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


Yes, it could be. He rules Belarus just like he used to rule a kolchoz in the past.

PS. The word is also used in Polish, borrowed from Russian.


Lithuanians probably have bigger national complexes than Poles. Don`t forget it is a small nation which panics at the thought of being diluted in some larger entity by stronger neighbours. They have survived the times of the Soviet Union with considerable losses and are intent on preserving their identity. Hence the problems with surname spelling and land redistribution. They are afraid of Polish influence because they remember how easily Lithuanian elites got polonised in the past.

Poles should be aware of Lithuanian fears and deal with them in velvet gloves.

You remember what ferment was raised in media and by politicians in Poland when Germans started coming back and reclaiming their property through Polish courts?

The same applies to Lithuania but their fears are tenfold Polish ones.

More problems:

According to Tygodnik Wilenszczyzny Polish language weekly Lithuanian authorities don't respect EU convention (*). Jurgis Jurkevicius, the representative of Lithuanian government in the Vilnius district municipality demands removal of Polish names of the streets in Maišiagala (Mejszagola), Raudondvaris (Czerwony Dwór), Rieše (Rzesza) and Suderve (Suderwa). Bailiffs will remove street signs with Polish names from public places. It's not clear, if the signs can be removed from houses owned by individuals .

In late May 2008, Association of Poles in Lithuania issued a letter, addressed to the government of Lithuania, complaining about anti-minority (primarily, anti-Polish) rhetoric in media, citing upcoming parliamentary elections as a motive, and asking for better treatment of the ethnic minorities.

absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Polish_minority_in_Lithuania

Data:
The Polish minority in Lithuania (; ) numbers 234,989 persons and, at 6.74% of the population of Lithuania, forms the largest ethnic minority in modern Lithuania and one of the largest Polish diaspora group in a former Soviet republic. Poles are concentrated in the Vilnius region (Polish: Wilno). People of Polish ethnicity have lived on the territory of modern Lithuania for many centuries.

pawian
Poles succeed in Lithuania
thenews.pl
08.06.2009

In yesterday's European Parliament elections in Lithuania, Poles managed to get enough votes to secure a representative for European Parliament.

The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (EAPL) gathered 8,46 percent of votes and won victory in four districts: Vilnius (71 percent of votes), Salcininkai (80,6 percent), Trakai (31,38 percent), Svencionys (22,42 percent).

Waldemar Tomaszewski, the head of the EAPL, will be the first Pole in Lithuanian history to become a member of European Parliament.
"It is a superb result!" commented Tomaszewski, who admitted that the party owes a part of its success to a low voter turnout.

"While in the EP I'm going to focus on three main issues: energy, human rights, including the rights of minorities, and ideology, i.e. spreading Christian values," added the politician, describing his political program.

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


Without googling it I can try to guess - they voted PiS?? :):)

News / THOUSANDS OF YOUNG ISRAELIS FLOODING POLAND [93]

It seems Israeli kids are really spoilt. Someone should explain to them they damage the image of their own country.
But I think they also behave like that everywhere else, not only in Poland. It is worldwide problem. Youngsters today feel free to do what they want.

Are certain other nationalities which visit Krakow better-behaved? Not much. :):):)

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


I am sorry, I used a short-cut. The full meaning was: it is a Polish prerogative to help Lithuanians and other Baltics keep their independence.


Poles in Belarus want to have their own organization chosen without Belarus regime`s supervision. Lukashenka refuses and there are two organizations in fact: legal chosen by Lukashenka and illegal but acknowledged by Polish government. Of course, "illegal" Poles are repressed by the regime.

Recently there was a congress of "illegals"

Here`s a list of repressions which are mild, not of stalinist type, of course. Lukashenka is a nice dictator. :):):)
spring96.org/en/tags/union-of-poles/

e.g.,
05.09.2008 Hrodna: On 4 September Mechyslau Yaskevich, the deputy head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, was detained by the police and guarded to Kastrychnitski district police department.

19.02.2009 Teresa Silivonchyk, head of the Baranavichy branch of the unrecognized by the authorities Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB), received a warning from the prosecutor's office about criminal responsibility for activity in an unregistered organization. According to Andrzej Poczobut, member of the council of the organization and journalist of Gazeta Wyborcza, it hasn't been the first case when the authorities decided to use notorious article 193-1 of the Criminal Code against members of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Radio Racyja reports.

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


If that`s the case, and if people in the region retained their anticommunist attitude, then I am ready to say I am terribly sorry.

But vaguely, there are results of elections stored in my memory which suggest that poor regions like Suwalszczyzna voted post-communists because it is their true preference.

