History / Poland Around 1883 [30]


Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia: "Partitions of Poland
Main article: History of Poland (1795-1918)
Poles would resent their fate and would several times rebel against the partitioners, particularly in the nineteenth century. In 1807 Napoleon recreated a Polish state, the Duchy of Warsaw, but after the Napoleonic wars, Poland was again divided in 1815 by the victorious Allies at the Congress of Vienna. The eastern portion was ruled by the Russian Czar as a Congress Kingdom, and possessed a liberal constitution. However, the Czars soon reduced Polish freedoms and Russia eventually de facto annexed the country. Later in the nineteenth century, Austrian-ruled Galicia, particularly the Free City of Kraków, became a centre of Polish cultural life."

As you can see Poland was partitioned during this time. Poznań and Inowrocław were under Prussian rule (this is probably why you refer to Poznań by its German name of Posen). A lot of Poles left Poland due to foreign rule over the country. Here is another excerpt from the wikipedia: "The Province of Posen (German: Provinz Posen, Polish: Prowincja Poznańska) was a province of Prussia from 1848-1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918; the whole area is now part of Poland. Its capital was Poznań (German: Posen). The province replaced the Grand Duchy of Posen." You may want to start your reading right there: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Posen

History / Poland Around 1883 [30]

I think it is a good start... Whatever source, the content is never fully objective and complete. Our job is to reach to multiple sources and form our own opinions. Can you offer some additional sources? :)

News / What do Poles think of current President of Poland? [23]


He apparently has some brains, one can see that even from his Solidarity days. It is just beyond me how person that has proven that has the ability to process more than basic thoughts can lack common sense to the extend he he does. Perhaps he grew up sheltered life and hasn't been exposed to a lot of things (e.g. using banking services), but at some point if you read, talk to other people and have some intellect you can draw conclusions on your own. He probably is so arrogant that he doesn't even consider other points of view. I don't have any other explanation.

History / Should Pope John Paul II Be Know as "The Great" [12]


I think the knowldge will be with us for very long time. I agree with E&B; he was a pope and although he may deserve the title more than some that have it, it doesn't go well with a his persona. A lot of christian priests grow their career in church, I don't think he did that so giving him this title would go kinda against it. Bottom line he deserves the "title", but really, it would be out of place and he doesn't need it :)

News / What do Poles think of current President of Poland? [23]


I agree that Kaczynski has a good approach to certain things and in fact I share some of his points of view. However his approach to gay matters, modern life style issues (use of internet, banking), employing entrapment to prove corruption and many others put him in very negative light. I don't really care if I agree with ones points of view and beliefs. I can respect people that differ in an opinion from mine. There are certain things, though, that I cannot overlook. He is just close minded on some issues ("close minded" being very mild expression of what he really is). He is not well rounded person! If you select someone as a leader of the country you expect certain qualities from that person that can put him on this same playing field with other leaders. He just doesn't belong there!

News / What do Poles think of current President of Poland? [23]


I apologize matthias, but I think this is naive thinking (not saying you are naive, but the way you reason here is). People hired to trap others on criminal behavior are professionals at tempting. It is like saying a strong person will never sin. Even God recognized that people are sinful and have their weaknesses. Tempting was the "devil's" job; God did not send Angels to tempt. But let's get off this Christian horse and think of your weaknesses. Let's say it is women, and let's say prostitution is illegal (don't know where you live)... If I hire a hot, smart, witty police officer to try to trap you so you offer her money for sex you are cooked! It is wrong to make someone a criminal and then catch them on it, you just catch criminals, e.g. those who give bribes and those who take it!

News / What do Poles think of current President of Poland? [23]


I am far from saying that everyone is corrupt. I am saying two things: 1. Everyone is human and has his(her) weaknesses so if you want to you will always find a way to corrupt that person. Having weaknesses doesn't make us corrupt, but just human! and 2. It is immoral to make someone criminal and then catch this person and punish him.

Life / I feel the gay rights movement is constrained Poland [90]

I have noticed that there is not a lot of gay bashing in this thread as someone tried to predict earlier. I guess I am pleasantly surprised... Poles rule!

News / What you think about the Polish President, Kaczynski? [53]

He is one uncultured, single minded, close minded autocrat with tunnel vision. If he could he would be a dictator, he just doesn't know it... I know these are strong statements about someone who has some brains, but brains are not enough. A President has to be well rounded and have more common sense. He is pure embarrassment to Poles and Poland! He may have good intentions, but as some say it in Poland "Hell is paved with good intentions". He has no idea of the world that surrounds Poland. I think he is an anachronism.

News / US dollar still falling... Change in Poland? [37]

Playing with currencies is risky, gold could be safer but not as liquid. It really depends what for how long you want to hold on to your money. Every investment will fluctuate. Your best bet is safe investment e.g. money market account in either currency, or if you can live with less liquidity something like gold. PLN should be safe, but dollar is unpredictable at the moment. It can go either way. It will eventually go up. Some FED actions can push it up sooner than one may expect but you never know.