Life / Grafitti in Warsaw [44]

I would prefer to come from a country that doesn't cane and beat it's creative people and artists. No one is condoning personal property vandal, I'm talking street and bridge art.

Life / Grafitti in Warsaw [44]

I can't speak for Polish grafitti, and I agree that there is a such a blurry line concerning grafitti as art, but in America a lot of these taggers don't have a chance to express themselves artistically, grafitti is the one way they can create. I live in Los Angeles and I'm often taken aback by the beauty and originality of some of the work. It's easy to say all grafitti is rubbish, but consider the purpose and intent before you make blanket statements about the subjective world of art. Great art was never meant to have "respect for others," it is to challenge and push boundaries and that includes canvases. Most of these artists were denied the means to express themselves in the critic's "traditional" ways because they weren't deemed intelligent or refined enough, so this is the result. Also, comparing spray painting a bridge with mass murder and sexual perversion is irresponsible and wrong.

News / What do Polish friends think of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? [226]

No, I get that, I understand that completely, Jones101. Sadly, both Poland and American Polonia don't have the political clout to make any real policy demands. But since this thread is what it is, I decided to throw that out there. Also, Poles in America, if you are basing your vote purely on the candidates stance on Poland, please reconsider. I know we all love Poland, I love her as much as anyone, but there are more pressing issues in this election than US relations with the old country. I'm sure this doesn't apply to anyone, but please consider other issues beyond US-Poland relations.

News / What do Polish friends think of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? [226]

I feel Obama and McCain have the best ideas concerning Poland. Clinton, who I like and is the only one of the three to physically visit the place, seems to misunderstand the cultural differences between the two countries. Poland isn't America, nor does it want to be, nor can you treat her like she is America. The people are different and different strokes are needed. Her encouragement for socalled "increased feminism in Poland" missed the mark, in my opinion. I'm not a woman nor would I presume to know what's best for them, so I could be wrong, but from what I know about Polish feminism its very different from American feminism. There is more on Obama on why the Polish News is supporting him. Here is the NY Times write up of Clinton's trip to Poland ten years ago, I couldn't find anything on McCain but if you all want to buy some Obama crap for your kid you can do so here though I wouldn't recommend it.

News / Do you think that Polish catholics resent the new German Pope? [108]

Good points all, lesser. It's not as if I felt that JPII was above Catholicism, just that as the leader of Catholics I've put him on a unrealistically high pedestal. As far as John Paul being a world leader, I see nothing wrong in recognizing that Catholics are different than others and yet still realizing that as humans we are all the same. John Paul never forsake Catholicism while he was traveling around uniting people, he simply embraced the fact that despite differences in faith people should get along.

I had read somewhere (I'll look for the link) that if John Paul didn't approve of Harry Potter, he certainly didn't disapprove, stating more or less that imagination is good for children.

On that subject, I've only read one Harry Potter book and enjoyed it, I suppose. They certainly aren't outwardly anti-Catholic, but they are about magic and supernatural powers, some of which flies in the face of what Catholics think of God. But, I feel that kids know the difference between fiction and faith.

News / Do you think that Polish catholics resent the new German Pope? [108]

I can't speak for Julie, lesser, but what I think of when she says "throw back policies" is something like Benedict coming out against the Harry Potter books after John Paul had approved of them. This is a small issue, I understand, but it's indicative of a larger issue. Doesn't the Catholic Church have better things to do than come out against children's books? I hear what you're saying when you say Benedict is unifying the church but John Paul was unifying the world. He reached beyond creeds and religions to all people. I'm sorry lesser, because you make good points, but for Poles like myself and apparently Julie, we're too stubbornly blinded by JPII to see anybody else.

Genealogy / Races of white people... [99]

Don't forget Teutons. They're white.

News / What do Polish friends think of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? [226]

I'm a Polish-American and the candidate's policy concerning Poland will certainly be a factor in my decision and it seems that Obama will be more for Polish interests. To be honest, John McCain will have Poland's back the most, but let's be clear, Poland is not near the top of any of the candidate's priorities. Clinton, while she has actually been to Poland and knows first hand of the issues, has a weaker stance on foreign policy concerning Russia. So, as of now, I'm leaning towards Barack, although all 3 candidates have decent policies on Central and Eastern Europe.

This is my 100th post, by the way. Good for me.

News / Do you think that Polish catholics resent the new German Pope? [108]

I hear what you're saying, Crow, and to be sure, I've disagreed with Benedict's politics more than a little bit, my point was, any Catholic who would all of a sudden disregard the Pope simply because he was German has a larger problem.

News / Do you think that Polish catholics resent the new German Pope? [108]

I wouldn't say I resent Pope Benedict for being German. Any Catholic wouldn't much of a Catholic if he forsaked the Holy Father just because of his earthly nationality. It's just that Pope John Paul II meant so much to Poles and was such a source of pride for Polish people that any successor is going to bring unrealistic expectations. He's the Pope, so I'll respect that, but he isn't OUR Pope like JPII was.

Love / Shall we go back to interracial relationships for a bit? [50]

You've got to be kidding me, ztynf. I hope, for your sake, you're being sarcastic.

Genealogy / Races of white people... [99]

First of all, I'm from the Midwest, and most rednecks are from the south. In response to the thread: Anglo-Saxons...
and Russian nationalists, they were the Whites, right?

Life / You know you're Polish when... ? [111]

You know you're Polish when you don't understand why your friends snicker when you say you're hosting "a sausage party."

