Topics of coins
The Polish Family
The coin inaugurates a series devoted to Poland –
its meaning in the lives of Poles.
The concept of homeland is imbued with values
relating to universal social and family ties,
which are closely associated with the culture of
the milieu where generations after generations
are raised. To quote Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński,
Primate of Poland, “the family is the cradle
of human life and development. Its stability,
faith and moral strength.” A loving, supportive
family – whose enduring ties provide a sense of
security – becomes the “power of the Nation”.
Poland conceived as the Homeland – a community
of people attached to traditions cherished in
the families for generations – has been and is
able to overcome any adversity. The history of
Poland proves that families raising their children
in the respect for national traditions and values
protected the country against Germanisation
and Russification, and in the last century – also
against communism. “The Homeland – a Family
of Families” – these words of the Primate
inscribed on the coin accurately encapsulate the
interconnection between the concepts.
Sociological studies conducted in Poland show
that Poles value the family the most as a haven
where everyone should be guaranteed love and
development. In June 2021, the Ombudsman
for Children commissioned a survey in which
students of selected primary and secondary schools were asked the following question: “Do
I feel happy at home?”. Overall, more than 80 percent
of teenagers answered “yes”. A comparable group
of respondents replied that they felt loved in their
family. Surveys in major cities and in the country
yielded similar results. The survey demonstrated
that, in comparison with a similar study from 2003,
the overall satisfaction of children and young people
with their family ties had improved.
Enormous credit for this should in the first place
go to mothers, who are traditionally responsible
for the upbringing of children. It should also go to
fathers who – jointly – with love and responsibility provide security to the family. There is no
greater love, no deeper sense of existence and
no greater respect for the fellow human being
than in a mutually supporting family!
Jan Żaryn