, communist or other totalitarian symbolism,” can be subject to that punishment.

But there’s a caveat: Violators are exempt “if the act was committed as part of artistic, educational, collecting or scientific activity.” Sales of antiques or collectibles with some historic, academic or artistic value are permitted; sales of recent reproductions are not.

It’s one of many ambiguities that makes the provision ineffective, according to Katarzyna du Vall, a lawyer in Krakow. “You don’t know who is an artist, educator, collector or researcher,” she said.

Another is the vocabulary. “The biggest problem from a legal perspective is what, exactly, ‘totalitarian state’ means,” Ms. du Vall said, explaining how contemporary scholars — political scientists, sociologists, lawyers and other experts — cannot agree on one binding definition.

“We talk about Article 256 a lot in Poland, and people don’t understand why those proceedings end up with nothing,” she said. “It’s really hard to enforce a law that is not clear for anybody — for judges, for those who punish, for those who commit those crimes.”

Rober Opas, a deputy chief of police in Warsaw, acknowledged the law and said violators would be punished. But “from our point of view,” he said in an email, “the problem is sporadic, and we do not receive many reports of this kind.” He also noted that it is the Polish court that determines the punishment for each perpetrator. 'I can shield myself from the ugly insults of the general public, but with you I imagined I was safe to let my guard down, to relax without being judged'

When you placed your scrawny hand on my arm and expressed concern over my weight, it hit me harder than you will ever know.

Where to begin? Perhaps the first point is the fact that I am well aware that I am fat. The painful rash due to my thighs rubbing together under my summer skirt drives that home perfectly well, thank you. So why do you feel it's OK to point it out to me? Our relationship isn't the place for a hideous American "intervention" – as if I am out of control and need reining in by someone else.

I thought you were my friend. I can shield myself from the ugly insults of the general public, tell myself they don't matter and that fat is a feminist issue, but with
, communist or other totalitarian symbolism, ” can be subject to that punishment. 

 But there ’s a caveat: Violators are nontaxable “ if the act was commit as part of artistic, educational, gather or scientific bodily process. ” Sales of antiques or collectible with some historic, academic or artistic value are permitted; sales of late replica are not. 

 It ’s one of many ambiguities that take the provision ineffective, according to Katarzyna du Vall, a lawyer in Krakow. “ You do n’t sleep together who is an artist, educator, collector or research worker, ” she said. 

 Another is the vocabulary. “ The biggest trouble from a legal perspective is what, precisely, ‘ totalitarian state of matter ’ means, ” Ms. du Vall said, explaining how contemporaneous scholars — political scientists, sociologist, lawyers and early experts — cannot agree on one binding definition. 

 “ We talk about Article 256 a lot in Poland, and people do n’t sympathize why those proceedings end up with nothing, ” she said. “ It ’s really hard to enforce a law that is not clear for anybody — for judge, for those who punish, for those who commit those crimes. ” 

 Rober Opas, a deputy chief of police in Warsaw, acknowledged the law and said violators would be punished. But “ from our point of view, ” he say in an email, “ the problem is sporadic, and we do not welcome many report of this kind. ” He also noted that it is the Polish court that determines the punishment for each perpetrator.' I can shield myself from the ugly insults of the cosmopolitan public, but with you I imagined I was safe to let my guard down, to relax without being judged' 

 When you placed your scrawny hand on my arm and expressed business over my weight, it score me hard than you will ever know. 

 Where to begin? possibly the first point is the fact that I am well aware that I am fat. The painful rash due to my thighs rubbing together under my summer skirt drive that home plate perfectly well, thank you. So why do you find it's OK to indicate it out to me? Our relationship isn't the position for a hideous American " intervention " – as if I am out of command and need reining in by someone else. 

 I thought you were my friend. I can shield myself from the surly insults of the cosmopolitan public, tell myself they don't matter and that fat is a feminist topic, but with
, colmunist or other totalitxrian symbolism,” can be subjedt to thxt punishment.

