Lech Wałęsa's Pen

[akustyk]

I thought some of you will find it interesting. Lech Wałęsa signed the famous Gdańsk Agreement of 1980 (Porozumienia sierpniowe) that lead to the creation of Solidarity (and subsequent political changes in Poland) with a giant ballpoint pen. The pen can be seen at the Europejskie Centrum Solidarności museum. As far as I can tell, this pen was issued to celebrate Pope John Paul II's first papal trip to Poland in 1979. Here's a picture of it and one of Wałęsa signing the Gdańsk Agreement with it.

 

http://zbiory.ecs.gda.pl/images/fpngallery/8/cd5baf2496e50c2/big.jpg

 

http://www.newsweek.pl/g/i.aspx/680/0/newsweek/635135339753170000.jpg

[Sarrelangue]

Wonderful !!!!

Thanks

[the_gasman]

A ballpoint pen !!! Pah! I used to admire Lech Wałęsa.

[inkstainedruth]

Wonder if it was a political statement against snooty high end "status" pens. Admittedly it's kinda fun, but also a little goofy looking, given the occasion.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[the_gasman]

Wonder if it was a political statement against snooty high end "status" pens. Admittedly it's kinda fun, but also a little goofy looking, given the occasion.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Good point.

OK, I'll put him back on the pedestal.

 

David.

[akustyk]

Wonder if it was a political statement against snooty high end "status" pens. Admittedly it's kinda fun, but also a little goofy looking, given the occasion.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

It might have been that. I am not sure. I do remember these pens being popular following the Pope's visit. Wałęsa was known for displaying Catholic symbols in public. I think it was a bit of a middle finger to the "Nomenclatura," communist hard-liners, many of whom were at the table signing the document.