good” in an October 2003 OBOP poll: 23 percent. Percentage of Poles who described their economic situation as “average” and “bad,” respectively: 48 percent and 29 percent. A similar OBOP poll conducted in 1992 yielded the following: 11 percent, 45 percent, 44 percent. Source: Michał Jankowski in Donosy, 9 October 2003. Russian economy as reflected in opinion polls Percentage of inhabitants of the Russian Federation who described their economic situation as “good’ or “very good” in September 2003 WCIOM poll of 2,400 representative persons: 6 percent. Percentage of inhabitants of the Russian Federation who described their economic situation as “average” and “bad,” respectively: 55 percent and 36 percent. Source: Marcin Wojciechowski (Moscow), as reported by Gazeta Wyborcza, 10 October 2003. Corruption in Russia and the former Soviet republics Rating of Russia in the October 2003 assessment of Transparency International (www.transparency.org): 83rd out of 133, a tie with Mozambique. Ratings of Estonia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Georgia, respectively: 33rd place for Estonia (the high- est in the former USSR); Ukraine, 106; 124 for the remaining countries (a tie with Cameroon and Angola). Source: Jonas Bernstein of Russia Reform Monitor, no. 1083(8 October 2003). Ukrainian-Russian economic relations Percentage of Ukrainians opposed to Ukraine’s proposed joining of