History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]

Nat, aren't you tired of that? Ok... I replace the word Russia with the word "The Rus". Works better now?
I've got only one question (the above stream of consiciousness you're ******** with is uncommentable): who did Gogol mean in his novel under the word "Russian"? :) Just be honestand don't answer the question I didn't ask you.


Yes, I can speak. :)) You?

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]


Not exactly or, if you want, not at all. Firstly the country was only one at that time and it was Russia. Secondly the cossacks themselves represents the population where the national verge between Russians and Ukrainians was sorta blur and in a way came to naught. They defended one country - the country where they lived.


Hmm... you should keep in mind I think that it's not a movie first and foremost. It's a great Russian novel of a really great writer. Why I suggest watching it for Poles? Not to feed you with another piece of propaganda or whatever. I just want you to be objective. I don't remember if any Pole here ever talked about any "unwanted" pages of Polish history... everything has been sooooo beauuuutiful and rightful. Meanwhile it's not true. Gogol was actually pro-Polish he just took an honest look.

Are you planning to watch it in original? I liked that they didn't translate some Polish-Russian dialogues. It clearly shows lingual similarity.

P.S. The Polish actress there is indeed beautiful.

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]

I've recently watched it. Well... what could I say... On the whole I didn't like it. Poor play of some actors, too much of "Matushka-Rus'"-stuff which is mentioned at every turn (it's a bit exaggerated comparing to the original), also they went too far with violence having a will to monsterize Poles. Anyway it's worth watching and I would suggest watching it for Poles.

One thing to be mentioned as well... The Ukrainians translated it very interesting way. They replaced original adjective "Russian" in the movie everywhere with "Ukrainian"... from bad to worse... they even translated the book this way which is really funny. :)) I've got now only one question... what could it mean? Do they mean that Russians are Ukrainians or just want to show us this peculiar way that we are the one nation?

News / Russia and Poland possibility of the alliance [75]

Unfortunately I have to agree with some posts above. I don't think Polish people or Poland needs an alliance with Russia in its current state. Not that I don't want it, I'm just being realistic. Belorussia is a different story. It's ex-USSR state and we're mutually dependent (for instance since the USSR times till present they've produced trucks for Russian "Topol" (the Poplar) mobile nuke complex), they're less developed at any spheres than Poland, after all they all speak Russian and largely own similar mentality.

News / Russia and Poland possibility of the alliance [75]


Since it's very hard for me even to imagine such a state of affairs, I would try to be very accurate with my prediction. I believe there will be something like we now have with Belorussia: relative mutual respect on governmental level, industrial and cultural cooperation, cheap gas so that people from Poland near Belorussia won't have to go there weekly for filling up their tanks and "Saakashvili chewing his tie on TV" in case anybody offend you. :))

News / Russia and Poland possibility of the alliance [75]

First and foremost there should be friendly or at least neutral relationship established. No more mud throwing at each other both in media and political scene. As for more or less serious alliance it's hardly possible whilst Russia positions herself as a counterweight of NATO.

I'd love to see between Russia and Poland some like Russia and Greece scenario. Greece is in NATO but the relationship between both governments and people are perfect.

Life / What should be done to make life in Poland better and more enjoyable? [94]


I've beheld for many times situations when one said to another literally "go to hell" keeping on smiling. That irritates me and that was my point. Yet you're free to make any evaluation. I realize I might sound primitive or even stupid comparing to other posts here but this was in all sincerity. :)

Life / What should be done to make life in Poland better and more enjoyable? [94]


The question makes me wonder "better for whom"? I will answer it keeping in mind "to make life better for... Polish people".

I strongly believe you Polish people shouldn't ever forget about your traditions, about your forefathers and beautiful cultural heritage they brought to this world, you should say "yes" when you feel like saying "yes" meanwhile declining whatever you think is wrong. Be yourself, be who you are and use your own brain not denying the common sense of course. Don't try to look for the national idea in Iraq or in Afghanistan, don't replicate the bygone mistakes. Soviets said it was in Siberia. Has anybody found it over there? Nope... Your idea is on your soil and in your hearts therefore don't even try to keep smiling like a dumb american saying "f*ck off" and crossing your fingers behind the back. Your authentic emotions are your soul, something that distinguishes you from other allowing to proudly say "I'm Polish", don't lose it or otherwise you'll lose your identity and we Russians will finally lose Poland we love (well... many of us love). As long as you live the way you want you'll the happiest nation. I wish you that... All the best for you and your land!

Sasha

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]

Thanks for kind words, Pawian.



I think it's a bit different. Still and all we had the common enemy and those flowers put on graves were for brothers-in-arms not for invaders, whereas "the Smuta" you meant had been solely a Russian-Polish issue.


