Life / Thoughts on Music in Poland [132]


Are you sure text of Hej Sokoly exists in Ukranian language? I have never met it as well as my friends of Ukranian origin. What do you know about the history of this song?

Language / Calling a person a 'potato' (ziemniak/kartofel/burak) [37]

Sometimes peasants in Belarus were called "potato" or "bulba'sz" in their dialect. Some intellectuals of peasant origin from Belarus call so themselves.

News / PIS and PO - what is the difference in their programs? [35]

By reading all posts I came to the conclusion that if I were Pole I would vote in favour of the League of Polish families.

I think Poles who are for moral don't have any different way.
Unfortunately the League is so unexperienced in politics and administration. It seems to romantic.

News / PIS and PO - what is the difference in their programs? [35]

Yes, I hate liberast movement everythere.
It is not liberal.
I'm afraid Poland today isn't the historic RP. There are many people who are very agressive in their imoral behaviour and public opinion doesn't persecute them. There were moral violators before, but among middle classers such as little szlachta and city residents that was a shame. Nothing of the sort today.

I don't think the League has chosen a right political way to defend morals. But other political forces aren't moral defenders at all.

News / PIS and PO - what is the difference in their programs? [35]

Lech Kachynski is President. And I'm talking about the parlamentary elections. As to Jaroslaw, smth. may be wrong with his activities.
Unfortunately the League have an antisemit reputation and that doesn't permit its dialogue with Russian political circles. I'm sure they have fresh ideas to solve some problems between Poland and Russia

Genealogy / Minkin from Poland? [10]

Kawaz,

As far as I know, Minkin is a Jewish surname. It is derived from feminine name Minka. That was one of the ways of Jewesh surnames formation in Russian Empire, i.e. from mother's names: Rivkin from Rivka, Elkin from Elka and Minkin from Minka. It is considered so in Russia now but you should consult Jewesh historians.

As all Jewish communities were in Russian Empire in past Moldavian, Lithuanian (today Lithuania and Belarus) and Polish (today Poland and Ukraine) lands, your ancestors should be from one of these territories.

I'm sure Jewesh experts should know all about the practice of such surnames formation as well as about regions it was quite common.

Kawaz,

Alexander Minkin is quite a popular journalist in Russia.
If you want to visit your historical Fatherland, visit also Ukraine and Belarus. The territory of these states may be the place your ancestors are from. There is still a weak possibility that Minkin surname could appear in the lands of Polish kingsdom (lands of today Poland). Poles here may tell you more about that. I suppose that such surname was adopted by Jewish family in the land of today Ukraine, Belarus or Russian Federation.