History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


I didnt say it was ok. Why are you trying this type of answering strategy - answering questions with questions, changing issues, saying nothing comes to mind et al. Isnt it obvious smoke and mirrors doesnt work with me?

You used to give me really thoughtful and interesting responses - where are they? Am I touching on issues that strike a nerve with you?

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


Bit tosser eh? Drill bits? Needless and failed attempt at profanity against me.

Right thread, right post.


Why's it pathetic? Let's spin this around - I recall from your previous posts you have little love for the IRA. Just say I had a chat with them about their exploits and blurted it out on say an English forum. I'd expect a similar question. I certianly wouldnt call them 'fine old gentleman'.

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


We really can't win here. Even when a tangible example of Polish action in assisting the Jews is pointed out an excuse is given as to why it wasnt believed. I think that says more about GB's credentials than anything else.

The fact that you cite this example of why he wasnt believed then fail to attack the logic of it says volumes about you too.

Honestly, I cannot comprehend how Karski could not have been believed - the poor guy trudged through Europe to deliver this bloody message. It really is symptomatic of GB's attitude to Eastern Europe during WW2.

It's my understanding that when Karski's message was conveyed to Jewish bodies in the USA, the response received was that it was not that they didnt believe him, it's that they didnt believe something like that could happen.

As to what more could have been done - here's a start. GB insisted with the Nazis that the AK be given combatant status. If not, German prisoners would suffer the consequences. Why couldn't similar correspondence have been forwarded setting out like terms for the Jews? Oh, I forgot, GB didnt know about this problem, so could not have conceivably done anything til they rolled up to the gates of the concentration camp.

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


Wonder if during your tet a tet you pointed out all the SS' faults to these upstanding gentleman as you have no hesitation in doing on this forum when it comes to Poland and Poles?

Still waiting on those Russian contributions - you've obviously had the time to go off thread and give us minute details of GB and german weaponology.

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


Your post is evasion, pure, simple and unadulterated. It's the safe haven of pub-knowledge pundits...

It's got everything to do with it. You post something, I take you up on the post and issue a challenge to give some examples and come up with the response that you did - I cant believe that nothing comes to mind for you when everything else seems to come to mind for you when you're not under pressure. If it's possible, please change your avatar such that the hands are shaking and sweat is pouring off the brow. Thanks mate.

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


Oh - you mean you've witnessed some Poles making the "koo koo crazy" hand sign when talking about Jews (correct me if I'm wrong). Thats what I understand the finger gesture to mean. In Oz, we use it if someone aint the full quid.

So, is this the instantly recognised sign that someone's referring to a Polish Jew? I dont mean to be rude, but we have the same type of thing here in Oz when referring to Poms (Oz talk for the English). We usually say whinging Poms and accompany this with the following hand gesture:

clench fingers and thumb such that it appears youre holding an invisible "rod" about an inch in diameter. Holding that hand gesture, touch the thumb and forefinger tot he forehead. From the elbow, move the forearm back and forth in a rythmic, pumping fashion. LOL

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


I agree - you didnt, but I didnt say you did single Poland out. If you catch someone in a shotgun blast and they complain about it, it's a bit trite to say "I didnt only get you, I was aiming for them as well".


Please give your view on good traits of Poland that were given by Russia and not ethnically Polish....

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


I know, and kudos to you for that. Thats why I found it strange that you' d say that. Or can you have it both ways (thinly veiled allusion to our other discussion) ;-)


What do you mean - youre being a bit cryptic? Polish Jews are wearing 'signs", or non Jewish Poles are putting signs on them??

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


No I havent. Why? From the emotion of your post I take it that the 'coloured people' are treated pretty badly there? Are you now in league with Blackzilla - remember him?


I agree whol;eheartedly. I'd hazard a guess and say though that a gretaer percentage of threads on this forum are rehashes of negative things about Poland. Is there really a need to keep flogging a dead horse?

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


The issue that you have devolved into expressing generalised and negative sentiments of Poland. The issue that you quoted Lukasz and in response made such comments, then said you were replying to some other person, which confused me. I thought I made my issue pretty clear?

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


I thought you folllowed me?! As long as you stay slightly behind me and to my left I dont mind. You can be like mini me! (*quietly whispering* I'm going to general discussions next to give you some time to respond to this post - you can follow me there) ;-)


I'm confused. Quote number 1090 shows you replying to Lukasz with words to the effect of not having it both ways. Plainly, you must have misquoted because there's no way in the world you'd be trying to evade the issue, is there?

Cheers, Dan

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]

I understand that and agree, but that wasnt my point - there's no need to say bad generalised things about Poland please. Thanks.

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


Come again? It's not a question of having it both ways at all. Poland has, almost without exception, resisted being incorporated under the Russian umbrella. On the other hand, Poland has quite rightly pointed the finger toward Russia for "foibles" that occurred and most probably would not not have occurred but for Russian occupation and all its accoutrements.

