On the 14th March the Lodz City Hall hosted a Teenage protest concerning the amount of anti-semetic graffiti and general anti-semitism that exists in Lodz. Lodz (Poland's second largest city) is regarded as being the most anti-Semitic city in Poland. The City's mayor was even vocal about the issue. However, how much has changed? Everyday I go past vulgar graffiti, which one would think could be easily white-washed over. However, little seems to be done about it. It is left to scar the city. If the authorities truly wished to deal with the situation, surely a few cans of paint and a band of willing workers from the city's unemployed could be found. - But no, the graffiti stays. Is this a case of public abhorance, while privatly the city's management accept and condone the anti-semetism that prevails.
There was some nai gibberish at theend of our block. Left for ages and I kept thinking: "why doesn;t the council wash it off?" And then I finally had a flash of genius (it takes me a while - I am a bit dim). "Why don;t I wash it off?'
ReplyDeleteExcept it would not wash off. So I painted a Mickey Mouse over the top of it.
Don't wait for someone else to do something in this country, Varus. We have to just do it ourselves.
Fair point,
ReplyDeletebut i live in a village with none th this stuff. Its when i am driving through Lodz that i see it. And before you say it, no i'm not going to go all over Lodz painting over graffiti :)
Yup, Direct Action 'tis the only way. A can of spray paint or a marker are always handy items to have close at bay. Or just make sure your nails aren't too short so you can peel off all the Wielka Orkiestra heart-shaped stickers that have been defaced with swastikas and star of david symbols. When I wait for buses I'm kept busy peeling but I don't go out of my looking for them cause I know they find me even easier.
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest thinking about how you'd like to transform the next racist symbol you come across - it's one of those things I think we should all thin about every now ans then, like pondering about how you'd react to someone walking out in front of a car/bus within your distance and capacity to make a move and potentially help them get the fuck out of the way. As the Irish boy scouts day: Bi Ullamh (Be Prepared);)) Though while you're pndering make sure you don't end up stepping out in front of a tram.
You are both right ofcourse, but perhaps the reason i put this stoy up was more to do with the symbolic public outrage by the council, which was inevitably followed by nothing. We should all do our part, but that douesn't remove the seeming air of acceptance that pervails in many places. This is a deeprooted problem, as time and again i am surprised by the comments of educated and mature members of Polish socitey and their views towards 'the other' who ever they maby be.
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