Life / Polish stereotypes of other nationalities!? [472]

Yeah, right! He does that with alarming regularity.

The Poles believe Saudi Arabians to be dirty. There is not a favourable perception of Arabs in general.

Life / Polish stereotypes of other nationalities!? [472]

I'm glad Scottish girls are not in there ;) Well, some Scottish girls are immense! That was hilarious, southern. Irish - Catholic (and nothing more)

The Poles have a healthy respect for Scandinavians and not without good reason. I sing their praises too. The only thing I could have a hack at them for would be being overly cocksure sometimes. Still, they aren't so in-your-face about it.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

You haven't seen the Russian chambers, LOL. All sorts go on there.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Well put! America makes the world their business, making puppets of States in the process. They then take offence when sb questions their approach.

I asked you HB, how would you feel if you were left suspended and dangling on a branch like Poland was? Being shuffled around like a pawn is not very nice.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Right on, freebird. You are right, some things are best left untouched. I just hate large-scale lying to the public, pretending to be right behind them when they shafted them in no uncertain terms.

Normal corruption will happen everywhere, you have a point. It's part of the game, code of the road stuff.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

This is another sign of being on puppet strings. I'm glad Kaczyński stood up for the cause of Kosovo being Serbian. The Russians did too but America and Albania had some kind of alliance.

To me, it just smacked of unwarranted meddling. Wasn't bombing Serbia in 1999 enough? That devastated their country badly, Belgrade lay in tatters :(

I wonder if Tusk feels Slavic. He is a Kashubian and I know little of their ways. He seems to be puppet material.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

I know that, HB. They joined in 1999 and Kwaśniewski rallied the support of the people. The opinion polls show around 70% support for NATO membership these days. You might remember him, he visited Bush one time.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Let's hope it gets wings and takes flight ;)

"Where wings take dream", lol. So long as Poland can betray its Slavic brethren like Serbia by backing America blindly then it's gonna be a puppet for a long time. Public support for NATO will also bolster that position.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

It's back to the basic difference between the government and the people. The crucial dichotomy that, if we don't see, lives stand to be lost.

America has so many things going for it. I love classic American cars. Trans-Am Pontiacs, Chevies, Cameros and Cadillacs to name but a few.

Some of the natural scenery is superb too. I just hate the corruption and get angry when people don't see it.

The topic is growing legs and beginning to wander.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

I don't wanna doubt anybody's sincerity, that's not my gig. I detect sarcasm, though ;) I watched a lot of American TV and have read widely. I used to drink a lot with Americans here til early morning and we chatted a lot about the States.

That's no substitute for the real thing though.

Let's face it, America has some great places to visit and super entertainment.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

LOL, yir havin a laff ;) My American geography is pretty good but I fall short from not having lived there.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Oh, harsh rhetoric is still being put out there by Obama. Befriending is a little too far. Then a pretext would be needed to make them the enemy again ;) ;)

How do you see this so-called diplomacy going, HB?

Anyway, my bad. Poland does seem like a corporate client rather than a fully-fledged ally.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

It is odd, I tried to steer it back on course above in post 30, HB. I asked you an interesting question there, HB!

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Well, the support doesn't need to be as hefty as it is. Being on one's side is enough and that shouldn't always involved billions of dollars.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Well, they appreciated the steel anyway ;)

Anyway, this is about Poland, HB. You have some Polish blood in you, how would you feel if you were in the Polish administration? They had already signed and now they are a pawn in the middle of a ping-pong match between America and Iran, with Russia watching on intently.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

I said that some think that way and I didn't count myself as one of them. Ariel Sharon on the Israel side and many Americans in government. Colin Powell's speech writer being first among them. Check it out, HB, it may surprise you just how many Americans in prominent positions feel that way.

Me, I don't know. I'm not in a position to say. Your reasoning is a little slack though, HB. Just because Israel is an American foothold doesn't mean that America isn't a puppet of the Zionists in the US itself (I'm not saying it is, I'm just questioning your line of argumentation).

OK, let me give you a pointer. How many of Bush's henchmen were Zionists?

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Some think that America is a puppet of Israel, a growing number in fact. The Zionists hold high positions in the US administration and are hard to challenge. Look at the voluminous number of outstanding US personnel who volunteered to join the 9/11 Truth Movement and were hushed. The outspoken few put themselves in the line of fire.

As for Poland, PO has Jewish elements within. They are fine, they don't tend to be hawkish and don't rock the boat. There is a clear difference between standard Jews and Zionists.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

I wonder if Brown uses Colgate toothpaste too, LOL

Bush was delighted when he learned that Blair did :)

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

And the West will reciprocate. Alex Salmond is in Hong Kong today to sell Scotland and do some business.

Anyway, Poland needed to secure guarantees for the missile shield. If it's a done deal then there should be no backing out. Lack of finance? They should've thought of that before.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

Yeah, the Shanghai Alliance is a bit disturbing for some in the West.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

And who is a Russian puppet these days? Iran? Venezuela?

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

True enough, nunczka. We constantly have the blinkers on and can't see the forest for the trees. If America can engage in dialogue with Iran, which Ahmedinejad has already tacitly accepted, then so can Poland but where's the need? Setting up that missile shield was only gonna be provocative and costly.

Plk, the bases have nothing to do with Iran, co ty gadasz człowieku? What were they meant as, to repel hail?

Life / Gran Torino - Walt Kowalski, the movie [39]

It shows the intolerant nature of the Polish psyche. Many Poles I meet aren't that way tho, I feel that they overstate it but they assure me that, collectively as a nation, it's a trait to be ashamed of that they have in abundance.

I prefer to look at the positive side of things. At least there will be some resistance to excessive PC. The Poles actually take a stand and do something.

Study / American Muslim girl thinking to go to Medical school in Poland... [87]

This is the same the world over. In Izumo, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Let people gape :)

Life / Polish culture do's and dont's? [106]

Exactly, that's the point! ;) ;)

He didn't say what people consider it as stupid :)

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I did the CELTA in Apr-May 2004 in Basil Paterson College, Edinburgh. Hmm...good question. I'd say it leaned more towards the former. It was very structured teaching, as the days were in my month there. Little dynamism characterised the teaching, unlike when I was in Callan.

Still, having a rounded experience is good. It prepared me for FCE and CAE teaching. With adequate techniques under my belt, I also took on CPE classes. I was chatting with my HOS/DOS at my school and she has twice the amount of exp that I have but hasn't done ESP or EAP yet. We'd both like to do it.

Poland could tap into that market. That may well be a worthy business proposal. One to consider.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Callan does admit people in more cheaply. Still, it is a decent experience for starting out in Poland. It's important to see quals as opening doors. I was well 'overqualified' for Callan but still I enjoyed my contact with some ss there. Anyone who matches quals to jobs TOO closely is being a bit robotic.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Harry is alright. He excels in some threads but he's come up a little short in teaching discussions.

Still, a nice bloke who reasons and argues well.

Life / Polish culture do's and dont's? [106]

Surely this is a central thread to a Polish forum.

Discussing religion is a hot potato, sometimes best left avoided.

Life / Gran Torino - Walt Kowalski, the movie [39]

Clint really excels here. He plains the old and stubborn guy well.