Of course, your nation has not been in the same position as Poland but one can draw a delicious synonym between England and Russia viz Ireland. Simplictically, England occupied Ireland because it was a perceived part of the infant "Empire" and might makes right. England then imposed it's own social/political/legal norms on Ireland. And what about Scotland?

I wouldnt feel comfortable saying that Ireland "cant have it both ways" when the Irish say we aint English and a lot of our miseries were caused by the English.

Wave the finger of judgment somewhere else, particulalry if you have no identifiable nexus with the subject matter apart from a passing academic interest.

History / Jewish love towards Poles [389]


Excellent point on tatars and assimilation. Although I'm no expert on tatar/polish relations, didnt the two get on quite well relative to poles/jews?


Why are you saying these and other similar things mate? You're starting to sound like a Big Larry/Ned - remember him?

Genealogy / Surname Info Request:Napierkowski [9]


Hi

I had a friend of Scottish origin several years ago. He did some research into the Polish/Scottish connection, particularly when Scots came to Poland in 16-17C. I recall him saying that Napierkowski was simply a Polonised version of Napier, a Scottish name. Hope that helps.

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


I remember reading this somewhere also. Was it the pretender Shuisky?

It was said that before firing him they dressed him in a silver and blue polyester bodysuit with a matching helmet. They didnt tell him they were going to pull away the safety net after they fired him. Eyewitnesses report that he did at least 3 quite spectacular somersaults before hitting the Kremlin wall, which at that stage was where the Polish/Muscovite border began.

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]

Hi all,

I agree the LV was an important factor in Poland's decline, but I dont think you can discount how outside powers reallly seized on this contsitutional right and used it to their own ends. Had Poland remained able to stop outside influence, I think the LV would have remained an excellent constitiuional tool, rather than a negative one.

Another interesting point was Poland's election of kings after the death of the last Jagiellonian king. Norman Davies (God's playground) and Jerzy Lukowski (Liberty's Folly) both have excellent analyses of Pol-Lit political structures, strengths and weaknesses and I highly recommend both.

I also recall that Jean Jacques Rousseau did a piece on Polish government and I think it's on the web. It was a good read too.

Cheers, Dan

Life / "I can spot a Pole a mile away" - Polish fashion? [146]

Ha ha! I was worried that no one would be able to imagine this picture! I'm glad you did. To top it all off he would sometimes wear kung fu shoes as well!!!! He went thru a Greek Fisherma hat wearing phase as well when he bought a yacht. Regretably, I have no memory of him puttinh the whole ensemble together, but I'm sure our imaginations can take it in!

BTW - he is of dark complexion, has a big chest and big biceps, so the mesh vest was bearable.

Cheers, Dan

Life / Damn proud of being (half) Polish [77]


etc...

I cant but help shake my head at the misuse of quotes here. How did the words you quoted lead your response? Clearly you didnt do me the courtesy of properly reading my post. You would have seen that my pride is not an egocentric emotion. Pride can also mean pleasure, respect and admiration at what other people have done.

Sorry I didnt phrase it correctly, but I think I've answered your grammatical challenge and I'll comfortably suggest that you came off second best old son. Barbeque or tomato sauce with your humble pie?


I wished I'd laid a bet on you not understanding my experience because you clearly didnt. In plain English, just for you, the emotional effort bit refers to having a father who was clearly negatively effected by the war, and such effects were indirectly experienced by me. Exmaple:

Me as a young fellow when eating tomato soup with my dad, who's close to tears - "Dad, what's wrong?". Dad - "I was eating tomato soup when my dad's friends came and told me and my mum that my father had just been killed by a dive bomber" or when I questioned dad "Why dont you like German Shepherds?" and dad says "because those fukin Kraut bastards used them against children" or when I asked my dad "why have you got all those little holes in your legs" and he tells me it was because he was shot at with a machine gun and concrete shards shredded his legs. Emotional effort to hear this **** - YOU BET MATE! Dont try and dishonour me by insinuating I'm trying to appropriate kudos that arent mine. If you dont understand, ask first. If you dont want to understand and simply use this forum to try to impress with your witty analyses of what pride is and who is allowed to have it an in what context then you've been shown up for what you are.

Oh, and the really special last paragraph of talking about me in the 3rd person as some type of pretend soldier and valour thief - I must say I'm at a loss to respond, and that's rare for me because I do this type of stuff for a living. All I can do is shake my head.

So here's the second bit of free advice I'll give you because you failed to follow the first bit and got burnt - know what you're talking about and dont underestimate your audience or adversary, because not everyone will swallow what you say. Next time if you disagree with something I say, approach me politely and express it respectfully. If you dont get the gist of what I say, ask for clarification. If you still disagree, then at least the contentious point will be clear and I wont have to waste my time doing this again.

Life / Damn proud of being (half) Polish [77]


Thanks for the tip - I havent read this. If its about children being murdered I dont think I could. I don't have the stomach for that kind of thing. My dad has told me enough stories about what happended to children in Warsaw to haunt anyone for a lifetime.