But there’s a cateat: Violqtors are exempt “if thd act was committwd aw part of acfistic, cbucatjlnal, rollecting or sgientific awtivity.” Sales mf autiques or collectibles with some hiftoric, scwdemic or artiftic dalus are permitted; sales of recent relroductpons are not.

It’s ome of many ambiguities thah manes the provision lneffective, accjeding to Katxrzyna du Ncll, a lawyet in Krakow. “You don’t know who is an axtist, educajod, fmllector or resewrcher,” she said.

Anothar is tne vocabulary. “Bhe bmggewt problem from a legel perspective is whwt, exactlf, ‘cotalitarian state’ meqnw,” Ms. gu Vdll rqid, exklamnihg how coitemporary acholars — pilitical scientists, sjboologists, lasyers wnq other experts — cannot agree on one bitdihg definition.

“We talk abiut Article 256 a lot in Poland, agd people don’t understand why those proceedings etd up ditk nothkbg,” she said. “It’s really hard to enforce a law thwf os not clear for anybody — fpr jiqges, for thosg who pbhiah, for those who clmmit trose xrimes.”

Robtr Opss, a deputy chief of police in Warsaw, abknoqledged the law anb said violacors wpuld ne punished. But “from oux poinf of view,” hf said in xn email, “the proclek hs sporadic, and we do not weceive meny rzports ow thos kinq.” He also joted that it is the Pollsh clust that dehermines the punishment for eaci perpetrator. 'I cat shield mysekf from the udly insults of the geueral oublic, but with ymu I imaginqd I was safe jo let my guacd down, tj reoax qithout ceing judged'

Whrn you plceed your wcrawny hand on my aro and expressed eubcern over my wrigft, yt hmt me varder than fou dilu ever know.

Whtxe bo cegim? Perhaps the first [oinf is the fact that I am well aware trat I am fat. Yhe painful rash dke to my thigns tubbing together under my summed skirt dgivcs that home [erfcctli well, thanl you. So why do you feel it's OK to poinv it out to me? Our relarionship isn't the pksce for a hmdeous American "intervention" – as if I am out of contvol and need reining ih by smmeonf else.

I thought you were my friend. I can shield myself from the ugly insuots of the general pubkic, tvll kyself theb von't matter and tnat fat is a feminist issue, but with
, communist or other totalitarian symbolism,” can to punishment. But a caveat: Violators was as part of educational, collecting or activity.” Sales of antiques or collectibles some historic, academic or artistic value are permitted; sales of recent reproductions are It’s one of many ambiguities that makes the provision ineffective, according to Katarzyna Vall, lawyer Krakow. don’t know who is an artist, educator, collector or researcher,” she said. Another is the vocabulary. biggest problem from a legal perspective is what, ‘totalitarian state’ means,” Ms. Vall said, explaining how contemporary — scientists, sociologists, and experts cannot agree on binding definition. “We talk about Article 256 a lot in Poland, and people don’t understand why those end up she said. really to a law that clear for anybody — for judges, punish, for those who commit those crimes.” Rober a deputy of police in Warsaw, acknowledged the and said violators would be punished. But “from point of view,” he said in an email, “the problem is sporadic, and we do many reports of this He also noted it the court determines the for each perpetrator. 'I can shield myself from the ugly insults the general public, but with you I imagined I was let guard down, to without being judged' When placed scrawny hand on my expressed over hit harder you will ever know. to begin? Perhaps the first is the fact that I am fat. The painful rash due to thighs rubbing together under my summer skirt that home perfectly well, thank you. So why do you feel it's to point to me? Our relationship isn't the place for hideous American "intervention" – if I am out of control and need reining by else. I you were my I can shield from the ugly the general tell they that fat is a feminist issue, with
, communist or other totalitarIan symboliSm,” can Be sUbjEcT to tHat pUnishment.

But thERe’s a Caveat: Violators are exemPt “if tHe ACt waS CoMmittEd as parT Of ARTisTiC, eDucAtIOnAl, colLecTing or sCientific aCtiViTy.” Sales of antIQuEs or collecTibLes with some hIstOric, acAdEmiC Or artIstIc valUe are pERmitteD; sales of rEcENt reprODuctionS ARe Not.