Now imagine you live in 1632, twenty years after the Times of Trouble. What would you think about Poles? Do you understand now the mental burden we adult Poles carry? :):):)


Yes, you are right. Mature is too big word here. Let`s say adult instead. :):):)

Love / Gay Interracial Polish Dating [36]

Poles are tolerant.

So, when`s the wedding?

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


Yes, but they are so.... odd. :):):)


Neither have I.


Nice city. I would like to revisit it one day. Did you fully renovate the Old Town houses?


Yes, £ódź was always red. :):):)

I meant north-east of Poland. You know, Suwałki etc.


hahahahaha I am learning from you and Constantine the skill of progvocation. E.g., here is another lesson for me:


:):)


Probably there aren`t too many, Kaczyński brothers for example. Other mature Poles like me feel there is need for better relations but they don`t receive too much supportive incentives from Russians in order to overcome their natural suspicion. After all, they spent half their lives in communist Poland under Russian occupation. :):):)

Fortunately, the younger generation is totally indifferent. :):):)

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]

My general impression. Evoked by your vehement support for Polish close cooperation with Russia. You must come from central or eastern Poland which used to be Russian partition. :):):):):):) hahahahaha

PS. Read my edition in above post.

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]

Dear Solomon, you are not Polish to the best of my knowledge. That is why, you should be careful with what you write. :):):):)
And careful with what you read in people`s posts. :):):):)

Why?

You seem to have missed one sentence: it was best visible in 1990s.

Secondly, PiS is a right-wing party when it comes to ideology, but socialist in economic matters.
Did you know about it? :):):):)

History / Partitions and Modern Polish Culture [26]


By partitions Poles understand the ones in 18 century - 1773, 1793, 1795. There were 3 partition zones: Russian, Austrian, Prussian. The end of partitions came in 1918.

A few random remarks on cultural differences which exist till today:

Poles in former Prussian partition are considered well-organized, diligent, accurate, dutiful, abiding to law. They learnt theses feaures from their German occupiers to avoid depolonization and save their identity.

Poles in Austrian zone were the poorest of all. Galicia poverty was proverbial. Peasants emigrated by tens of thousands. Till today farmers` fields in southern Poland are the smallest of all.

Southern Poland is a traditionally Catholic region which almost always voted anticommunist parties and politicians. It is different in central and eastern Poland, once under Russian partition, which often voted post-communist or socialist. It was best visible in 1990s.

A few kilometers to the north of Krakow there is a monument which marks the border between the Austrian partition with Krakow and Russian one with Warsaw. It seems that Krakowians are proud of being under the Austrian occupation which was the mildest of the three. Poles had a lot of rights in it, they could even be elected to the Austrian parliament, sth unthinkable in Russian or German zones.

Let someone add more

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

Well, OK, if by closer ties with Russia you mean Polish participation in Nord Stream, I am not against it. Yes, Russian gas is the cheaper than from other sources. The problem is that Russians see it as a means of pressure on recipient countries. Ao, apart from the new gas pipe, Poland should also built a gas port for tankers to secure the supplies in case of Russian cut-off.

I am really curious how the issue of Nord Stream is going to end.


Well, I would like to hear more of your arguments before I agree. :):)

History / Taras Bulba - the movie [115]


Hmm, I am a pessimist about Russian chances of better-off life for an average citizen. The costs of keeping such a big country running devour most part of its income. :):):)

Have you read the book Letters from Russia by Custine from 19 century? :):):)


Broad-minded? Cooperative? Tolerant?

Travel / Poland: What should I look forward to or avoid? Is it fun to visit? [34]



I find these comments very shallow, I am afraid. Being a Krakowian by birth, I appreciate Warsaw very much. As for robbing, the only time I was robbed in my life (pickpocketed actually) was in NYC, US.

Love / Should I Be Nervous About Going to Poland? Black female dating a Pole. [158]

I already posted some pictures. See them here: https://polishforums.com/study/poland-american-muslim-girl-thinking-medical-29679/

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


I quite agree with you.

But I still remain cautious about this:


:):):)

Why? Because, as I told you , close cooperation with Russia means turning back to the West and that`s what most Poles don`t want. Is it so hard to understand that although Poland has always been a border country, on the crossroads of cultures, where the East meets the West, Poles in their majority feel Westerners, or at least the nation who belongs to the Western hemisphere????

Sorry, Salomon, if that disappointed you. As long as Russians view the West with hostility and suspicion, Poles will remain wary about Russia, because we are a bigger part of the Western culture than Eastern, if you want it or not.

