Love / Soldier born in Poland / living in England. Fiance going away for ages. Complicated... [205]

It doesn't matter how the British military works. What matters is that the pay is lousy. There is also no need to sneak any views anywhere. What I wrote about the war in general are not some secret, underground opinions but facts and those facts, IMO, matter very much from a moral standpoint. Being drafted or in some way forced to go to a war zone is one thing. Volunteering is quite another - especially when the ethical value of that war is very questionable.

You suggested respect towards the respected poster. I have not shown disrespect towards her. I commented on the decisions her bf is making, not on the doubts she seems to have about her relationship. I also commented on some poster's usual "support your troops" slogan.

Her bf's decision is one she regrets too. Justysia asked for an for an honest, unbiased opinion. . My post was honest and I stand by every single point I wrote, give or take a spelling or grammatical error here and there.


You need to make up your mind. In the first post you wrote he volunteered to go to Iraq. You can't change your story in the middle of the thread and then blame others for being blunt in their assessment of the situation.

Language / 'przytulic' cannot ever be properly translated into English [33]


No good. You can enjoy a person and a burger.
If you try to "przytulic" a burger you will be looked at with suspicion ;)

Life / The strangest things in Poland [468]


Looking back at it, this was very good. We had to wear a special sort of orthopedic shoes which were designed to help prevent or somewhat correct any possibly issues with flat feet.

Many of my classmates seem to remember uniforms fondly. Especially girls - no need to come up with any new latest and greatest from fashion magazines.

They have similar setup in Catholic schools in Canada. My daughter and her friends have always been happy about the uniforms, even if some mild rebellions took place. They consisted of girls rolling up their kilts a bit higher than they were designed to be.

The strangest thing in Poland - they always pick up and keep on going.

Love / Soldier born in Poland / living in England. Fiance going away for ages. Complicated... [205]

I did. A few. All is fine.
That's why I decided not to pick up weapons in order to buy myself and my family a home, education and hope for my daughter's future. I chose to work my ass off instead of risking my head being blown off.

I wonder what you find so romantic, heart warming and human in going to war to pay off a vehicle, or to buy your way through future career moves.

Love / Soldier born in Poland / living in England. Fiance going away for ages. Complicated... [205]

This story reminds me of... millions of similar stories that happened throughout the ages. Nihil novi, but of course on a personal level it is and it certainly presents itself as a challenging experience. I have no advice to offer because as always - que sera, sera and the fact of the matter is that while this thread may have some cathartic value to Justysia, IMO her decision is unlikely to be significantly influenced by the posts here.

I would like to clear some technical points though.

Some become soldiers for so called higher reasons. Justysia's bf seems to have become one for the money, so there goes the "support your troops" argument. Or at least it has as much value as "support your MBA graduates" or "support your network administrator" - just a phrase with little meaning in this context.

If the above is accepted then I have to wonder about the person who picks up a gun to better himself and his present or future family materially - especially if it is obvious that the war is unjust, and possibly illegal under international law. Smacks of a mercenary. Yes, it may seem that the military is the only choice for some young people, but I disagree.

This forum is frequented by many emigrants. Some of us left our home countries with all of $10 and we seem be doing just fine. And yes, we do have cars which are paid off. No, it wasn't always easy, and many of us had to pay dearly for mistakes we were even unaware we made within the first weeks, months or years in the new country, but if one didn't wander into some shady areas of NYC the risk to our lives were minimal ;)

Unless you bf gets a job of one of those "private security" muscle men (very dangerous but pays about $1000 a day) how much will UK soldier net in a year+? $30K $60? Are these really amounts worth risking one's life for? Is a pile of metal and plastic called a car worth the risk? It almost seems like a joke. Go to war to pay a car off??? Did I get it right?

What about risking the chance to build a future with the other half to be? If that were to be a million or two of those $$$... hey that would be some heist and definitely worth considering, but measly $60K? That's substantially less than an oil sand worker in Canada makes, and only 25% more than an entry level IT fella makes here. In fact a waitress in a semi decent bar will make at least that amount.

