| Abstract [eng] |
The article was inspired by the visit of Pope Francis on September 22-25 in 2018 to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. During the visit, the Pope Francis spoke about the idea of preserving national identity: “It is obvious that from the political point of view you are part of the West... but the part of that tragic history came from the West – from Germans, Poles... To have this in mind means to know that the firmness is necessary, the firmness not only to belonging to the West, but also the firmness of having the identity of ourselves" (https://www.lrytas.lt/pasaulis/įvykiai/ 2018/09/26/news/popiezius-pranciskus/). Mentioning the Poles, the Pope apparently had in the mind the occupation of Vilnius. The research of the pupils of South-Eastern Lithuania, conducted in 2016 by the Lithuanian Institute of Culture Policy, which was headed by the author of this article, allows us to look at the current situation. Since this publication is dedicated for the issue of the social integration in Lithuania, the study on influence of the Poland on the identity of Polish pupils may be relevant. The subject of the whole study was broader - the cultural needs of pupils, but the influence of Poland was revealed indirectly: by identifying the difference in participation in excursions of Lithuanians, Poles and Russians to Poland. In April – May 2016, 1141 pupils were questioned in 19 schools in Vilnius, Švenčionys and Šalčininkai districts. 66% of the respondents in Vilnius district in the first place identified Lithuania as their fatherland, 26% identified Lithuania as their fatherland in the second place, while did not identified Lithuania as their fatherland 8% of pupils. The question is: "If the every twelve person who does not indicate Lithuania as their fatherland is big or small number?" In our opinion, it big number, since the same 8 per cent of respondents in the first place as their fatherland named the other country. Most often it was mentioned Poland, sometimes Russia or Belorussia. In addition, almost every third respondent in the second place considers his or her fatherland another (not Lithuania) country. The views of Lithuanians and Poles are rather different. If for 75% of the Lithuanians respondents, Lithuania are in the first place as their fatherland, and for 18% in the second. Meanwhile, 59% of Lithuanian Poles said that their fatherland is Lithuania in the first place, and for 33%, Lithuania as their fatherland is in the second place (in the first place as their fatherland indicated Poland). 7% of Lithuanians and 8% of Poles did not indicate Lithuania as their fatherland either in the first or second place. Poles in the schools with education in Polish language have a much better chances to visit Poland, and the number of visits in Poland is directly correlated with the naming of Poland as their fatherland. Almost 2/3 of the Polish pupils respondents who went on a trip to Poland, indicated another country as their fatherland (an absolute majority indicated Poland). Only one-third Lithuanians who went on a trip to Poland, indicated another country as their fatherland. Of course, an excursions to Poland be considered a decisive factor in such an identification with Poland, but this data quite clearly highlight the differences in the identification of the Lithuanians and the Poles. Thus, a data of representative study of pupils from Southeastern Lithuania (Vilnius, Švenčionys and Šalčininkai districts) raise the question: is the Pole is a Lithuanian Pole (a citizen of Lithuania), or a Pole, who live in Lithuania and identifying with Poland? According to the data of a qualitative survey, the inactivity of Lithuanian state institutions does not encourage the development of the attitude of Lithuanian Pole as a citizen of Lithuania. Attitude to identifying Lithuania as a fatherland is often treated as old approach, does not relevant to the present-day Europe. Often, a pupils living in Vilnius region naming Poland as his fatherland. Poland's support for schools with Polish language education is more effective than the influence of Lithuania itself in Vilnius region. Obviously, there are still dominated two different concepts: Poland is based on the concept of one country – the two Republics, where Lithuania was in the role of a younger brother, and Lithuania is “get stuck” in the memories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The intensity of these two different concepts can hardly be changed in the nearest future. It is necessary to realize that for the Poles who lives in the Vilnius region their own village or town are primarily considered as their fatherland. This is not only Lithuanian, but also their land. However, they live in Lithuania, therefore, must be formed a perception that their fatherland is not only a native land, but also Lithuania. As the qualitative research shows, unfortunately, this formation is only imitated, as many measures on the development of South-Eastern Lithuania are only adopted, but not implemented in the practice. |
