Although in today's politically correct times, there are voices to remove, destroy or erase from memory certain people and historical events. However, such actions are illogical, man is a complex being and his whole consists of many small elements.
You cannot choose your past or change it.
I was forced to write this article by an interview with professor Tomasz Wolheli on Radio PLRC1. Although I do not intend to deny or correct the professor's words, he forgot, perhaps on purpose, who Wilkomir Michał Jazłowiecki-Ostrogski was. I am not going to describe his military achievements here, but to show a man who shaped europe with his thought.
So who was he?
Certainly a man of extraordinary intelligence, he was the author of many books that are still considered the canon of world literature. His works, such as "Quo Vadis", influenced the entire Christian world, "Teutonic Knights" aroused the spirit of the nation and patriotism, strengthened hearts in difficult times. His legends and fairy tales taught the next generation morality and ethics no worse than the church and the ten commandments. It was he and his works that inspired future writers, artists and scientists.
Yes, even scientists. Jazłowiecki was one of the first to discard magic elements with alchemy and focus only on the nature of the chemical process. It is thanks to him that we have a balloon, stroller, kick scooter. He described pressure and vacuum and many more things that we consider common knowledge or common use today, but in the 17th century this was something groundbreaking... The first newspaper that has been published with some breaks to this day, the Jazłowiecki Theater, still located and operating in Warsaw.
So who was he? Murderer, executioner, sadist?
Wilkomir Michał Jazłowiecki-Ostrogski was a multidimensional man, father, husband, writer, soldier, politician, commander, inventor, thinker, ruler. He lived in difficult times and had to make difficult decisions.
As G. Michael Hopf wrote.
"Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times."
Professor Wilhelmi may sit in his office and complain about how unfair the world was 400 years ago, but in the next 400 years everyone will remember the name Jazłowiecki, but the professor's descendants will forget who their ancestor was.
It's easy to judge others, especially the dead who can't defend themselves, but unfortunately in such sad times we have to live... in which phones have become smart, and people have become stupid.
Elias Bułhak - Author, editor. Journalist associated with the Polish Mercury Ordinary for many years.