Both of you are still kids. There is plenty of hope for you, but also enough dangerous meanders that life so excels in. Given enough luck you can take any beating from life, survive it and years later have a few laughs at the mishaps, but it sure is easier when the sad times are shared, just like the good ones, whether you are close or apart, .

In my view, the idea of going to Iraq as a soldier to make some low end cash is utterly stupid. Regardless of what decisions will be finally made, try to consider this well know fact - love is not just for the good times. If you do have love for your bf you'll be together weather he goes to Middle East to kill a few Arabs or not.

As Germans say, if something doesn't kill you instantly it can only make you stronger. I think it applies to relationships too.

Life / How do you Poles feel about the fact that so many Poles work abroad? [145]


Well, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.. nobody brands you as crazy. You are crazy and you work hard to make sure everyone here knows it.

Language / Capitalization of Cie, Ciebie, and others [17]


No, it's not. It is considered an orthographic error, and only under some circumstances. After all, an expression of respect, or lack of it, has little to do with grammar.

Language / Polish Onomateopia [26]

Hence German Messerschmitt sounds as gently as Schmetterlink.

Language / Polish Onomateopia [26]

Some of Polish poems are based mainly on onomatpeia. One very well known (to all Polish kids) example is Lokomotywa by Julian Tuwim.

Life / Poles' tolerance towards other Races [190]


could you elaborate?

UK, Ireland / ARE YOUNG BRITS LESS INTELLIGENT THAN POLES? [56]


The thread is about intellectual achievements, not about who made how much in what short period of time. Your example doesn't disprove Polonius3's point.

Besides, wouldn't it be great if Ronaldinho had some brains to go with his physical skills? Last weekend I met Michael "Pinball" Clemons. Very intelligent and well rounded person, not just a pile of muscles and joints.


It all depends in what country, what specialty and on some politics. Polish degrees are also recognized around the world. Mine were in the US and Canada.Polish secondary school diplomas have been recognized in UK since at least 1980's.

Life / Have always longed to live abroad, so I'm Moving To Poland [10]


In that case Nowa Huta or Silesia seem like perfect choices.

History / Are Germans going to pay for WW2? [180]


Dress it up however you want.

Facts are facts and Sadek was correct. Some allies who provided significant input in the anti-nazi effort were forgotten. Poles were not initially invited at all, and only after protests from some Brits the invitation was sent out but restricted only some Polish pilots. No special cases, not special favors. It was however, a very special perfidy on the part of the British government.

Life / Things to be afraid of in Poland? [109]


He'll say that whatever changed for the better was a russian idea that Poles merely stole.

History / Why has Poland been attacked so often by its neighbors? [180]


Are you saying she had an accomplice?

Life / Asian and Polish culture - how do they compare? [24]


This reminds me of a short Chinese fable;

A poor fella could not afford to buy fish so he would go to a fish store with a bowl of rice and eat the rice there, thus coming close to feeling as if he was having fish. The store owner was as greedy as the Scottish shop owner you describe, so he told the poor bugger to either get out or to pay for sniffing the fish. The poor fella agreed to do it the next day.

He comes to the store, smells the fish as he eats the rice and a after a few minutes the store owner comes up to him and demands a payment. The poor one picks a tin can with change from his pocket, and rattles it next to the store owner's ear.

Life / Things to be afraid of in Poland? [109]

As if there weren't enough scary things in Poland, Michal is coming for a visit.

History / Are Germans going to pay for WW2? [180]


I read many of your posts and I wonder... how would you be able to tell a difference between "claver" and "BLA BLA"?

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


that's not racism. That's sexism ;)

Yup, all those -isms are often abused, but they appear to be handy to some for the lack of real arguments.

