History / What would Europe look like with Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Commonwealth today [209]

Had the Commonwealth survived, it would soon have become a constitutional democracy in the heart of Europe.

This would have had a profound effect on Russia, Germany and the Austro-Hungarians. Their regimes would have been unlikely to survive. Indeed, that is why they stepped in to stop it from happening.

Had they not intervened and had failed to strangle the embryonic democracy in its cradle, it would likely have spread. France and Poland have always had very strong ties. The two could have strengthened one another, both were moving toward constitutions along with the Americas.

There would be no EU today; it would be the Commonwealth, a greater Commonwealth which even Russia could have been part of.

Today, in reality, the Poles are finally emerging into a world where none of their neighbors appear likely to invade them or to attempt to destabilise them and they can start to expand into their full potential again.

Its as if finally Europe is ready for Poland.

UK, Ireland / Sad life of a Polish migrant in UK. Ch. 1 - Staring [43]

This is very interesting.

I recently spent three months living in Poland, near Warsaw. My background is that I grew up in London and now live in New Zealand.

One of the things that struck me about Poles is how aware they are of what is going on around them. They are always looking around and generally 'being there'. This is in contrast to Anglo-saxon types (I'll generalise that since it applies to Brits and NZers (aka 'Kiwis')) who are typically oblivious to their surroundings and only seem to notice other people by accident.

For example, I am sitting in a car on a journey through Warsaw. I am looking out of the window of the car at the people we are driving past.

Many of these people LOOK RIGHT BACK AT ME.

This is a phenomenon you don't usually encounter in Britain or New Zealand.

Another example, I am sitting in a 'food court' eating and looking around me at the people, trying to get some idea how Poles behave/dress etc. These people LOOK RIGHT BACK AT ME.

Or on the bus. People get on the bus and when the bus is getting crowded people make way for other people.

In the UK or NZ when people get on the bus they tend to stop at the first place they can.

They fix their gaze on something innocuous and fail to notice that if they took a few steps forward perhaps 6 more people could fit on the bus. The driver of the bus will think that the bus must be full and make these people wait for the next one. I never saw this phenomenon in Poland.

I like Poles *because* they are aware of whats around them and pay attention.

I hate this about the anglo-saxons. They - we - are so dull and stupid by comparison.

History / What would Europe look like with Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Commonwealth today [209]


I sure hope you have some photographic or video evidence of this...

UK, Ireland / Sad life of a Polish migrant in UK. Ch. 1 - Staring [43]

I prefer people who are aware of what is going on around them.

UK, Ireland / Sad life of a Polish migrant in UK. Ch. 1 - Staring [43]


Trust me, in New Zealand almost everyone is 'off in a dream world', young and old.

UK, Ireland / Sad life of a Polish migrant in UK. Ch. 1 - Staring [43]


I don't think its so much about staring. I never felt 'stared at' in Poland.

Its more about 'situational awareness', being conscious of ones surroundings. I tend to get the feeling with Brits and Kiwis that they are just totally oblivious to whats around them.

What impressed me most about Poles is that they seem.. expansive... like their 'bubble of awareness' is quite large by comparison.

UK, Ireland / Sad life of a Polish migrant in UK. Ch. 1 - Staring [43]


I did say 'Anglo-Saxon' Though I did end up using 'Brit' which might be interpreted to include Scots...

From what I've seen of Australians and USA-ians I think the same applies.

Dunno about Scots though, they are probably not to be classified as 'Anglo-Saxon'. In fact I'd imagine it could be quite rude to do so :P

History / What would Europe look like with Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Commonwealth today [209]

But going back to 'what would Europe look like'...

Or rather, what Europe may come to look like now that Poland is recovering.

I believe that Poland is one of the most powerful nations in Europe. But, for now, it is latent power.

A great positive power. Tell me, did the Commonwealth wage wars of aggression? I'd like to know more about this. It seems to me (from my little understanding) that the Commonwealth was not very belligerent, didn't tend to start wars but rather to finish them.

Somehow, I see Poland as if awaking from a terrible dream with the vision of Poland at the heart of a great and prosperous commonwealth as if only yesterday.