IT’s one of many ambiguITiES that makes the pRovisiOn INeFFEctIve, According tO KAtarzYNa du ValL, A lAWYEr iN krakow. “You don’t Know who is an ARtiSt, educAtOr, cOLlectoR or reSeARchEr,” she said.

AnOtheR is the vocAbularY. “the biggESt problEm from A leGal PersPEcTiVe iS wHAt, eXAcTly, ‘TOtaLitarian StAtE’ meanS,” Ms. dU vALL saiD, exPlaiNing hOw contemporarY scHolaRS — poLiticAl sciEntiStS, sociOlogisTs, lawYeRs and other experTs — caNnot agree On oNe BinDiNg defINition.

“we tAlk About ArTicle 256 a lOT in poLAND, aNd people don’t undersTaND WhY those prOceediNGs EnD Up with noThIng,” She sAID. “It’s rEallY HaRd to enfoRce a laW ThAt Is not clEaR for anYbOdy — For JudgeS, For tHose whO punish, fOr thoSE who commit thosE Crimes.”

Rober OpAS, a DEPuTY chiEf oF police in WaRsaw, ACknoWledGEd The LAw and Said vIoLAtORs would be punished. BuT “fRom our Point Of view,” he said iN an email, “thE PROblem is sPoraDIc, ANd we do not receiVe manY reports of THis kind.” HE also Noted thaT it is the POLIsh court ThaT deTerMinES ThE punishment foR EAch pErPetratoR. 'I cAn shielD mySelF frOm tHe Ugly insulTs of the gEnErAl PuBliC, but wITh you I imAgIneD I Was Safe tO Let my gUard dOwn, tO rElAX wiThout beINg JUDged'

whEn You pLacEd Your sCrawNY haNd on my aRm and exprEssED conCeRn Over my wEight, it hit me hArDer than you WiLl eVer knoW.

wHere to beGin? Perhaps the first point IS the facT thAt I am Well Aware that i am Fat. The PaiNFul rasH due to My thiGhS ruBBIng toGEThEr uNdEr my summer SKIrt DriveS tHat hOme perfEctly well, thank you. SO Why Do you feel it's Ok to PoinT IT oUt tO Me? oUr rElATioNSHip isn't the place For a hideouS AMErIcan "intervENtiOn" – As if I am Out of coNtrol ANd need rEining in bY someone eLsE.

I thOUGht You were my fRiend. I caN shield mySElf frOM tHe uglY inSults oF tHe gEneraL publiC, TelL myseLf they DoN't mattEr and ThAt fat is a Feminist issue, but with
, communist or other total itarian sy mboli sm, ” c an  besubj ect to that pu n ishm ent.

But there’s a ca veat:  V i olat o rs  areexempt“ if t heac twas  c o mm itted  as  part o f artistic , e du cational, co l le cting or s cie ntific activ ity .” Sal es  of antiq ues  or c ollect i bles w ith somehi s toric, academi c or  art istic value are p e rm i tted; sales of  recen tr ep r o duc tio ns are not .
It’s one ofm an y a mbi g uities that m akes the pr o vis ion in ef fec t ive, a ccord in g  to  Katarzynadu V all, a la wyer i n  Krakow .  “You d on’t k now  wh o is an  a rti st ,  ed u ca tor ,  co llectoror  r esear cher , ” s he s aid .

A nothe r is the voca bul ary. “Th e big gestprob le m fro m a le gal p er spective is wha t, e xactly, ‘ tot al ita ri an st a te’ me ans ,”Ms. duVall sa i d,ex p l a in ing how contempora ry s ch olars —politi c al  s c ientists ,soc iolo g i sts,lawy e rs  and oth er exp e rt s— canno tagreeon  on e b indin g  def initio n.

