The Palace of Culture and Science
You may find this hard to believe, but it is true. This magnificent palace, (an actual palace) built by Joseph Stalin, Uncle Joe the man of steel, is NOT a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yeah, I know. It’s incredible. The title of the building even has the words “culture” and “science” in it. UNESCO designates a place a World Heritage Site if it has cultural, historical, or scientific significance. So, what is the problem? Are these UNESCO people anti-Stalin? According to Stalin and his friends, this is perfectly good cultural and scientific material. The UNESCO people don’t agree? Why?
Go inside this gift to the people and on the ground floor are beautiful, antique cars.
Warsaw 202P Pickup truck, 1960.
Nice old car. The 1920s?
And Last but not Least
La Piece de resistance…this chandelier. Luxury for the Masses.
Here’s the joke. What is the most beautiful place in Warsaw? The 30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science. Because from there you can see everything except the Palace of Culture and Science. It is a cold-looking building. There is nothing sentimental in any part of it. There is nothing there to love. A megalomaniac built it. He was also a terrorist and murdered millions of his people. Would I accept a gift from someone like that? Yes, I would. Then I would destroy it after he’s dead and gone.
Dismiss What Insults Your Soul
“re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul…”
~ Walt Whitman ~ Preface to Leaves of Grass, 1855 edition
There are sculptures all around the building. They are examples of socialist realism. Look it up. On second thought don’t look it up. Once seen, it cannot be unseen. Here we have an “idealized worker”. I am not a worker. You are not a worker. None of us are workers. We are people who have jobs, but we are not workers. Why? Because there is much more to us as people than work. Don’t call me a worker. It insults my soul.
And what is that woman’s head doing at his feet?
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