Dominika99
31 Oct 2012
History / Polish relation about Russians, Ukrainians? [281]
As a disclaimer, I was born in Poland but I grew up abroad so I wasn't influenced so much in my life by Polish culture... My father is liberal and tolerant towards both Russians and Ukrainians, but my mother can have some stereotypical views especially when it comes to Ukrainians.
In general I think Polish people are becoming more tolerant, but some others (especially the older generation) can still resent Russians and Ukrainians.
As for me, my best friend is from Donetsk. She understands me like very few people can, and I consider her one of the best friends I've had in my life. It drives me nuts when my mother sometimes comments that I should be "careful" about her, or when I hear her stories about how badly she's treated by other Polish people (who look down on her because they assume she's poor or doesn't deserve respect.)
I don't know many Russians, but I love Russian culture. I wanted to study Russian literature - Dostoyevsky is my favourite writer - but I didn't know Russian fluently so I studied English literature instead.
I think Poles have a lot more in common with Russian culture than they do with other countries that are in the EU, and they should be proud to be Slavs and proud of their heritage. There is still too much resentment left over from World War II, and Polish people don't realise how badly many Russians suffered under Communism, too.
As a disclaimer, I was born in Poland but I grew up abroad so I wasn't influenced so much in my life by Polish culture... My father is liberal and tolerant towards both Russians and Ukrainians, but my mother can have some stereotypical views especially when it comes to Ukrainians.
In general I think Polish people are becoming more tolerant, but some others (especially the older generation) can still resent Russians and Ukrainians.
As for me, my best friend is from Donetsk. She understands me like very few people can, and I consider her one of the best friends I've had in my life. It drives me nuts when my mother sometimes comments that I should be "careful" about her, or when I hear her stories about how badly she's treated by other Polish people (who look down on her because they assume she's poor or doesn't deserve respect.)
I don't know many Russians, but I love Russian culture. I wanted to study Russian literature - Dostoyevsky is my favourite writer - but I didn't know Russian fluently so I studied English literature instead.
I think Poles have a lot more in common with Russian culture than they do with other countries that are in the EU, and they should be proud to be Slavs and proud of their heritage. There is still too much resentment left over from World War II, and Polish people don't realise how badly many Russians suffered under Communism, too.