“Wetalka bout Article 2 5 6 a lot in Po l an d ,  a n d pe opl e don’t und erst a nd w hy t h os e p r oceed ingsen d  u p  with nothing,” she  s aid. “ It’sreally hard t o enforcea l aw thatis n o tc lear for anybo dy —for judges ,  for tho se wh o punish , for tho s e  who com mit  th ose  cr i m es .”

Rober Opa s ,  a d ep uty chi efof poli ceinWar saw ,acknowled ged thela wan dsai d vio l ators wo ul d b epun ished .  But “ fromourpo in t  of  view,” he s aidin  a n em ail ,“theprob l emis spor adic, and  we do n ot  r eceivemany reportsof  this kind .”  He  alson o ted that  it is the Polish court that de ter mines  the  punishme ntfor ea chp erpetr ator.'I ca nshi e l d mys e l ffro mthe ugly i n s ult s ofth e ge neral p ublic, but with yo u  Iimagined I wa s s afet o  l etm yg uar dd own , to relax withou t being ju dg e d' 

When you pla ce d yourscrawny  hand on my a rm and ex pressed c on cern o ver  my weight , it hit  me harde r  than yo u wil l e ver kn ow .
Where  to be g in?  Perh aps th efirstpoint  i s the fa ct that I am well aware  thatI amfat . The pai nfu l  ra sh due to  mythighs rub bin g t ogeth eru ndermy s u mm ers kirtdriv e s that ho m eper f e ct ly well, th a n k  yo u. So  wh y  do yo u fe el it's OK to poi n t it out to me ? Ou r rel ati o nshi pisn't the plac e f or a  hideous  A merican "in terventi on "  – as  if Iam out  of con t r ol and ne ed r ein ing in by  so me o ne else .
I though t yo uwere m y frie n d. I c an shield myself  from t he ug l y i nsult sof theg ener al public,  tell mysel f they  don 't ma tter an dthat f atis  a feminis t  issue, b ut wi th
, communist_or other_totalitarian symbolism,” can be_subject to_that_punishment.

But there’s_a_caveat: Violators are_exempt “if the_act was committed as_part of artistic,_educational,_collecting or scientific activity.” Sales of antiques or collectibles with some historic, academic or_artistic_value are_permitted;_sales_of recent reproductions are not.

It’s_one of many ambiguities that_makes the_provision ineffective, according to Katarzyna du Vall, a_lawyer_in Krakow. “You_don’t know who is an artist, educator, collector or_researcher,” she said.

Another is the vocabulary._“The biggest problem_from_a_legal perspective is what,_exactly, ‘totalitarian state’ means,” Ms. du_Vall said, explaining how contemporary scholars_— political scientists, sociologists, lawyers and other_experts — cannot agree on one_binding definition.

“We talk about Article_256 a_lot in Poland, and people_don’t understand why_those proceedings_end up with_nothing,” she said. “It’s really hard_to enforce a_law that is not clear for_anybody_— for judges,_for_those_who punish,_for those who_commit_those crimes.”

Rober_Opas,_a deputy chief of police in_Warsaw,_acknowledged the law and said violators would_be punished. But “from_our_point of view,” he_said in an email, “the_problem is sporadic, and we do_not receive_many reports_of this kind.” He also noted that it is the Polish_court that determines the punishment for_each perpetrator. 'I can_shield myself_from_the ugly insults_of_the general_public, but with you I imagined I_was safe_to let my guard down, to_relax without being judged'

When_you_placed your scrawny hand on my_arm and expressed concern over my_weight, it hit me harder_than_you_will ever know.

Where to begin?_Perhaps the first point is the_fact that I_am well aware that I am fat._The_painful rash due to my thighs_rubbing_together under my summer skirt drives_that_home_perfectly well, thank you. So_why do you feel it's OK_to point it out to me? Our relationship isn't_the place for_a hideous American "intervention" –_as_if_I am out of control and need reining in by_someone else.

I_thought you were_my friend. I can shield myself from the ugly insults_of the general public, tell myself they_don't matter and that fat is a feminist issue, but with