History / Are Germans going to pay for WW2? [180]


To me, and to millions of Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and Bulgarians Russians were the foreign pressure. To Czechs and Ukrainians Poles were foreign pressure too. No more. No slavdoms, no slavic dreams for me. Why not put the flag, weathered from constant waving at any occasion, and get to work for a change. You can't feed people flag's fabric and flag poles. Patriotic songs don't contain all that many nutrients either.

In the end what counts is your immediate family. The country comes second. Unless you're a nazi or a commie, of course.

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


Yes, and that shows the alleged harmony, doesn't it?
Now something from main stream media. Tell me what you find harmonious and uplifting about Swedish multiculturalism:




Never did I hear about racial riots or acts of violence in Poland before 1987. Do such acts happen now? If so, why?

History / Are Germans going to pay for WW2? [180]


Wrong. Szczecin was stolen from Germans by your beloved russkies. They did that having stolen from Poland a lot of lands in the East.


I hope you open your mouth while there and that someone shoves a big hard fist in it.

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


But it shows what the important aspect of multiculturalism is for you.


Do we need to state our wishes to have them known?

This is what you wrote:


Now, what would you say if I wrote this:

If blacks want to mix racially, that is not a crime, but it sure is unfortunate as it produces more blacks and less whites who are getting treated like crap in many government offices where blacks are employed. Is that something to encourage? And let me tell you that such attitudes aren't in blacks' interests, as is proven by the continuous failures of black run governments around the world (South Africa, Liberia, Sudan and a host of others) where atrocities are a fact of daily life and the civilization is but a foreign concept.


I posted a link to sites describing the situation in Sweden. Would you like a few flicks from the news too?

Except for a precious few, there is NO integration in EU. The immigrants want us to integrate with them. Are you surprised that many object? Again, the multiculturalism in EU is a complete disaster and even main stream media are slowly beginning to be open about it.


You're complaining that Poland is ethnically almost monolithic, while I think it's great. That's what many EU countries would love to have, having experienced the elusive multicultural harmony.


Hypothetically, if there were no other ethnicities in Poland, other than Poles, then how would racism be even possible, let alone proliferate. You're not afraid Poland would eventually be in a position of world domination, are you? :)


And where did I support racism pray tell?

I'm glad Poland is mostly Polish and I hope they can maintain this for at least a few decades, before the destructive "blessings" of "multiculturalism" will make it look like another non-descript street in New Jersey, New York or Oklahoma - all looking the same. Or worse yet, like another dirt road in a muslim country.

History / Are Germans going to pay for WW2? [180]


You guys couldn't keep one small country intact. Dream on.


The quote you referred to does not say that. But it is correct when it says that Poles were banned from the victory parade. Only after protests of some MPs and British population did the government allow Polish pilots ONLY. They refused to participate without all Poles who fought with the Allies.

Language / The Dative Case [62]


I'm sure this complicates the issue for russophile. Still, this is Polish, not russian, and if there is any laziness in a language it is in your court, you linguistic fraud.

News / Ireland referendum bails Poland out [7]


Unlike your Polish wife?


He's not. He hates anything Polish. He's in love with anything soviet though.

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


Really? If you call this "good" then I am even more against your dismay at Poland's ethnic composition:


bsimmons.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/the-death-of-sweden


You referred to the color of your skin on many occasions while describing your experience in Poland. Let's face it, your issue is not just any non-Pole but a non-white one.


Some of it did just happen, as you say. A lot of it happened because most blacks were, in the US of A, deemed unable to achieve much without being ensured support via what is known as "affirmative action". This "action" is in fact offensive to blacks, and that is not just me view, but one I share with many black leaders in the US.


Why is it strange? That type of people are to be found pretty much in any country. In Poland, after some 80% of the last 200 years, Poles just started enjoying Poland for Poles. You are welcome as a visitor, and as far as I know, as a resident, but for your own sake, appreciate that instead of criticizing the intolerance. Especially that you appear to have little tolerance for the homogenous nature of Poland, one of the few remaining countries where native people are a decisive majority. Only 10% of world population is white.


