Barack Obama his speech during the Impact'25 event in Poznań began with the memory that as a young man, looking for his path and beliefs, he was deeply inspired by the Solidarity Movement in Poland. – The current moment is not the first time that Americans should derive inspiration from other places in the world – emphasized the former American president.
Poland could be a translation for the USA? “You can see the transformation”
– Every country, every nation has its own specific stories, myths, struggles, tensions, conflicts, but we also have many in common – said Obama. – We need to know why one country goes in one direction, and another country goes in another. We all have the same challenges and when I travel and talk to different leaders from different countries, I still get inspiration and try to create connections between what is happening in one and what happens somewhere else – he added. – When I arrived here in 2020, and the last time I was in Europe in 2016, I tried to remind Europeans how unusual it was that the continent, which was destroyed, cruded, became The most peaceful and wealthy community in history in just one generation, but it should not be treated as certain – emphasized the former president USA.
In Poland, there is a transformation that brings new prosperity, freedom and is reproduced all over the world
– he added.
Barack Obama was very diplomatically referred to the presidency of Donald Trump, but given the fear in Europe, since he took office, he tried to calm down. – I believe that the United States still has the role to play in strengthening the old order. And I don't think it is a secret that I do not agree with some decisions that Washington is currently making. But I have one message that I want to convey when I am on this side of the Atlantic. The basic sense of solidarity that most Americans feel towards Europe depends not only on our government, but on our citizens – he assured. He pointed out that the inspiration for US citizens may be the behavior of Poles after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on a full scale and opening borders for Ukrainians.
Poland and the USA are in a similar situation? Barack Obama praises the government of Donald Tusk
Interestingly, the former American president indicated the positive isolationist policy of Donald Trump. – This moment teaches us that progress in democracy, human rights, climate change and all the big problems we face, they cannot be solved only by the United States. We enter an era where if we intend to keep progress in all these dimensions. Europeans must recognize that they cannot rely only in the United States in terms of our defense – he emphasized, indicating, among others on the issue of defense. He added that in Europe there could be a belief that if something did not work properly, the US would “come” and it would fix it.
The former American president referred directly to the current political situation in Poland. – Poland goes through similar polarization and political divisions as the United States. In the upcoming presidential electionsand also in the future parliamentary electionsthese differences will not disappear overnight. Democracy is not easy. However, I believe that progressive politicians in Poland better understand the views of some conservative, deeply religious, often rural communities. If you want to be effective and build wide coalitions that will be able to realistically implement the program, you must listen and try to understand their perspective – emphasized Barack Obama.
What's more, the American president agreed with the thesis, which Timothy Snyder set, that Americans should take an example from Poland, which built a wide worldview coalition, which was the result of, among others mass protests of citizens. – That's exactly how we should do Barack Obama nodded.
Barack Obama: We also made mistakes
– I believe that some of the far -right parties, not only in the United States, but also around the world, are very dangerous because of the ideas and politics they promote. But I also think that those with whom I sympathize with, on the left or center -left side of the political scene, also made some mistakes. One of them was, in my opinion, too much sense of confidence, self -confidence, and sometimes judging others in the belief in our moral right – added former US president. He called for compromises regularly during his speech.
The American president also emphasized the value of the real transfer information and loyalty to the truth. He also pointed to the value of the law. – Without the rule of law, people can lie, steal, cheat and even beat others And if they are powerful or rich enough to make it succeed, no one will be able to do anything about it. The rule of law does not eliminate all human weaknesses, but they give everyone a better chance that everyone will be treated fairly – said Barack Obama.