Post by Jaga on May 23, 2009 10:44:43 GMT -7
brought to an end communist rule, by growing a moustache!
The most iconic image of the fall of communism in 1989 throughout central and eastern Europe maybe the dismantling of the Berlin Wall by joyous Germans. But Poland has its own iconic images from the struggles of the 1980s: the red, squiggly logo of the Solidarity trade union; and the many images of Lech Walesa throughout the decade are burnt into the memory. But the most striking thing about Walesa’s appearance - then and now - is the hairy appendage that clings to his upper lip: his moustache.
So in memory of the partially free and democratic elections on June 4, that followed the Round Table talks in 1989 - ending decades of communist rule - why not grow a moustache?
The initiative has been launched by a photographer in the central city of Lodz. The action is named ‘Wasolidarnosc’ - a mixture of the Polish words for ‘moustache’ and ‘Solidarity’.
Photographer Marcin Polak says that a moustache is still the symbol of a stereotypical Polish male - though its popularity has waned over the last two decades - and is an inseparable element of Polish history. Big moustaches were once the attribute of Polish nobleman and later have been favoured by many of the great men of Polish culture and politics.
www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/news/artykul108761_grow_a_moustache_for_june_4.html
The most iconic image of the fall of communism in 1989 throughout central and eastern Europe maybe the dismantling of the Berlin Wall by joyous Germans. But Poland has its own iconic images from the struggles of the 1980s: the red, squiggly logo of the Solidarity trade union; and the many images of Lech Walesa throughout the decade are burnt into the memory. But the most striking thing about Walesa’s appearance - then and now - is the hairy appendage that clings to his upper lip: his moustache.
So in memory of the partially free and democratic elections on June 4, that followed the Round Table talks in 1989 - ending decades of communist rule - why not grow a moustache?
The initiative has been launched by a photographer in the central city of Lodz. The action is named ‘Wasolidarnosc’ - a mixture of the Polish words for ‘moustache’ and ‘Solidarity’.
Photographer Marcin Polak says that a moustache is still the symbol of a stereotypical Polish male - though its popularity has waned over the last two decades - and is an inseparable element of Polish history. Big moustaches were once the attribute of Polish nobleman and later have been favoured by many of the great men of Polish culture and politics.
www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/news/artykul108761_grow_a_moustache_for_june_4.html