When I learned of how Poland was wrecked, virtually hung drawn and quartered it was like someone coming out of a 30 year coma hearing the most terrible news of the brutal rape and murder of his mother some 20 years ago.

So I strangely feel very strongly about this. I have no rational explanation for these feelings.

I feel compelled to ask 'What now? Where will you go, Poland?'

Are you going to stay depressed and downtrodden, wallowing in negativity? To remain virtually a third world country within Europe?

Many Poles I have known certainly seem to feel bafflingly negative about their countrymen declaring all other Poles to be lazy, ignorant thieves.

Its like an inverse nationalism where you seem to hate and distrust one another even more than you hate and distrust the Germans or Russians!

But you are a good people, a great people. And your country, the land, is good. You have excellent connectivity through the continent of Europe to the Baltic. Poland is very well placed, as real estate its fantastic. Why do you think the Germans, Russians and Austro-hungarians lusted after it so? They were virtually slobbering over Poland like a pack of hungry dogs.

I wish I were a Pole, so that I could call myself a nationalist and try to rouse these people to regain their place in the world, a place thats rightfully theirs in a Europe thats finally ready for what they stood for all those centuries ago.

Poland has a huge opportunity and has massive latent energy.

Lets not so much ask 'what would Europe have been like' but rather 'what will Europe be like'.

History / What would Europe look like with Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Commonwealth today [209]


Thats what I meant by 'Latent'

Its like having water behind a dam; its got latent energy. The water may be stagnating in that lake but when it is properly channeled it can power ten thousand homes and industries.

Thats Poland. Massive latent energy.

News / BNP far right in Poland [116]

Surely, with Polands history, there is room for a form of nationalism which is not negative?

UK, Ireland / To Brits only trout are not coarse? [18]

I think that most Brits don't regard any freshwater fish as edible other than trout.

I've heard adventurous people in Britain who *tried* carp describe it as 'fishy cotton wool full of needles'. I don't think they knew how to prepare it.

I think these fish are seen as 'survival' food more than anything else.

UK, Ireland / To Brits only trout are not coarse? [18]


In my experience, the filter-feeding Carp are the best tasting.

I think in Polish this is the topega?

Love / Do not marry Polish woman [212]

It seems to me that all Poles believe this about all other Poles, regardless of gender.

In my experience, its usually false!

Food / POLISH BREAD..... isn't it great... [22]

You know, this must be a fairly common experience.

I live in New Zealand. I had been a consumer of bread here for a very very long time. I was content with the bread I bought in the shops here.

Then I went to live in Poland for three months.

Now that I am back in New Zealand I can't eat the bread here any more.

There are two types of bread in this country;

Soft white bread which is like a kind of unsweetened cake.

Wholemeal bread which is as if it is baked with sawdust and bits of un-ground grain in it.

Now if I want to eat bread, I have to figure out how to make chleb...

UK, Ireland / To Brits only trout are not coarse? [18]


de-boned properly at the table while you are eating it!

Seeing Poles tuck into pike with gusto and me having such a hard time figuring out how to eat it without getting a mouth full of bones was an interesting experience.

Eating these fish can be a very industrious process! I was very impressed at the Poles for this ;)

Sometimes I wondered if there might be a Polish form of Russian Roulette; where you have a bottle of vodka and a plate of pike.

The idea is that as you get progressively more drunk, you run the risk of being careless with the bones!!

Food / Hare, rabbit, boar, venison, pheasant, grouse, squirrel, etc.? [21]

Here in New Zealand I make my bigos with wild venison, wild pig, wild hare and domesticated beef, pork and bacon!

I am told its the best bigos ever :D The German white-wine sauerkraut probably has something to do with it too...

Language / Not sure if I will be able to speak Polish [53]


I am not sure that they are speaking Polish. Or, if they are speaking Polish, if they are Poles. I suspect that they are Russian or Brits imitating a Russian accent.

Something about the r's and the sounds at the back of the mouth.

These scenes are on Youtube, just search for harry enfield polish cafe

UK, Ireland / Where, in the UK, is the most Polish? [18]

Hm. I guess if I went to BNP forums I might get more info ;)