Whisperer

Editor Stan Szecowka was immensely proud to meet Lech Walesa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his role in leading the nationwide Solidarity freedom movement.

Poland’s first popularly elected president, governing between 1990 and 1995, was among a distinguished delegation of Nobel Peace laureates visiting Bahrain.

He was joined at a special lecture and lunch last Wednesday at Bahrain National Theatre by former South African president Frederik de Klerk and Indian social activist Kailash Satyarthi.

Amongst the items addressed by the wise men were cultural diversity, global warming, the welfare of children, tackling corruption and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

Stan posted a photograph shaking Lech’s hand, wishing in his heart that his late Polish father Stanislav was still around to share the moment, and was disappointed by the response of a leading Polish journalist he had once trained in the UK as part of an international internship. He left a disparaging comment, the politest translated word being ‘dinosaur’.

Now, Stan is not sure whether he was labelling him or the former leader, but he would be well advised to appreciate that wisdom really does come with age, as many scientific studies suggest.

The Whisperer’s favourite quote comes from Lailah Gifty Akita, founder of the Smart Youth Volunteers Foundation, who said: “Treasure the wisdom of old age. Learn from elder people and be wise.”

The only regret Stan has is not hammering home the point when he had the young hack under his wing.