Lech Walesa began his work in the political arena in 1980 as an electrician - and ended up as the president of Poland.
Standing on the top of a bulldozer during the Lenin Shipyard strike in Gdansk, Poland, he gave a speech that inspired workers to demand their right to develop trade unions that were free and independent, and sparked the country’s Solidarity movement.
Walesa was sent to jail for opposing the communist government in Poland, which didn’t allow trade unions.
“I want you as the ‘superpower’ to listen to my lecture, and listen to others to shape the future,” Walesa said to a crowd of about a 1,000 at Wharton Center’s Great Hall. “Today, what the whole world needs to do is participate in shaping their future.”
As president of Poland, Walesa stressed the United States is a place of freedom - and with that freedom comes responsibility.
Walesa spoke in Polish throughout the event, and his words were interpreted to English with the help of a translator.
“I personally find a lot of parallels between Walesa’s Solidarity and our current labor laws. We all have a lot to learn from this man,” no-preference freshman Ryan Farrell said.
Whether the interest was personal or related to a student’s major, MSU students and others who attended said they anticipated with interest what Walesa had to say.
“Since I am specializing in Russian and Eastern European Cultures, I recognize how this freedom fighter helped to free Poland,” international relations and history senior Amy Shamroe said before the lecture. “I think that the talk will be quite fascinating.”
Walesa spoke about the global role of the United States in comparison to his native country.
He explained Poland was a victim of communism, and through his labor movement called Solidarity, he was able to organize essential labor unions.
Walesa is the first speaker in the World View Lecture Series, sponsored by the financial corporation TIAA-CREF. The series features globally significant figures.
“This is the second year we have done this,” said Sharon Beardman, the corporation’s regional vice president. “And it gives us an opportunity to give back to the community, students and staff.”
Carrie Hoover can be reached at hooverc4@msu.edu.
