Genealogy / Belarusian or Polish? [4]

Well, I'd like to know if i'm more Bealrusian or Polish by blood. But my father is not with us now, so i am stuck, and have to make and educated assumption from various factors.

UK, Ireland / Polish as Irelands Third Offical language? [123]

Osiol,

You have failed in comprehending why English is spoken on a day to day basis (even though it is the second national language) though reasons have been outlined already in my post.

The fact is that 41% of the population in the Republic can speak Irish. Not Polish. And the level of Irish used on a day to day basis is likely to vary little with Polish.

Also, Irish is not just spoken in a 'few areas in the West.' There are many Gaeltacht villages and towns up and down the West of the country, the south-west, and the north west; each in three provinces of Connacht, Munster, and Ulster (not all of Ulster is in Northern Ireland). Also, the Ring region in Co. Waterford in the south east is a Gaeltacht area, as well as the Ráth Cairn region in north Leinster.

Outside of this there are thousands of Gaeilscoileanna (Irish primary schools) and Gaelscoil Colaiste (Irish high school) where subjects are taught in Irish and children are required to speak in Irish at all times, even during lunch hour. (Interesting that we have five Polish primary schools already in Ireland).

So many Polish do not even visit outside Dublin city. For those than haven't even been to Dublin, it is better to research something and know what you are talking about first i guess.

Johan, everything is enjoyable when consumed in moderation. I often thought some Irish people consumed too much drink and cultivated the Irish stereotype, but I see many Polish men even more heavily intoxicated and looking to start fights with everyone on the streets of Dublin. And quite often it seems they think they can come to another country and spread physical and verbal racist and homophobic abuse at people. If you don't want to live in a free democratic society free for Catholic/Christian brainwashing, go to never never Kaczynski land (thats gone now hopefully). It is disgusting - and it is these people who give the Polish a bad name.

Java, as pointed out already, Ireland has a first, second and third language. An addition would be a fourth language. As said before, there is no mandate for this. Plus, there was no such mandate when thousands of Irish went to work for AIB/WZBK bank in Poland years ago.

Change was inevitable in Poland and I'm glad people had the courage to vote for this, not like the Irish who voted with their pocket and kept Dirty Bertie in government. So, we will have to wait and see how quick change will transform Poland and entice people back, if at all. Whether change happens or not there, the Irish economy is now waning and will be a less attractive place for Poles to come and work in a few years. So, soon, the numbers of Polish people here will dwindle somewhat and, although there is no actual motion or mandate to make Polish a fourth national language here, it would be less likely anyway.

I for one enjoy this new injection of culture. This is the first time since the Vikings that Ireland has been 'invaded' to mass and rapid extent of an alien culture and 'genetic stock.' This is enriching on so many levels, and I'm enjoying my own exploration of the Polish folk culture and ancient pre-Christian traditions.

UK, Ireland / Polish as Irelands Third Offical language? [123]

Michal,

The Irish Consitution names Irish Gaelic as the primary national langage of the Replublic. English is the second national language, and the third language is ISL (Irish Sign Lanaguge - we had no sign as such until the Presentation Sisters brought back the sign language they had learned from France, which has since evolved locally).

The Irish language and culture was surpressed during the oppression of the English. Under Penal law acts, which were simply Irish, were deemed treason; it was almost illegal to live if one were a Catholic and speaking one's native language was punishable by death. It is not due to abondonment or relinquishment of our heritage that English became the most spoken language. In this day and age it is more practical for us to speak English, and probably has ironically been a benefit to us economically speaking.

In fact Michal, the 2006 CSO study has found that 41% of Irish people can speak Irish across the island; not just a 'few people in the west.'

Also, for anyone looking to get help with Irish translation try: irishgaelictranslator.com

Love / Polish men and sex [89]

Hmm.

I'm gay. But nobody can tell just from your post. I had two Polish boyfriends in the last year. First one, about two months, very amourous, no probelms, but wasn't going anywhere long term. Strangely, the second one i was with for six months. Wouldn't do anything in bed. I though he had little or no sex drive, which i decided i could live with as i truly loved him. He wanted us to buy a house in Poland. Then i find he had been cheating on me with men he met over the net. Take a bow Marcin.

You never really know people.

Maybe your guy has a low sex drive. You just have to be patient. There are quite different attitudes to these kinds of things, i have learned that, from just even basic social etiquette. But, you will only ever really know by talking to your man. A strong relationship is built upon open communication, regardless of cultural difference.

Good luck.

UK, Ireland / Polish as Irelands Third Offical language? [123]

The majority of the 200,000 or so Polish folk here intend on staying temporarily. They are mainly here to make a better life for themselves by earning some money to go towards buying a home in Poland or setting up businesses. They will stay from anywhere from a few months up to about five years at most. I'm speaking from what Polish friends tell me, and what other Polish people i meet tell me, and from reading the Irish and Polish media.

