News / Putin for Polish president? [69]

There is no question that Putin was technically "successful" in the way he took Russia from powerless to powerful. But to answer the posts question, a resounding no, I would not like Putin or anyone like him to be Poland's president or President of any nation I know or love. To echo, isthatu, there are right ways to do things and wrong ways. As an American, I am proud to live in a powerful country, however, it is one thing to be powerful and worthy of pride and quite another to be powerful and worthy of shame. Russia can be put in that category more often than not (that may be the pot calling the kettle black a bit, especially lately, and to be sure recent America gives us less and less to be proud of, still...). Putin's "results" are hardly worth the cost in dignity and civilisation.

Love / BLACK GUYS POLISH WOMEN [809]

I guess my real question is; "What is Black culture?" I mean, like any group, many of its members have different values and sentiments, why do we contribute things as "being Black?" Can I, as a white person, not like jazz? Or soul? I certainly do. And is it not possible for a Black man to enjoy country and western music? Or blue grass? Why do we pigeonhole people when each member of each group, and the human race for that matter, is different. Just easier, I guess.

Also, I want to clarify that I wasn't suggesting that Hip Hop be considered "white culture" or any sillyness like that, just simply saying that we like to think we understand the "minority experience" when the only experience we can truly understand is our own.

News / Putin for Polish president? [69]

As I said, Putin was successful. Russia is a great nation once again, so in that I wont argue, but, just like America, Russia must ask herself if she wants to use her power for good, or just be international bullies.

Love / BLACK GUYS POLISH WOMEN [809]

I didn't say anything about rules. I'm simply saying, as are you, that if there is a "Black culture" it is unbelievably broad. My point was, that if Hip Hop was to represent "the Black experience", then it isn't doing a very good job. Masks said earlier that while he enjoys hip hop, people are fascinated to find that he does not own a gun. He was joking, but it's not that far off. A lot of people get their only impression of this so-called "Black culture" from Hip Hop music and therefore are given an impression, certainly from mainstream Hip Hop, that "being Black" is about being violent and hypersexual. If that's the case than call me wrong, but I wouldn't suppose so.

News / Putin for Polish president? [69]


Done and done, Wahldo.

Love / BLACK GUYS POLISH WOMEN [809]

Exactly. If I like Otis Redding, Spike Lee, and chicken wings, does that make me Black? Even a little? See how ridiculous that sounds. It's human nature to put people in groups, it's easier to colonize our minds by thinking that all minorities are the same than actually imagine that each one may be different. Thinking you know something about someone before you've met them is a dangerous business. Best to get to know people before you form your opinions of them. I certainly don't know what "being Black" means but I'm sure it's not as simple as baggy jeans and platinum chains.

News / Putin for Polish president? [69]

I'm sure it wasn't. You made a good point and I surely respect the job Putin did.

Life / WIELORYB AND FEMINISM? [7]

I don't understand. Are you critiquing the English word "Feminism" or the Polish word for Feminism? Furthuremore, why are you so sure that Feminism de-emphasises femininity? There's nothing that says a Feminist can't be "traditionally" feminine.

Life / WIELORYB AND FEMINISM? [7]

I'm no expert, but from my understanding, feminism is less about being LIKE a man and more about being treated with the same respect AS a man. I've never understood feminism to mean being less of a woman, just treated better.

Love / BLACK GUYS POLISH WOMEN [809]

TSJenkins must not keep "his" women very safe. Masks has got one! I keep all mine in a celler in the basement. TSJenkins, where do you keep yours?

News / Bronislaw Geremek died in a car crash today ( 13.07 ) [6]

Solidarity Leader Dead at 76

One of Solidarity's great leaders as far as a peacemaker for the world, Bronislaw Geremek, died a few days ago in a car accident.

nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/europe/14geremek.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

I apologize, I somehow missed that a thread was opened a few days ago on this. Please attach this post to it.

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

He said he'd like to castrate Obama.

"I want to cut his nuts off."
-Reverand Jesse Jackson

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

I'm afraid Rev. Jackson didn't reveal his intentions for Sen. Obama's balls.

Love / Getting Engaged to Polish girl, asking permission from her dad? [19]

Well, there might be a specific custom in Poland but I would say it is ALWAYS a must to ask the father before you propose. So definately do so. If there is no way to do it in person, I suppose over the phone would be acceptable. Perhaps a hand written letter requesting permission? Definately send flowers to the parents. And good luck.

Love / Getting Engaged to Polish girl, asking permission from her dad? [19]

The permission, Switezianka, is just to ask. The decision to marry the poor schlub is still yours. It's not, "Hey, Pops, I'm going to marry your daughter. Cool with you?" It's, "I'd like just your permission to ask the question." The girl still decides.

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


Parents who stopping teaching it to their kids, and people of privalege denying that it doesn't exist anymore. That would be a good start.

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

My TV has never been racist to me if that's what you're asking.

