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

Oh, yeah, I forgot about Lebowski. But that isn't a heroic character either. Thanks.

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

Another good point. I had forgotten about that as well. Thanks.

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

Poland and Russia will always share animosity. It has been this way for thousands of years. It is the nature of the two countries. Poland's simple desire to control its own destiny and Russia's simple desire to expand and grow. When Poland was stronger than Russia (Muscovy) it was Poland's complacency and Russia's ambition that turned the tides. Russia will always want more. There is nothing particularly wrong with that, but when you own a prime piece of real estate the way Poland does, she should be prepared to rub elbows with her eastern neighbor.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

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

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.

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.

Genealogy / strange Polish mixes [116]

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

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.

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.

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.

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...

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."

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?

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.

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.

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 / 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.

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

Don't forget Teutons. They're white.

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.