Push for equality, Walesa urges

The St. Cloud Times
By Kari Petrie
kpetrie@stcloudtimes.com

COLLEGEVILLE — The United States must use its superpower status to help reform democratic principles to ensure everyone has an equal voice, reformer and former president of Poland Lech Walesa said.

Walesa spoke through an interpreter to more than 1,200 people Wednesday at St. Johns University.

Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity labor movement that challenged communism in Poland, was the first elected president of that nation since World War II.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is widely credited with helping to end communism in Europe.

Walesa came to St. Johns to share his experiences and the lessons he has learned.

With a healthy dose of humor, Walesa said the United States must help the world move into a new phase.

He pointed at the growing economic power of China as an example of the changes ahead.

China, a communist country, may gain more sway than the United States and Europe because of its large population.

A change in democratic principles is needed to bring everyone in the United States and Europe an equal voice or every family must work hard to have 30 children, he joked. Thats the only way we will win a referendum.

Walesa also gave a brief history of Poland and how its citizens overthrew the communist government.

Once you touched the foundation, the whole thing collapsed, he said.

But it took a lot of work and a lot of risk for the dissidents to gain support and a voice, Walesa said. At first, people didnt have the courage or knowledge to stand up to communism.

In the crowded Abbey Church, a mixture of students and older adults listened intently. Before the event, many said they came to hear Walesa out of curiosity.

Ingrid Smiles of St. Joseph said she was interested in what Walesa would say about the state of the world.

Its very unusual to hear a Nobel Prize winner speak, she said.

Krista Seipel, a student at College of St. Benedict, said she attended for a class.

I want to hear about why he made certain choices and how they affected his life, she said.

Steve Klick of Glenwood has admired Walesas work for years. Klick was on his way to Tennessee for business and stopped to listen to the former president speak.

Ive respected his work a lot, he said. I kind of wanted to see what he looks like.

Nick Hayes
University Chair in Critical Thinking
Quad 451B, SJU
(320) 363-2623

Kathryn Holt
Research Assistant

Norma Koetter
Administrative Assistant, University Chair in Critical Thinking
(320) 363-2770
nkoetter@csbsju.edu