Jagiello Unchained

Live Free or Die

Living in Manhattan with a dog gives one ample opportunity to stroll the pathways of Central Park and take it all in, as it were, greeting fellow travelers and rejoicing in the majesty of Olmsted & Vaux's creation. Passing under the Belvedere Castle and hugging the Turtle Pond you eventually come face to face with King Jagiello mounted on his trusty steed, swords held high. Imposing? You bet your ass it is - in fact, you can hardly believe this 15th Century warrior has burst through the time-stream to confront your skinny, latte drinking, poop picking-up, sorry self. The king confronts you and shames you and challenges you. Are you going to slink off to your cube and read green screen Bloomberg stock prices or create PowerPoint charts for the rest of your day or are you going to rally and fight your enemies unto death? What's it going to be you soulless husk of a man? Live or die?

One thing's for sure - The Polish people are badass warriors who will not be broken no matter how dire their circumstances. They're survivors who know the true meaning of sacrifice and faith. I think I know someone who spent a little time contemplating this monument and all that it represents. Such reflection stirs the body, mind and soul to formulate profound and uncomfortable questions - questions many people simply don't want to ask themselves or others.

“The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive,” he said. “Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”

What's this guy getting at? Islamic Terror or something deeper and more corrosive? The answer could be found 850 km to the west - across the blood soaked fields and forests of western Poland and deep into uber-civilized Deutschland where "protestors" participated in a “Welcome to Hell” party to celebrate the concept of "solidarity world" and all that it demands. I know what King Jagiello do to the filthy, cloaked rabble in Hamburg and he wouldn't use water cannons and pepper spray to do it.