dedicated to Dr Kelly
Preface - February 2008
It is a matter of knowing the truth. It is a difficult task to form a correct estimate of one's surroundings, largely on account of our very familiarity with them. Nevertheless it can be asserted confidently that no one in the future, even if they discover some new truth about our present times, is ever likely to be as familiar with them as we ourselves are today. And no one will feel the loves and hates of these times as we do. It is for that reason that our greatest responsibility consists in seeing and facing everything, past, future, present, near or afar in terms of Here and Now.
The 44 entries represent random thoughts jotted down at the time, over a period of eleven years between 1994 and 2005 being a personal commentary on the events taking place. They deal with two subjects: first, the unravelling of the political landscape of the period, in order to understand for oneself the meaning of the events and secondly, developing gradually a philosophy of Idsanism, presenting the concept of Idealism Sans-frontieres as the new rhythm of the world - in order to look for solutions to the apocalypse now. The concluding two letters, post-dated to 2015, are not part of the story; they are a bid to glimpse the alternatives which we may face in the future, as a result of the events which are considered.
The concurrent story of the rebuilding of our family Manor and farm in Poland, which was stolen by the Nazis in 1939, nationalised by the Communists in 1945 and brought back in 1994, is written from notes of the work-diary. It represents a historic circle: of old tradition, nigh destruction and glad renewal, which gives a sense of hope, and is a special canvass for the thoughts.
"It seems to me that things have now arrived at such a crisis as requires every man plainly to utter his sentiments on the inefficacy of the existing religions, no less than political systems for restraining and guiding mankind. Let us see the truth whatever that may be" Shelley's letter to Horace Smith 1st July 1822.
February 2008
