History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

Well, it's worth a shot! I'm just saying that there are always those that will put a spanner in the works :(

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

That's because they aren't as conservative and judgemental, Welshie. What confidence are we to have in people who, statistically speaking, are 95% Catholic but only between 55-60% practise? Isn't this selectivism in and of itself? Where is this dress code to be found? Sb, please point me to an official source.

It's not a crusade against Catholics at all. If they can be upset at Welshie then we can be upset at them. 'Judge not lest ye be judged yourself' :) I'm just saying that religion is about belief, not about clothes.

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

So how is it that Islam doesn't even realise a resurrection and Judaism doesn't recognise Jesus as the Messiah? Such misguided behaviour from the Church here is exposing them for what they are. When I was last in a church here, they asked me for money. In order not to create a stir, I didn't take him to task on it but merely declined. I would far rather fight for those who are having their human rights trampled on. Surely Jesus would have valued that more than shorts.

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

Oh, I didn't see that post Sascha, sorry. Who are we as members of a society if we don't question the rationale of decisions made on our behalf? There is a code at Israeli checkpoints. Does that mean the code is right?

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

Is pedophilia appropriate? Are shorts in the streets appropriate? Who decides what's appropriate?

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

No, I'm typing on a forum :) A dress code which allows slack women in? Where is the enforcement of that code? What use is a code without enforcement? So why allow nudity on beaches? They are public places like the Church is.

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

Pgtx, being honest, how Christian do you believe those mohair beret folk are? Love thy neighbour? Be jealous of your neighbour is more to the point. I see so many un-Christian acts here, it isn't even funny. Tell me, who is directly harmed from shorts? Are they worse than pedophiles whom are found in abundance in the RCC?

Sascha, very true. It is another form of control and of the holier-than-thou attitude that is all pervasive. Sticklers should not be permitted their wicked ways.

Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

It doesn't stop at the Church either. The same can be seen at workplaces where there is sometimes an outright ban. I'm pretty sure Jesus would have shown some leg too. Let's face it, he wasn't gonna be sporting the latest Levi jeans ;) It's quite common in countries like Israel to walk around with shorts and sandals. Why should we fall prey to the stiff-upper-lip brigade?

They need to change the tune, and fast!

News / Polish people humiliated in the latest episode of Family Guy [51]

The phrase 'like water off a duck's back' isn't really given much stock here. Many humorous Poles see this in their fellow countryfolk and they don't like it. The problem lies in laziness and not educating yourself in how things really are.

News / Drug Policy Reform in Poland [29]

Morphine only differs from heroin (diamorphine) in terms of chemical bonding. For all intents and purposes, they are the same. NATO is doing its utmost to perpetuate the war across there. 30,000 more troops and what have they done? It's a farce!

Let Afghans profit from their opium. Give them legit distribution channels to health industries in the West and allow them to have some quality of life. Poles would benefit too :)

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

Aha, I see what you are driving at now. So you are saying that the proceeds of sale (50% of the value) are to be reinvested in Poland? What if the Jewish owner currently resides in Israel and is in no place to practically pump that 50% back into the Polish economy? Why haven't Jewish landlords come forward en masse to reclaim their property?

How do you propose to get round the obvious obstacle of Polish landlords standing in the way of such a development? Which court authority could you point to that would instigate such a change?

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

Whilst denouncing the 1940 film, I have to say that Zionist propaganda has been a powerful tool in corrupting the minds of Israelis. I suggest 'Sleepless Gaza Jerusalem' on Youtube, 50hrs or so of footage from areas you will know well. It can be seen on many occasions how Israelis just don't understand Palestinians.

Sikorski likes to comment on Jewish issues as his wife is Jewish. However, Hilberg is FAR better placed to comment than he is. Sikorski is just a money seeker.

The reality remains that no amount of money will take away the pain of loss.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

The best thing to do is to gain a rounded perspective by reading a range of sources from Hancock to Browning to Levai. Yad Vashem is also a key figure.

I think the ultimate authority is Raoul Hilberg. He ran a story on American Jewry extorting money through Switzerland to the US.

Meirys7, from the Treasury state? What do you mean? I need clarification, please.

With all due respect, I don't feel that you have answered the question. Poles now live in property formerly occupied by Jewish families. Should they give this up and hand it over? Which international court has the capacity to mediate the plethora of cases?

Oh, on the topic of Finkelstein,
youtube.com/watch?v=2JUhjovKdh4&feature=related
I'm sure you've seen it before ;) He disputes the numbers, not the event!

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

Return immovable property? I don't see how, sorry. You mean that those Poles that currently occupy those homes formerly occupied by Jewish families should vacate them and hand them over? How did you come to the 50% figure btw?

What you have suggested, and no disrespect to you, is tantamount to financial ping-pong. What percentage should they reinvest here in Poland? If you believe that the property still belongs to them then why introduce a pre-condition that they cannot dispose of the property as they wish?

I just want to get to the heart of your thinking. Thanks for the answer and I look forward to your next one :)

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

I'd like to know meirys7's opinion on this matter. I agree that, as far as is practically possible, the issue should be resolved to the satisfaction of all the relevant parties. However, putting myself in the shoes of a Jewish family affected by property loss, I feel the financial resolution is unsatisfactory. For one, it completely belittles the feeling of attachment that some have to their own property. For another, there is no guarantee that the govt will be able to access such people to compensate them.

