Black ribbons and national pride

On Saturday 10th April, the President of Poland, with his wife and many members of the parliament - as well as representatives of other elite groups -were all killed when their plane crashed near Smolensk. The Tupolev was taking them to a memorial service at Katyn, and tragically the plane crashed into the ground in a forest killing everyone on board.

I think what is so poignant is not just this awful loss of life. It is the fact that they were en route to Katyn. After all these years, the Russians finally seemed to be accepting responsibility; they even appear to be trying to build bridges. Then this. While Poles were remembering Katyn and the joint service seemed a way forward, catastrophe struck. Now the sorrow is doubled. Not only do we mourn and remember 22,000 lives brutally murdered in 1940 but we also now mourn for those who died on Saturday.

Watching the news on Polish television it seemed that this was a tragedy that had struck at the heart of a nation. It would be true to say that while not everyone supported the late President's policies they all joined together in their grief for his awful death. To compound it, his wife was with him, thus giving a more familial feel to the face of grief.

Who could not feel for the late President's daughter as she knelt in front of her father's coffin? Or his twin brother, who earlier had undertaken the grim task of identifying his brother's remains? And who could not feel for every family affected by the crash; those who have lost someone dear to them?

A nation fell silent and in the two minutes thoughts turned to the victims and their families. A week of mourning may seem long, but what is a week, when the pain will be for ever with those directly affected, and remembered by the rest of us.

Poland is in mourning - yet it is with great dignity. Be still those of you who would lay blame. Hush your voices and keep thoughts of conspiracy theories to yourselves. Allow the dead to be laid to rest with pride and dignity and let your feelings, thoughts and prayers support the bereaved.

Bogurodzica dziewica, Bogiem slawiena Maryja,

U twego syna Gospodzina matko zwolena, Maryja!

Zyszczy nam, spusci nam.

Kyrieleison.