I am glad you realize it. Just wait some time. Russian government the way it currently is not ready for constructive dialogue. But honestly I don't see now anything that could stop putin's hegemony.

News / Polish minority abroad and minorities in Poland [71]

Nat answering your question about Russians being oppressed... You ask why? I respond - mostly because of policy conducted by Russian Government, in particular because they're just not native. I don't mean to second our policy but I do think it's not fair people pays for politicians intrigues.

Got you, Pawy. Think Lukaschenko(a) wants to keep the power at any price. He's on of those whose mindset could be thoroughly described by the word en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparatchik

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


So do I, Torq. There should be some sober dialogue between us.


Nay... :) Only Kostia, I'm just in a bully mood today.


Hey... don't lie! :P You get it from me. Isn't it enough?! :(
Besides suspiciousness can't be natural... it's acquired. At that point I'm glad your younger generation minds are free of that tough heritage.

Speaking for myself I can't say I'm indifferent.

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


You're so foreseeable Pawy :( *sighs*


Gosh... o_O You have pro-Russian people?! Unbelievable...Those should be some monstrous half-breeds.

News / Polish minority abroad and minorities in Poland [71]

Nat, that's a childish prattle. If there was only the issue of a language, there wouldn't be any problem at all. Looks like the only criterion of lie for you is the adjective "Russian" before any idea. Go and see firsthand before teach others bs. Again I'm not saying that RusGov is playing fair game but the Poles and the Russians are not doing thoroughly well over there.


Pawy I guess you're overestimating your Polish role and obviously underestimating Lithuanins. I think they know themselves what to do. If not, the EU will show them.

:))

What's happening to Poles in Belorussia? I'm really interested.

Salomon, given that "Russians have inferiority complex" (all rights reserved by Salomon), I wouldn't deal with them at any span of activity or otherwise you could end up with those who indeed had it (Stalin or Lenin). Do you need it? Take care.

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]



Cities with the majority of "white" population meet those requirements. Chechens or how we euphemistically call them here "Czechs" will never be tolerant (at least in the foreseeable future). Hm... did I sound intolerant? :))


Russians are mostly cooperative (from my point of view and I hope it's true). Russian might not help another Russian but will always help a foreigner if he got into trouble. That's our national feature.

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]

Ironside, I generally agree with you (probably the only phrase grate on ears


) but let's leave it.

For the sake of further dialogue I'd like you to clarify this phrase:


What do you think we're lack of or vice versa what would you like to see in average Russian mind? What does the word "modern" bear in the context?

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


Think I'm still alive as well.


Can easily be. The problem is that we don't have honest enough politicians in Russia. They're all either progovernmental or poor attempts on being an opposition. Second ones I suspect you read. You may express your views in media but this way you'll defenetely lose the cushy place. It's not a problem with the freedom of speech, it's a problem of mentality of some people that still needs some time to be changed. For instance journalists like Pozner or Svanidze initially being anticommunistic and antitotalitarian are now bought from top to toe. They need money more than truth.


I believe there're more your own problems, problems of your own policy in what you said. Juschenko could have been more flexible in his diplomacy but he didn't want to as he needed conflict with current Russia as an air to breath. If the government can't provide its citizens with the better wellfare, it looks for an excuse. Russia is a brilliant excuse for disability of your government.


I can say a lot on this topic... so much that I don't even know what I should begin with. At the same time I don't want to be understood wrong way. Chechnia and most of people raised there are merely beast. If I were putin, I would let them go and (or) even gove a money so that they won't ever step on my land. Sometimes it seemed to me that they only knew on how to rob and kill, nothing more and the hatred towards Russians they adopted with the first sips of mother's milk.

The ammount of Russians missed there (not in action... just missed) or killed there is just incomparable with those Chechens who were killed in those two compaigns. Basically nothing has changed since that time... they still hate us and Russian minority there feel oppressed all the time. I would let them go... I wouldn't wish such a neighbour even to my enemy.


Thanks Filios. :) I would include Poles in this list too or maybe even better second this phrase:

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


Democracy doesn't exist in Ukraine either. Secondly what does it give you as to the citizen of different country or you just prefer to bluntly manipulate with learnt by heart slogans from the media? It doesn't sound smart you know. So please tell me how undemocratic regime of Russia (the thought I thoroughly share separately) affects you? This affects me as a citizen in terms of non-working law, but you...


You're overestimating things. We don't kill people on their own land, we don't use nuclear weapon, we don't dictate to other countries the rules of living their lives we don't impose on others our model of "democracy"... yet. Maybe because we are weak so far.


yes...what about Georgia?