It is not a permanent situation. Unless the majority of Polish folk settle here and have children with Polish/Irish/ or other foreign national partners, there will be no need to have Ireland list Polish as a third official language. People are not going to be here to care about it.

The Irish economy has come full circle since the 80's and now we are seeing the signs of a slow down; Ireland will no longer be as an attractive an option. With new government in Poland, change for progress (not retarding) for a country's prosperty is now possible. Why? Because prosperity of a nation is down to the mindset and emotion of its people. It is something that has not being cultivated in the right manner for some time. It is why so many left in the first place.

Time is changing, we will see. I for one, hope that most of the Poles stay in Dublin. I find it enriches and enhances our own culture by having the mix. Although, i do wish the Polish people here would integrate here like other foreign nationals. There are many Polish media outlets here that act as info points and support, and i feel it is a crutch that it is too easy lean on and be comfortable with. The Czech, Sloval, Lithuanian, Russian, Slovene folk for example don't have such resources, and whether they did or not, they seem quite happy living life and integrating without continuos contact their fellow countryman.

Many Polish here (Dublin) can spend their whole week speaking little English, as they work with/for, live with, and socialise with other Polish folk. There is not as much integration as i would like there to be. And, i always get funny looks of disbelief and suspicious question of 'why?' from Polish folk when i tell them i'm learning Polish.

Before i go off on a tangent, i'll finish by saying, that, as it is currently not a permanent situation, there will be no formal recognition of Polish as a 3rd language. It would be nice. But, there is Polish media here, people speak it freely and more than English; there is no need or mandate for it(?).

But, we will have to wait a few years and see. Will Poland be able to entice people back?

Love / I reckon I've met a right plonker here - your thoughts please [44]

Poor Daisy, so blinkered from the big picture.

Nurse to cure the Ostrich Syndrome maybe :-)

Love / I reckon I've met a right plonker here - your thoughts please [44]

The question would be why are these types coming your way?

What is going on here beneath what we call 'reality'?

Stay with me for a moment on this one folks...

Your soul is being staged a scene in which you are the lead, and the director, based on your choices, or ability to recognise there is a wise choice. You missed this the last time, so, the cosmos is replaying it. You're being tested. Life is holding a mirror up to you...when you see the bad choices of the past, you won't make them again.

Remember, forgive all those who, with your human mind, you feel has wronged you. Not as in traditional forgiveness, but radical forgiveness. In that, you realise nothing 'bad' happened, because you were not wronged. You chose a path with lessons along the way. You all got something for your souls to learn in coming to play out a scenario. On a human and emotional level it hurts. That is what we are here for. Our soul chose our paths to learn specific lessons we missed the last time.

radicalforgiveness.com

We are not human being having occassional spiritual experiences. You are a spiritual being having a human experience now.

News / Why so many bad candidates for Poland Prime Minister? [261]

Probably the biggest dim wit and and incompetent bigot modern democracy has seen.

Life / Condoms and the Catholic church in Poland [83]

Surprising that 'African folk' are accussed of promiscuity when most of the continent has been overpowered by Christianity. An Abrahamic tradition that has pretty much surpassed its cult beginngs (established by female followers after Christ passed over) to become the male dominated establishment it now is. Its grip on people has been very much down to the tools of fear, guilt, and shame about sex, sexuality, and the inherent entwinement of both with spirituality, and the subjugation of the feminine principle of deity, and women. All stemming from the writings of woman hating St Paul.

But look through the Bible, and read Genesis. Yaweh/Jehovah was one of many Gods of an ancient pantheon. Did Eve die from eating the apple of 'forbidden knowledge'? Who really lied to Eve? The serpent or the male 'God'? Strange it is how the serpent is symbolic of the Goddess from ancient matriarchal civilisation. And how she and Eve are demonised.

Much of this mentality still exists, especially in countries where the Catholic Chruch has enjoyed a rather affable relationship with the govenment.

Science Fact: Condoms are 99.9% effective at preventing the transmission of HIV. Not having them puts you at risk.

Whatever peoples social or cultural conditioning, promiscuous or not, they are entitled to sex education and provision of condoms and contraceptives.

Prevention of procreation is a sin? Well, does Ratzinger want on his conscience the fact that children are born with HIV every day? He has a comfortable life surrounded by gold and marble hidden away from the suffering he condones.

Fact: To withhold sex education and contraception is to put uninformed people at great danger. Hardly a 'Christian' approach to the situation by those who are supposedly morally and spiritually enlightened.

Keep it real folks. Let the scales fall from your eyes too!