News / Tusk's Proposal to Change Poland Constitution [27]

Us Poles, we care so much about what's going on over there, and we're so proud of what our country has been able to accomplish in 1000+ years. But political stability and organization are as yet not a particularly Polish trait. Whenever I speak to my Polish friends about politics there is a different tone they get than when I talk to my American friends about American politics. Us Poles have such guarded optimism, such meagre hopes for the country. We don't want to see Poland to become some mighty superpower, we all just want a country that can stand on its own and leave the shadow and the reach of its neighbors. Americans struggle to understand these simple desires. That's not a knock on the US, per se, just an observation. I was so excited after this last election, hoping against hope that things would be different with the PO. The jury is still out, obviously, but like always, my optimism is guarded. Look at me, I'm rambling. Give a Pole a soapbox, be prepared to listen to long speeches...

News / Tusk's Proposal to Change Poland Constitution [27]

I can understand Tusk's intentions and I am a big supporter of his, but to echo the two of you, the consolidation of power is troubling. As always in Polish politics there is too many different factions refusing to compromise. And there are things that need to get done otherwise Poland will squabble its way into weakness (as it has done before). The problem with removing some of the checks and balances is you pave a road for an ambitious, power hungry, suedo-tyrant to take control and ruin things. The region has a history of this (see: Russia). I feel a temporary consolidation would be in order during these critical times. An amendment that gets reversed after a time. I feel like I'm matthias and plk123's parrot, simply regurgitating what they've been saying, but let it be known there are concerned, level-headed Poles like yourselves.

Life / What makes you proud to be Polish? [150]

I'm proud of Poland for no other reason than that my people are from there. If one can not be proud of one's roots than, what do they have? Poland's many accomplishments make me proud; her ability to stand up to tyranny, her independence of thought and will, her comparative religious tolerance, her ability to stay Polish with outside forces wished her to be something else. I am ashamed at other things. But mostly, I feel there are more things to be proud of than ashamed. We have a wonderful culture and wonderful people and that's what I'm proud of. I would never be bold enough to suggest that Poles are better, or superior, or more important than any other, but for me, they're tops. It's pride in heritage, and I would expect a Frenchman to feel the same about France, a Guatemalan the same about Guatemala, a Sudanese the same about the Sudan.

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, mbaker230. Good for you. The more we as races learn about each other, the more we learn we aren't that different. Knowledge breeds understanding and tolerance. Maybe that idea is too advanced for some. Good luck with the Polish, mbaker.

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

Yep, that's me. I should change my username to Polskamut.

Life / Polish attitudes towards drinking alcohol [72]

I wouldn't say proud. I don't believe anybody wore this as a badge of honor. It was a terrible strain on their society. The idea was that drinking was an acceptable way to deal with their troubles, but it just served to create more. As the country has gotten better, there has been less reason to drink, but old habits die hard. In 1980 at the height of the Communist troubles, Poles consumed nearly 12 litres of alcohol a year. In 2002 it was down to 6 and a half.

Life / Polish attitudes towards drinking alcohol [72]

During Communism, Polish drinking was terrible. Something like, on average all Poles drank eight gallons of vodka a year. That might not be exactly right, but the point is, people were getting all kinds of drunk. It's better now, but just 15 years ago, Poland was one of the drunkest countries on earth, made Ireland look like a MAAD meeting.

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

Yeah, I guess, you're right...(moping)...stupid mut

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

I'm 1/2 Polish, 1/4 German, 1/8 Danish, and 1/8 Cherokee Indian. I don't know if that's strange, but it suits me. I get my tan skin from the Cherokee, my agreeable nature from Denmark, my confidence and brooding from Germany, and my bullheaded independence and chatterbox personality from Poland. And my sense of humor.

History / Kresy-Siberia, Galicia [16]

Galicia was the area during the partitions that belonged to Austria. In terms of the Polish quality of life, it was by far the most favorable place to live as the citizens weren't having Austrian culture forced upon them the way Prussian and Russian culture was in those sections of partition Poland. As Austria was the weakest of the three partitioning powers, Galicia was rather poor but also rather independent. Ukranian nationalism and to an extent Polish nationalism has many roots there.

Food / First time eating Polish food [30]

I don't care how you say it, I just care about how I can get it into my mouth.

Food / First time eating Polish food [30]

Try Golumpki, which is meat and potatoes stuffed into cabbage. It tastes like happiness. So good. Personally, you give me a plate of keiłbasa, some golumpki, and a bottle of Chopin and I'm a pig in slop.

Genealogy / Surname: Renkoski from Radzinowa [4]

That's what we figured. It didn't seem right to have a "Ski" with no "W." Everybody pronounces it Ren-COW-ski anyway, although we've gone by Ren-ka-ski for a long time, even though it would have been Ren-COV-ski in Poland, right? Most people add a "W" when they spell it.

History / Poland-Russia: never-ending story? [1341]


Everyone knows Russia is capable of defending itself. No one questions that. The problem is that Russia does seek confrontation or makes confrontation out of thin air when no threats have been lobbed it's way. You alluded to Russia being like America in this way and you are exactly right. America recently (last 35) pretends like it must be the world's policeman and that every slight is a threat to its security, and it is one of the reasons the USA has suffered in World popularity lately. America has too often stuck it's big nose in other peoples business. But Russia has ALWAYS been this way. Making up threats that aren't there.

Life / Greatest Polish Films [22]

Yes, Billy was 100% Polish. He often gets grouped into Austrian heritage because he was born in the Galacia section of Austrian Poland. His mother was killed in Auschwitz.

Life / The "Ski" surname in American Movies [21]

The dimwitted Rick Moranis character in "Honey I shrunk the kids" is named Wayne Szalinski.