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


I've never said the policy of my government is fair, moreover I've never defended the policy of my country. The only thing that freak me out is when people want to paint their countries as goody-goody monsterizing Russia in parallel. This is really unfair.

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


I don't know Nat. The story of your tough childhood which leaded you to what you currently are is still to be said... and you know it better. Please narrate.

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


Huh... Boria... Achievements of the country on the whole consist of the achievements of its citizens regardless of their nation. I created the thread famous Russian Poles in order to show contribution of ethnic Poles to what Russia is nowadays. You can't deny it is afterall Russian achievement; and I don't deny that Russians are mishmash of Baltic-Asian-Scandinavic-Slavic-Finno-Ugric kins.


Easily. You actually already did.


This "phenomenon" arose in your mind whereas the reality is somewhat different.

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]

It's quite interesting to behold your guys rhetoric changing due to your personal preferences. Sokrates is obviously friendly towards Germans whereas more than just sceptical to Russians. Rafal is ok with Russians (at least I've never heard of any tough antikacapian notions of him) but hardly expresses warm feelings towards Germans. Nat hasn't made up his mind yet on who he is and playing a role of a sh!t in the ice hole floating hither and thither, desperately sucking up on a part-time basis to anybody who he believes will help him to charge windmills (struggle against Russians).

Can we all (Germans, Poles, Russians and Ukrainians) be equally friendly and respectful to each other simultaneously, I wonder? Let's shake hands guys...

P.S. BB as semi-communistic as the Earth is square.

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


Why in the world are you talking about nationality now? You said "literature". How can he be the pride of Ukrainian literature while not having a line in Ukrainian in his most famous stories?! So it's you who're trying to lump us together.

Yet if you want to talk about nationality then it's a personal question rather than ethnical.


Not necessarily. But... should I really prove the contrary?!


Yes and I don't think it's baseless but I prefer not to make a tragedy out of that. Afterall same goes for your elite.


So ist das Leben. Polish-Russian history full of unpleasant moments as well but it's never late to get relationships better.

History / Stolen hero of the forgotten war. [52]


how is that? could you please elaborate? He doesn't write in Ukrainian but he's a pride of Ukrainian literature... *confused*


There's no Polonophobic hysteria in Russia yet thankfully (to me). Or if you still want to stick with that word, how would you then name Polish policy towards Russia?


If you familiarized yourself with his biography, you could easily see how unpolitical he had been. He stayed away of political sentiments and was I would even say friendly towards Poles rather than neutral. But yes the easiest way to explain this World is to look for "Russian chauvinists" all the time as they most likely crucified the Saviour.


You know Boria I find your reaction much more deserving attention...

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]

Delirium

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]


Generally I agree, but there's always room for an exception. You don't understand the mentality most likely knowing more or less Russian. Or either you play as if you don't understand. Your version of Russophobia is pretty much stupid. It doesn't have legs to stand on.

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]


Yet I didn't find there words of that it had assumed preemptive nuclear strike. Secondly I bet you will be able to find same stuff to nitpick in other nuclear states' doctrines.


Absolutely. You can find there whatever you want (especially in the Wikipedia). But it doesn't mean you don't have to use your own filters.

I studied Russian military doctrine here in Russia in terms of nuclear weapon and I've never heard of preemptive nuclear strikes.

But I should probably say it again:



I will never believe you don't realize that Ukraine and Belorussia is kinda blanket which the West (including Poland first and foremost) and Russia pull on themselves. Yes there're some filthy methods using to reach the goal but they're mutual. Poland doesn't comprehend they're independent or if you want Poland comprehends it in her own way. So does Russia. Russia is doing the same. :) Stop whitewashing Polish politicians practically telling "our mud is cleaner than yours".

As for so-called "gas-issue"... well that's not completely Russian invention or even that is mostly not Russian invention. However I don't deny Russia took its part.


BB, I've just thought that it's quite deceiving to read the phrase "auf dem rot(t)en Platz" if you know English only. :))

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]


I don't know what you remember but that's a piece of crap. Did you study it in Russia to say that or simply read on the fence?

Russia has the primary targets to be destroyed in case of nuclear aggresion. None of them are in Poland... yet. But I assure you, they will be on Poland territory either, as soon as you install there interceptors. Why? Because this is a direct threat to Russian defensive capacity.


This is close to what BB said. Paranoia kills.

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]


You're asking who? :))


This is limned on water. This can be changed at any time.

Genealogy / shuma or szuma surname [10]

To the best of my knowledge "shuma" is a "forest" in Serbian.

News / Poland. Sold for nothing. [341]


You asked but wasn't patient enough to wait for the response.


Honestly I don't see any prerequisites for that (you meant "Russian", didn't you?)