I have a feeling Poles like it that way, and that's what seems to irk you.


That was to be expected. When you were about 6 or 7 years old the process started full force. It wasn't about integration. It was about money. Prime real estate and prime areas were inhabited by the poor blacks and hispanics. That could not continue so they were pushed out, indeed to Brooklyn among others. The largest hit was the City of Yonkers. Yonkers had to pay $1mil a day for refusing to fund so called "affordable housing", aka "projects". We both know what these are, don;t we? Simply put, NYC didn't want the poor, Yonkers didn't want them either. Most of them were non-whites.


Some here are racists, some simply have racial preferences that differ from yours. Yes, you do show a doze of racism when you display your dissatisfaction with Poland's ethnic composition and insufficient number of non-whites.

It seems that anybody with a skin darker than mine has the right to pi.ss at us, but when we try to save our heritage, culture and tradition then we are called racists.

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


Reasonable post overall, but this needs a hint or two.

Check historic data for crime rates in Sweden in the last 20 to 40 years. Check how Denmark has been doing with their muslims. How about Holland?

People in Autria had spoken too, but their democratic election results a few years back were deemed unacceptable by EU standards. How is the German love for Turks doing? Even far away from the old world, is the US really such a good example of how multiculturalism works? I see racially motivated tensions in the US on a daily basis. heck, even the current presidential elections should give you a hint or two.

Same in Canada. Most Americans I know complained that Toronto changed for the worse. Their parents used to take them there for weekends. I dunno how it was say 30 years ago but I just don't like the city and go there only when I have to. My American pals tell me that it was much safer, cleaner and a pleasure to visit. It's not anymore, they say, but it's multicultural now. Toronto was used in urban studies as an example of a great success story. Now it's being used (in the same universities) as an example of an urban failure.

Large parts of Europe have also become a melting pot indeed, but the heat is too high - changes are taking place too fast and the well wishers tend to forget that in many cases immigrants bring with them values the existing population is not ready to accept, sometimes unable to tollerate. Not yet at least. Let things simmer for a while. don't bring them to a sudden boil.

History / Why has Poland been attacked so often by its neighbors? [180]


Aren't we all guilty of similar approach concerning our own countries?
Germans want to make everything German.
Poles want things Polish (yup, Jesus was Polish)
Americans... they are probably the only ones who succeeded in the effort (you're with us, or you're against us - said dubya, and the nation cheered and applauded, much like the commie monkeys during commie party conventions.)

Life / Polish Integration with other Nationalities [150]


No, that's a doze of reality for you. The country won't change overnight, and certainly not because you went there. If life in Poland is unbearable for you then what other advice would you like? It would be cruel of me to suggest that you become active in the area of changing Poland's ethnic composition. In a country where 99.3% are ethinic Poles, and only a tiny fraction of the remaining small minority are non-white people, you would indeed get slaughtered if you went full blast with your social engineering.


How is the trend you are suggesting better? The so called multicuturalism in EU, and in some other countries, has been a disaster.


First, you are mixing a few things here. I saw no reports of persecution of Brits or French, or Swedes in Poland. so the fact that so many came through Ellis Island means squat. Most of those were white people. The Hispanics either stayed after the US chopped off some land from Mexico, got to the US illegally (ever watch news from your own country? About 20 million by the last count), and only a small number of non-whites came through Ellis. As for the caribbean blacks... how did they get to the caribbeans?


Waidda minute! Isn't "redneck" an American term? A term from a country blessed with the wonderful diversity where all Americans love one another and show utmost respect to all races? Is that what you wish for Poland?


Happened to me all the time I found myself in predominantly black neighborhoods in the US. I sure was watched like a freak would have been watched. I remember once (by mistake) I went too many stops and found myself in a subway in The Bronx, so I do understand how you feel. Only that I didn't think I could change the Bronx so I left. I left NYC too. You want to tinker with social engineering, and in Poland that may be an unwelcome game - whether you're black, pink or translucent.