FlaglessPole 4 | 649
10 May 2011 / #1
In my very laid back quest for answers as to what constitutes strengths and flaws of Polish mentality, brought about by aphro's uptightness ;) and my recent sightings of Russian tourists (I don't meet many Poles so they are the closest Slavic reference I have) I stumbled upon this gem from 1914. Its religious overtones (Orthodox-Catholic antagonism) may at first seem outdated yet not lacking in the present day relevance as they pertain more to the spirituality and the general out-look on life rather than the dogmatic differences between the two faiths and their practitioners. After all both societies were much less secular at the time and Russia had yet to be 'blessed' with communism.A very interesting read
berdyaev.com/berdiaev/berd_lib/1914_178.html]
Enjoy. Here an excerpt to whet your appetite:
The Polish soul -- is aristocratic and individualistic to the point of morbidity, in it so powerful is not only the sense of honour, connected with the knight-chivalrant culture unknown to Russia, but also an obdurate ambition. This is the most refined and elegant soul within Slavdom, drowning in its own suffering fate. Pathetic to the point of affectation. The mannerisms of the Polish soul always strike Russians as artificially elegant and sweet, lacking in simplicity and directness, and repelling in its sense of superiority and suspiciousness, of which the Polish are not free. The Polish have always seemed lacking in a sense of the equality of human souls before God, of brotherhood in Christ, as connected with the acknowledging of the infinite value of each human soul. The unique spiritual aspect of the Polish nobility has poisoned Polish life and played a fateful role in its state destiny.
P.S. At this point I need a professional help, I'm crow-struck - I just posted a thread containing word Slavdom lol
berdyaev.com/berdiaev/berd_lib/1914_178.html]
Enjoy. Here an excerpt to whet your appetite:
The Polish soul -- is aristocratic and individualistic to the point of morbidity, in it so powerful is not only the sense of honour, connected with the knight-chivalrant culture unknown to Russia, but also an obdurate ambition. This is the most refined and elegant soul within Slavdom, drowning in its own suffering fate. Pathetic to the point of affectation. The mannerisms of the Polish soul always strike Russians as artificially elegant and sweet, lacking in simplicity and directness, and repelling in its sense of superiority and suspiciousness, of which the Polish are not free. The Polish have always seemed lacking in a sense of the equality of human souls before God, of brotherhood in Christ, as connected with the acknowledging of the infinite value of each human soul. The unique spiritual aspect of the Polish nobility has poisoned Polish life and played a fateful role in its state destiny.
P.S. At this point I need a professional help, I'm crow-struck - I just posted a thread containing word Slavdom lol