My question to you is 'how would you bring about practical and just reparation'? Thanks in advance for your answer/suggestion(s)! Shalom!

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

I forwarded an interesting video to Torq which I'd gladly share with you, meirys7. An Israeli talks candidly about the perception of Poles towards him. His exp is positive. Now, he is but one individual speaking to a camera but I really don't find much ill feeling towards Jews here.

We can all speculate about what deals might have been done in the past but the time for reparations has largely passed us by. I think more focus should be placed on modern realities (that's not to say we should detract from the importance of reclaim) like the ICJ's 2004 verdict on settlements. Netanyahu is really playing a dangerous game.

Meirys7, his Holocaust denial material doesn't interest me. I've never denied the Holocaust, just the numbers.

Based on what I have read so far, I don't deny the Kielce Pogroms, no. However, I don't pretend to know either way. I really am not one to latch on to a historical position and defend it to the hilt. I guess it comes from my belief in the legal maxim, 'res noviter veniens ad notitiam', matters newly coming to light. One must remember that, whilst we should never condone such atrocities, times were heated and many Poles perished. Rightly or wrongly, it would appear that such people believed Jewish people to have brought Nazism to Poland. Of course it was not the fault of Jewish people in my eyes but people are people.....

Oh, I believe that it could have happened, yes. I don't know for sure as I wasn't there. You have to feel the climate and they may have thought that their lives were to be spared. It's easy with hindsight when we see extreme barbarity.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

It doesn't matter what he is by label, it matters what he says as a qualified commentator with more experience in such matters than you or I (sorry, I only presume this. Forgive me :)). He doesn't tend to embellish like other fanciful figures. Some American Jews are a real danger. In fact, they should be dubbed as Zionists. I am very impressed with what I have seen of Rabbis. To me, they are the true voice of Jews through Judaism. They have a social conscience and tend to endorse doing the right thing.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

True! It should be assessed on a case-by-case basis which hinges on its own merits. I watched the 2009 documentary on anti-Semitism, 'Defamation'. There are many who have profitted from exaggerated hysteria, aka mild anti-Semitism (yes, largely in America). You and I could discuss the issue as a phenomenon without looking for any profits but these guys have lined their own pockets to unprecedented levels. They have to accept the bad with the good but we should be ever more careful to separate those innocent Jewish families who lost everything to those that are in it for the money.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

I agree, Torq. Whilst it was not the fault of the Jews that Hitler pushed East to hunt them down, we all know the effects on Poland. Poland suffered enough in that time and to ask them to pay reparations would be to rub salt in the wounds.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

I like Finkelstein. I think he is a very level-headed man that is extremely well read and also speaks in numerous places. I'd trust his judgement in most cases.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

He is but one man with one viewset (a new word :)). Best to stick to the available facts rather than choose authors that just want to sell books.

History / Poland paid off American Jewry in 1960 [162]

Although it's a highly sensitive issue on many levels, a greater drive towards restitutio in integrum should be made. The problem is the can of worms it would open. Opening Pandora's Box in such fashion could easily cause more harm than good. However, some tactful efforts could be made. It has been left to linger so that Jews will forever have the victim complex to call upon. Poland is in a Catch 22 here so has to make some token gestures.

News / Polish people humiliated in the latest episode of Family Guy [51]

... trying to jokingly show some stereotypes in action. Why should she shut up, grubas? Admin here has stated on more than one occasion that he wants to see all sides of Poland, not just the tasty PR morsels. Rather than defensively dismissing the lady, why not try and dispel some of the 'myths' as you may see them?

News / Polish people humiliated in the latest episode of Family Guy [51]

Bravo, Crusty :) Those who comfortably know the truth needn't worry about what some say. For example, I can laugh at the stereotype of Scots being stingy as I know that it just isn't true on the scale that some would like to believe.

youtube.com/watch?v=qqV0ldeEn8Y

please see the funny side of this. It's all a bit of light-hearted entertainment. Remember also that stereotypes aren't just plucked from the sky but often have some degree of foundation :) The degree is the most important thing :)

News / Drug Policy Reform in Poland [29]

Absolutely right! Their double standards are quite incredible. The truth is, excessive paracetamol intake can cause irreperable liver damage and many drugs have side effects that the large pharmaceutical companies conveniently ignore. The detrimental impact of such medication goes well beyond that of occasional hash use.

Love / POLISH GIRLS... wake up and prove you are respectable.... [135]

Are you even aware how extensive the Asian umbrella is? That's the first insincerity! The second is the thread title. My assumption is that many are respectable so why the need for proof? I can see in myself that, when younger and a little looser than now, I enjoyed good times. Whilst only sporadically, I can see that I was hardly disrespecting myself or others. When you travel, your standards change a little and that's how it is for many people.

Better? I'd say different! We all have our plusses and minuses.

News / Poland's Lost Generation [172]

I'll believe it when I see it, warsz.

News / Poland's Lost Generation [172]

Therein lies the problem!

News / Poland's Lost Generation [172]

My answer to 143 would be that burden sharing is going to be more of an issue as more and more 'lesser' states join the EU. Germany cannot forever bear the costs. Talk of budgets is all black magic and voodoo economics IMHO.

News / Poland's Lost Generation [172]

Oh, I think a large part of the answer lies in the path taken by Belka, as opposed to his predecessor Sławomir Skrzypek (RIP). The IMF and WB can easily muscle in and dictate the course. This is a much overlooked dimension. Skrzypek kept the hawks at bay but that has all changed.