The Reply to The Insult on Fox Sitcom - a statement by the President of the Piast Institute and the Co-Chair of the Polish American Jewish American Council, Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski.

November 20, 2007
Mr. Joseph Earley
Executive Vice President
FOX Broadcasting Co.
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213

Dear Mr. Earley:

As you know, on November 14, one of the characters in Fox Television Network’s new show "Back to You" made comments (“….it’s in your Polish blood, like kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis”) that are not only offensive to millions of Polish Americans but are also dangerously misleading and insidious.

Poland suffered unimaginable losses at the hands of Nazi Germany and no other nation fought the Nazis as long and as valiantly while many countries continued to do business with Hitler and chose not to honor treaties to come to Poland’s aid.  Notwithstanding the impact these statements could have on the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, the implications of these comments would also diminish the terrible suffering of millions of Christian Poles and Jews under German occupation, many of whom spent much of World War II in Nazi camps.

For more than twenty-five years, the Council has brought together leaders of the Jewish and Polish communities in America to discuss issues of common concern. The Council’s mission has always been, and remains today, to convene the leadership of the two communities on a regular basis to grapple constructively with their shared past and to shape better future relations, both in the United States and in Poland. 

We appreciate the official apology your network made this week.  We strongly believe that Fox Television Network carries important educational responsibilities in ensuring that American television is not used to ridicule any ethnic, religious, or racial group in the U.S. or elsewhere. We know that you share our deep concerns on this matter.  We encourage Fox to implement programs and procedures to ensure, to the extent possible, that such incidents do not recur.

Please know that we stand ready to assist you in any possible way. We appreciate your consideration of our views on this matter.

Sincerely,

Martin I. Bresler
Thaddeus C. Radzilowski


The National Polish American-Jewish American Council
1156 Fifteenth Street, NW
Suite 1201
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 785-4200
Fax: (202) 785-4115
www.npajac.org