Na poczatku 2000 r. siedzielismy przy polskim kosciele w Los Angles prezentujac polityczne sprawy. Zupelnie nieoczekiwanie podszedl do nas mezczyzna, ktory wlasnie wyszedl po mszy, zagadujac o czyms nie majacym nic wspolnego z tematyka mojej i kolezenstwa prezentacji. Pokazal on nam “Time Almanac 2000” zawierajacy profanacje polskiej flagi i zapewne nie mial pojecia, ze zapoczatkowal naglosniona kampanie. Z owym mezczyzna nie mielismy scislego kontaktu, ale podjelismy sie wysilku walki z profanacja naszej narodowej flagi. W przeciagu kilku miesiecy, do TIME zostaly wyslane setki listow, wykonano tyle samo telefonow. Do kampani przylanczyli sie ludzie z Ambasady w Waszyngtonie, osrodkow KPA w Chicago, NY, niektorych organizacji polonijnych, oraz bardzo wielu indywidualistow. W kampani przeciwko profanacji flagi, nieoczekiwanie, udalo sie zjednoczyc Polakow z roznymi swiatopogladami i z roznych stanow. Listy, telefony i emaile byly ignorowane przez TIME lub podawano nam telefony i adresy niekompetetnych osob. Wyslalismy finalowy list, ktory zbiegl sie z paroma podobnymi od polonijnych grup. Zaznaczylismy w nim, iz ignorowanie przez TIME naszych wnioskow i takie jak zmienianie flagi –mamy nadzieje- bledy drukarskie rujnuja reputacje tego wydawnictwa jako wiarygodnego zrodla informacji. Wrescie pod adresem Poloni nadeszly przeprosiny ze strony “Time Almanac 2000” i gwarancje ze przyszle wydanie bedzie zawieralo prawidlowa flage Polski. Jest to sukces wspolnej kampani ruchow polonijnych i jednoczesnie dowod na to, ze Polacy na obczyznie potrafia bronic godnosci ojczyzny.
Dziekuje wszystkim, ktorzy przyczynili sie do tego sukcesu.
Przemyslaw B. Sobanski, campaign coordinator
Przemyslaw B. Sobanski
PO BOX 21128
Long Beach, Ca 90-801
USA
bobi2000@hotmail.com
Borgna Brunner, Editor TIME Almanac 2000
20 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
We are writing concerning "TIME Almanac 2000" millennial edition, where on page 521 it contains a depiction of the Polish flag shown as a combination of two stripes: white and black.
We greatly regret the error made in portraying the Polish flag in our almanac and will correct it in next year’s edition.
Recently we have come across a printed copy of “ Time Almanac 2000” where on page 521 it contains a depiction of the Polish flag shown as combination of stripes; white and black.
The Polish flag has always have been composed of white and red colors. A national flag is one of the most sacred symbols of any country and Poland is not an exemption in this matter.
We are asking Time Inc. to issue a statement with apology and a correction note to the Polish community. We also demand to let us know what Time Inc. is doing about this whole situation.
We certainly do hope, there will be no need for any (legal) action against
"Time" - pending, that Time take appropriate steps that should be taken in
these circumstances.
In previous editions of the almanac the colors of the Polish flag were presented correctly. Last year, however, we had a different printer handle our color section, which resulted in several errors in our flag section.
We also have a Website (www.infoplease.com) that features much of almanac’s content. The Polish flag is correct on the site.
Again, we apologize for this error and assure you it will be corrected in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Borgna Brunner
Editor
The Time Almanac.
Please be informed that the Polish flag has always been composed of white and red colors. A national fag is one of the most sacred symbols of any state and Poland is not an exemption in this matter.
Hoping that was only a printing error we are kindly requesting the removal of all copies of “Time Almanac 2000” from bookstores, as well as issuing a statement with apology and a correction note to the Polish community. We certainly do hope, there will be no need for legal action against “Time” pending, that you take appropriate steps that should be taken in these circumstances.
Best regards,