Ive tried to urge my dad to pen his memoirs of WW2 but he wont. He was born in 1937. I'd urge other forum members to talk to their grandparents/parents so that this information wont be lost.


Regretably I can't speak it. I too try to think how I would have acted in such circumstances. I dont think anyone can really say for sure unless they're put to the test. I particularly admire the scouting movement in Poland and the way scouting principles served to guide the "grey ranks" moral compass when they faced the fighting.


... etc

If this post was spiteful there's no need for that. As to effort, I suppose it can be an emotional effort having a Polish parent who lived through WW2 but lost everything. You wouldnt understand that though, but I'm sure a lot of others will.

My sense of pride has nothing to do with egocentric notions of personal achievements. It's a source of pride that I wanted to share with other forum members who have similar backgrounds and understandings.

The strange allusion you make to sacrifice in '44 wasnt mine - it was my grandad's. He died there in ealry August 44.

Think about what you write before you do so. As so many have demonstrated on this forum, armchair heroics behind the safety of a computer screen impress no one.

Life / How much do you HATE POLISH PEOPLE and POLAND [1260]


What a cracker! Your sources are impeccable my learned friend. I wish to join your crusade. Ive made some pretty and colourful banners, but I just need the streamers - perhaps you can bring these, and some confetti as well.

We can record our crusade and post it on You Tube, thereby giving other connoisseurs of fiction and bigotry a ready made source to hang their argument on.

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


Nice piece mate. I also think it's important we dont forget that a lot of achievements were made in conjunction with Poland's Lithuanian partners. Wiwat to them.

I think it would be a nice and inclusive gesture to cite some of the battles where Polish Jews made a valuable contribution. I'm thinking of their contributions toward the defence of Warsaw during the Kosciuszko Insurrections (to name one). Wiwat to them too.

To that list we could add the battle of Orsza (early 16C). Another fine example of Polish military prowess over the Muscovites.

I'll have to pull out the old Davies, Lukowski and Zamoyski books to see if I can add any more.


Why not? I will certainly be exposing my son to Australian history as well as Polish history.

Cheers Dan

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


What? The kurtka and the braided coats? I thought it was Polish.

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


Um - I dont think I ascribe to this type of rationale. Seeing God as overseer of and beneficiary of Poland's victories is certainly a historic consideration. I recall that Poland saw itself as the "bulwark" of christendom, and Sobieski himself, after Vienna, said "I came, I saw, God conquered".

I'm not religious though (non practicing Catholic).

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


What about the Polish contribution to overall military strategy? Ie, cavalry tactics, uniforms, armor, unit size and functionality. I have heard that the Polish use of battle formations is a direct descendant of modern military unit sizes.


I thought Napoleon gave the command when he realised no one else could do it. When **** hit the fan he knew who could sort it out!

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


Nice topic! I'd submit the biggest historic achievement was the constitutional shift away from absolutism and toward democracy in the mid to late 15C.

What about the battle of Kluszyn? I think this was in early 1600's when a smaller force beat a larger combined Scots/Swedish? force.

What about Samosierra? Stupendous! In fact, the whole Napoleaonic War was a magnificaent feat for the Poles.

What about Koscziusko's contributions to the AWoI?

I look forward to reading some more obscure contribuionts too.


Ha ha. Ive read some of that guys posts. A reply was tempting, but then I thought the more you stir s..t the more it stinks. Anyway, my brain is still a bit numb from the festive season and from some of those great discussions we had last year. Hope you had a good xmas and new years mate. Cheers Dan

History / Poland: we have an interesting history. [72]


Nice topic! I'd submit the biggest historic achievement was the constitutional shift away from absolutism and toward democracy in the mid to late 15C.

What about the battle of Kluszyn? I think this was in early 1600's when a smaller force beat a larger combined Scots/Swedish? force.

What about Samosierra? Stupendous! In fact, the whole Napoleaonic War was a magnificaent feat for the Poles.

What about Koscziusko's contributions to the AWoI?

I look forward to reading some more obscure contribuionts too. Cheers Dan

News / Zbigniew Brzezinski, Great Polish Intellectual & Strategist [27]


Had to laugh at this! Is this the right picture? It looks like 3 of those street performers who paint themselves in silver and stand very still.

Life / "I can spot a Pole a mile away" - Polish fashion? [146]


Not sure how it works in Scotland mate but if you ever get admitted as a lawyer I'm sure your solicitors board and the judiciary who ratify your admission would love to see some of your posts - particularly the one about Poles getting knifed! Think about that before you post anymore of your nonsense.

By the way and in keeping with this thread, my dad used to love wearing baggy Eurpoean leisure pants (you know, thin cotton material, thick elastic band at the waist and elastic at the ankles, garish patterns) and white mesh singlets. Fantastic and funny, though he had the physique to pull it off.