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The battle of communism v. silk screens

Konstanty Gebert, Polish journalist and Grinnell visiting professor, talks about life under communism and life at Grinnell

by Abby Rapoport

An ardent proponent of democracy, Polish journalist Konstanty Gebert has traveled across the world, from Kosovo to Burma, helping political dissenters oppose oppressive regimes. He is spending this semester as a visiting professor at Grinnell, teaching two classes and working on his own independent projects. The father of four reflects on his time during the Communist era and how he sees journalism as a key to democracy.

S&B: What brought you to Grinnell?

Gebert: Grinnell has a central European presence ... Todd Armstrong brings students [to Eastern Europe] and once asked me to give a talk. Some time later, Todd contacted me and asked how I would like to teach at Grinnell. And I seized on the idea because I would finally have the opportunity to finish all the books I started writing. So Grinnell wanted me and I was eager to come.

S&B: What did you know about Grinnell before coming?

Gebert: I vaguely knew about it from the brief information Todd gave me. But I had never been to Iowa before. My mindset was this: I will teach and have the rest of the time for myself, which is a luxury I have not had in more than 10 years. I talked to some East-and West-Coast friends. And they'd respond with all kinds of compassionate sounds and say "Well, it's only for a semester."

But frankly, no matter what I would still have the boon of time. And the kids [at Grinnell] are great. They may not ask as many questions as I would like them to ask but they keep me on my toes. The best part of teaching are the questions. I'm bored to death of what I have to say [because] I know it all. The fun part is when I get a question and have to think.

S&B: What do you cover in your role as a reporter?

Gebert: I've basically covered the former Ottoman Empire ? My second beat is Russia, mainly Siberia and then also odds and ends-Burma, Mongolia. I also cover human rights and Jewish issues ? It's fairly broad ? I am also the Polish representative for Taube, a foundation for Jewish life and culture ? I'm also a media consultant for Media Development Loan fund, an international media body that helps independent media in difficult circumstances.

S&B: What did you do in Poland under Communism?

Gebert: I was active in democratic opposition. I was actually one of the founders of the Free Trade Union in Warsaw ?When we had a military coup in Dec 1981, I went underground. That's what started my journalism career. [The newspaper I worked for] had the widest circulation [of underground newspapers]. We printed 23,000 copies using silk screen printers. The kind you use to print t-shirts. You don't need to worry about power cuts and you can hide everything quickly. I'm actually almost religious about silk screen printing ? I've taught it in Kosovo and to Burmese refugees ? It's like a driver ought to know first aid even if they don't ever have to use it. Democrats are duty bound to know silk-screen printing, even if they never have to use it.

S&B: What does it mean to go underground? What does that entail?

Gebert: There are many ways to go underground. The most radical is that you live under a false identity somewhere else ? this I never had to do although I did have to use false papers occasionally. Then there's simply living somewhere else for protracted periods of time. And this I did a lot. Then there's taking precautions, making sure you are not followed, that you don't have incriminating information on you.

S&B: How does it affect your life and family?

Gebert: It's not recommended for family life. I was away much of the time. I often did not have access to a telephone for obvious reasons, but I could not call. [My wife] did not know what's happening ? We would agree I would call and then when I didn't she wouldn't know. Did I get arrested? Could I not get to a phone? Or did I just not give a damn? I would not have traded places with her for anything.

It's also very difficult for children ? One day [my eldest daughter] turned to me and said, "Dad, will you promise they won't kill you?" I promised. The younger kids noticed a lot ? We had a cache where we stored documents and we thought it was brilliant. We never imagined they knew, but of course they did.

The lost time returns with a vengeance as they grow up and you don't understand them as well as you would. I don't regret my actions. But I regret paying the price. The underground is not a great career move. Throughout much of that time, we were extremely poor. It was humiliating. I mean I had family abroad and they helped, but meat was once a week if we were lucky. The one thing I still have not forgiven the Communists is the time wasted. The beatings and arrests, you can forget ? Queues took up two hours a day ? It is a non-recoverable theft.

S&B: Is there anything you miss?

Gebert: Under Communism there wasn't a lot to do. So you spent a lot of time together. You'd walk by and say "So-and-so lives here. Let's pop in." ? There was a wealth of time to talk [issues and ideas] over. I've never since had this kind of time. Not that I liked the package deal ? but I miss the former intimacy and informality.

Sidebar: A man of many 'kipots'

• Founder and Publisher of Midrasz, the first Polish Jewish monthly
• International Correspondant and Columnist for Gazeta Wyborcza, the biggest Polish daily; covers the Former Ottoman Empire, Russia, human rights, and Jewish issues
• Polish representative for Taube, a foundation for Jewish life and culture
• Media Consultant for the Media Development Loan fund, an international media body that helps independent media in difficult circumstances
• Taught silk-screen newspaper printing in Kosovo and to Burmese refugees

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