Even if it is going to cost us. Poles have proven many times they don`t look at the cost in such matters. Such national trait. :):):) That is why your words below have no influence on me :):):)


The safest solution you advocate is becoming Russian satellite again. Never! :):):) I prefer to be golodupiec on the crossroads than a matroyoshka in the Russian shop! :):):)


Changes in policy are already visible. Polish technocrats who are at power now, disregarding Lithuanian strategic interests, are probably planning to sell Polish-owned Mozejki refinery in Lithuania to Russians. Money makes the world etc....

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


Yes, of course. Jews who can prove their family once owned some property in Poland should be granted the right to have it back or at least compensation.

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


It is different. German property was taken over by the state in result of the war started by Germans, and the decree was meant as one of the forms of war reperations.

Soviets primitively grabbed everything for the communist state in the name of robbing people, that was illegal. :):)

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



To some extent it is correct thinking but not exactly. Why should Lithuanian Poles be held responsible for the native Polish government`s policies? :):):) I hope your intention isn`t to apply the rule of collective responsibility here?

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


In your opinion the link proves the point that Poles in Lithuania are oppressed more than in Belarus. But the very first sentence suggests sth opposite: Europe, defend our rights, {...} such slogans were on banners carried by Lithuanian Poles in front of the Czech Republic`s embassy in the capital of Lithuania. ("Europo, obroń nasze prawa", "Konserwatyści, wasze zachowanie nie jest chrześcijańskie", "Stop dyskryminacji mniejszości" - z plakatami o takiej treści pikietowali w piątek litewscy Polacy w Wilnie przed gmachem ambasady Republiki Czeskiej, która przewodniczy w tym półroczu UE.)

The very fact that Poles in Lithuania organize protests in streets proves their plight is not so harsh as in Belarus.

What are Lithuanian Poles` grievances today?

1. Bilingual road signs. After a few years of their existence Lithuanians started removing them recently according to the new law which protects the Lithuanian language. The same with Polish surnames which must be spelled in Lithuanian.

2. There are some problems concerning Polish schools. Poles claim that the authorities are trying to suppress schooling in the Polish language by new laws which impose the same requirements for both Lithuanian and minority students in creating new classes. It sounds a bit vague, I don`t know what the situation has been so far...

3. Poles claim that the land owners who lost their property in Soviet times are not getting it back. The process of reprivatisation is delayed... In Wilno only 15% Polish owners received their property back.

Love / Should I Be Nervous About Going to Poland? Black female dating a Pole. [158]


This reasoning has serious flaws. What about black people born in Poland and speaking perfect Polish?

Everyone hates everyone else in Western Europe? I thought it is a typically Polish characteristic.... true especially in case of rascists :):):)

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


Yes, we will wear such armbands during a Rising against your New-Nazi power.



Among others, we will tear down your nasty flags:

Do you realise what will happen to you if Harry, Sjam and me overthrow your power?? :):):):)


The problem is that the greatest oppression to the Polish minority is created in Belarus by Lukashenka, the loyal Russian ally, not in Baltic states (though there are problems too).

Do you think Russians will sacrifice Lukashenka to improve their relations with Poles?? :):):)

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


An incredibly flexible cynic from Poland, you are. :):):)


Like what?

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


But it spoils your nationalistic arguments in other threads, especially the ones where you argued that Jews were infected with communism and helped Stalin conquer Poland.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


You`d better go back to reading historical publications because your knowledge is based on old data. E.g., the most recent research on deportations of Poles say there were about 300.000 of them in 4 waves. We are talking about ethnic Poles because I suppose you prefer to ignore 80.000 Polish Jews deported in the second wave, don`t you?

In result, 2 million losses by Soviets is really amazing.

Here is sth to enrich your knowledge.
sciesielski.republika.pl/sov-dep/polacy/polacy1.html#2

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


I thought that during your discussion with BB you said sth about Poland as emerging power in Europe. :):):)

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


With so many of us, Jews, populating Poland by Crow`s malicious joke, your private gas chamber will be useless.... :):):):)


And drinking vodka.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


[i]As of January 2009, the Russian strategic forces included 634 strategic delivery platforms, which can carry up to 2825 nuclear warheads. The Strategic Rocket Forces have 385 operational missile systems of four types that can carry 1357 warheads. The strategic fleet includes 13 strategic missile submarines. Their 172 missiles can carry 612 nuclear warheads. Strategic aviation bomber force consists of 77 bombers that can carry up to 856 long-range cruise missiles.

russianforces.org

As you can see, Russia has nearly 3000 nuclear warheads. Even if some of them are non-operational, how many remaining ones are enough to inflict major damage?

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


How about Crow counterstriking you by populating Poland with Jews to see you go nuts? I think you would go much nuttier than Crow... :):):)

Law / Collecting cans in Poland - how much per can? [14]

I did it too but it wasn`t exactly recycling. The collected bottles were refilled after washing.


Yes, today I make a living in a different way.