History / Good Polish History resource (book), any suggestions? [11]

There is a two volume book called "God's Playground: the History of Poland" by Norman Davies. For my money is it the most thorough literature on the subject. It begins in the 900s and, if you get the updated version, goes all the way to the 2000s. Very informative. It's a tad dry, however, and a more colorful yet utltimately more incomplete history is "The Polish Way," by Adam Zamoyski. Also for a contempary history around the Solidarity movement there is "The Poles" by Stevens. All three are excellent.

Love / BLACK GUYS POLISH WOMEN [809]

And America, Gary Busey, has it been destroyed by multi-culturalism? Plus, have you ever asked WHY these people are violent? Or how you would react in similar circumstances?

Love / WHITE GUYS POLISH WOMEN [36]


It's true. We also have four fingers on each hand. D'oh! And the Poles here in America a black and white. In fact one told me yesterday that McCain is cutting into Obama's lead. Poles come in many colors.

USA, Canada / Moving out - question to peeps from LA [22]

In most Real Estate offices there are these thick booklets that have listings of most apartments in the city organized by neighborhood. I recently looked at moving ( I stayed in my apartment, though, I should say for full disclosure) but these booklets were invaluable in terms of having all the right information in one place. Plus, they aren't scams. I can't remember the name of the booklet but they pretty much available at most real estate offices. Good luck, it's hell looking for apartments in theis town.

USA, Canada / Polish American as US Republican vice-presidential candidate? [13]

I suppose it doesn't matter, he's picked the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Don't believe she's Polish, however, I don't know anything about her. Pretty smart pick actually (could be) it helps McCain get some of the disgruntled "Hillary Democrats" and Alaska is a huge energy state, something McCain is percieved as being weak on. However, she couldn't be more of an outsider (she lives in Alaska for Christ's sake) and it could blow up in everyone's face. So we'll see.

Love / Guys from Poland (in the US) - players and a lairs? [14]

You have yourself a jerk. Sadly, jerks come from all nations. Drop him. You deserve better.

USA, Canada / Polish American as US Republican vice-presidential candidate? [13]

One would think so.

Look, I'm saying that the strategy WILL work, just that's what the strategy seems to be. However, you're right, it's not giving these voters much credit if the Republicans think they'll come over just because she's a women. But time will tell.

Life / 'The Pianist' - the movie. What's your opinion? Polanski [59]


Who cares? It's acting! Did you know the man who played Han Solo is not really from outer space?

"The Pianist" is Polanski's greatest later work. Because of his personal life his films went downhill for sometime after "Chinatown," and "The Pianist" was a welcome and long overdue return to form from one of Poland's greatest artists, alleged pedophile or not. I would rant "The Pianist" after "Chinatown," and "Knife in the Water" as Polanski's best.

Life / 'The Pianist' - the movie. What's your opinion? Polanski [59]

The movie wasn't about those people. It was about Szpillman and his story alone. Watch "Kanal" or countless others if you want a movie about the "real" heroes. You can't judge a movie because it wasn't about what you want it to be about. Is "Schindler's List" insulting because Schindler was Czech and not Polish?

Love / Why are Polish, Slavic women so sensitive? [21]

Maybe they are upset that you are lumping them all together in such a way.

What are you saying to these women? Examples please.

Love / Why are Polish, Slavic women so sensitive? [21]

Yes, I would say that Slavs are more maybe not excited, but perhaps passionate or emotional? But I hardly think that this fact is a) restricted to women or b) some sort of ethnic thing.

I'm generalising surely but I've found that Polish women (I can't speak for Slavs as most of my experience is with Poles [for that matter, though, who am I to speak for Polish women?]) are passionate in the way that say, many French or Italian women are.

I think, however, that this is political and social, not something inherent in the blood. Those three countries have uproarious, uncertain, and sometimes violent pasts and that reflects in there people. If British or Japanese or German people (and women) are more reserved or stoic perhaps its because of the relative stable histories of their nations. Just a theory, and it certainly doesn't just apply to the women.

Love / Why are Polish, Slavic women so sensitive? [21]


I would say sensual is quite a different matter. Surely, any person, from any walk of life can be sensual, but sensual for some is a private matter for others quite public. Not to put words in southern's mouth but I believe he is speaking about emotions displayed in public. Could be wrong but that's how I understood his question.


I said relatively. I would say, that Germany, while often at war, is most often the actor in those disputes, as opposed to being the one acted upon. That is to say, that the Germans have long been the controllers of their own destiny, like the British and the Americans. That would be fair to say, I think.

Love / Why are Polish, Slavic women so sensitive? [21]

Alright, southern. I might be able to agree to that point. But your question is why? Do you think it is something in the Slavic brain, or blood, or soul? Or is there a social reason? Or is it just so for no reason at all?

I wouldn't say that Slavic women, certainly not Polish women are fragile, however. These are the women or the daughters of the women who saw their country get desimated by the Blitz, watch their men or their sisters go off to die, and were held responsible to rebuild a society when the bombing stopped. Ask a Pole if he would describe their Babcia as "fragile."

I hear what you're saying, though. There is something, say, delicate, and always feminine about some Polish women but even while delicate, it is quite powerful and strong.