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What makes a man a Pole? what does it mean to be a Pole?


goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #1
After arguements, hearing a lot of insults and offence frome one particular user,
I got a bit curious as to what defines a person to be Polish...?

let me start first, in my opinion it is the blood, but mainly the love for the expressed by knowing the history, heroes, poems, great victories and great defeats, uprising dates.

Knowing at least three patriotic anthems by heart... or at least two Rota and Mazurek Dabrowskiego ofc...
Knowing the National Motto of Poland.
Commemorate the heros in any way you want, e.g. on Zaduszki i often go and light a candle on the graves of Polish soldiers in where I live.

What makes a Pole a Pole?
Surely its not only blood, that would just be insulting, it has to be acquired.

so...im all ears ;)

thank you.
smurf  38 | 1940  
21 Aug 2013 /  #2
is the blood

Blood is made up of:
Cells
Plasma
& a Narrow range of pH values....

So no, it's not in the blood.

Pole a Pole

A passport or other document of citizenship. Being born here, or bring born from at least one Polish parent. Grandparents don't count, unless we're talking about qualifying to play for an International football team.

Surely its not only blood

See above, it's not in your blood, it's just not possible.

If I want to be taller and the things that can make me taller are in my blood then maybe I can become taller?
But I can't, I've haven't grown an inch since I was about 18 years old Goofy.

Why isn't your logic working. I do so wish I could be taller.
Then I wouldn't have to sing this all the time.

I wish I was little bit taller
I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good
I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a '64 Impala

4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #3
If you ask, what makes a big time Polish patriot, you might be right with what you said but just to be a Pole, it's really enough to be born there and declare yourself as such. Actually, one doesn't even have to be born there either, as long as at least one of his/her parents is a Pole, right?. God knows that I'm not an expert in Polish law but I strongly assume that a person who has at least one Polish parent (born in Poland) can ask for Polish citizenship, right? (correct me if I'm wrong)
bluesfan  - | 77  
21 Aug 2013 /  #4
I got a bit curious as to what defines a person to be Polish...?
let me start first, in my opinion it is the blood,

Surely not Goofy? After all you upset a Poster, who was born Polish, last night by saying that blood only accounts for 1% of being a real Pole.

What makes a Pole a Pole?
Surely its not only blood,

Right then. So by your own admission, someone who isn't Polish and doesn't have 'Polish blood' but lives in Poland can be more Polish than a Pole (with the fancy 'Polish blood')who's long abondoned his homeland.

That is what you are saying, right? Well, I would agree with you to a point there. xD
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #5
if he or she understands the heritige, can actually point on a map where Poland is, knows who are the national heroes etc... then yes they are Poles.

apart from that blues, you are lying... yet again, i was the one insulted the user we are referring to used hate speech and it was very good that he/she got banned for it.

smurf and sobieski are trolling so i will just ignore you.

and thanks f4 for an acrltual answer ;)
altho i disagree with it, this thread is here to make us understand each others point of views :)
so thank you for a useful post.

regarding your post, a normal Pole knows the National Anthem or at least its meaning, a normal Pole knows who Kosciuszko or Pilsudzki was... trust you dont have to be a big patriot... btw thanks for a compliment ;)
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #6
you're welcome.

Anyways, if a person really feels Polish, I'm sure, it won't take long for her (in this particular case) to learn everything she needs to know to become Polish, through and through (as you'd probably say). Then again, alone to know Polish history, including all the names you've mentioned in your post and many more, definitely doesn't make one a Pole because I actually know a lot about your country but I'm sure, you wouldn't call me a Pole, would you? ;-)
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #7
all i am trying to say is that Polishness shouldnt be a cheap tthing,, i had to work for it learning the Polish language, history and poems. i even had to suffer both mentally and physically

being called a stupid migrant etc... i paid the price, of blood as well to have a right to be called a Pole.

shes learning a language ? cool!
i am happy that she wants to be Polish, hoewver for a moment these are only her wants, when she will have some knowledge, will be able to tell me the names of the famous polish kings ... even three.

then fine she is polish.

but acting like child, thumping feet hard pn the ground and calling me a "fag" because i dont want to accept that she isnt polish is a bit.... dumb.

cheers
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #8
well, you know that she's still very young and gets easily emotional but she was born in Poland and feels Polish and it's not like many Polish Americans feel the way she does so I believe, you could at least try to show some appreciation for her desire to live in a country you both love so much.
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #9
age shouldnt matter, if she goes on an adult aimed mainly forum then she should act responsibely.

as i said, she starts doing progress in polish studies... then in time she'll become polish.
Paulina  16 | 4353  
21 Aug 2013 /  #10
The legia scum knows the anthem for sure. Does it make them Poles?

I'm not sure what you're trying to convey here. You think being "Legia scum" makes them non-Poles? ;)

all i am trying to say is that Polishness shouldnt be a cheap tthing

Goofy, it isn't a simple issue, but let's say being a Pole is an ethnicity or citizenship.
So, yeah, it's rather "cheap" - all one has to do is to be born a Pole.
The term for what you're writing about - this "Polishness" - is patriotism, I think :)
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #11
The term for what you're writing about - this "Polishness" - is patriotism, I think :)

smart girl, being Polish and being a Polish patriot is not always the same (ofc it's the same with other nationalities too)
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #12
not really.A pole should know the National Anthem... if you think that is a matter of patriotism then Lol and shame on you.

come on paulina... two kings at least.. rota?? its not much.
dany_moussalli  13 | 259  
21 Aug 2013 /  #13
at least one Polish parent (born in Poland) can ask for Polish citizenship, right? (correct me if I'm wrong)

my grandmother is polish ,she came to syria after marrying my grandpa ,my mom was born in Syria ,she took the polish passport ,and I took it from her ,so no ,you don't need to have a polish parent born in Poland
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #14
not really.A pole should know the National Anthem.

but she'll certainly learn it, sooner or later. I don't wanna know how many Americans don't know our national anthem (LOL)
(especially the first generation)

my grandmother is polish ,she came to syria after marrying my grandpa ,my mom was born in Syria ,she took the polish passport ,and I took it from her ,so no ,you don't need to have a polish parent born in Poland

oh OK, so it's even easier than I expected.
Thanks Dany.
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #15
thats what i am saying f4...
she isnt polish... YET!
dany_moussalli  13 | 259  
21 Aug 2013 /  #16
In my opinion ,although I have a polish citizenship ,I'm only around 5% polish .
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #17
thats what i am saying f4...
she isnt polish... YET!

well, she's not a Polish citizen yet (I guess) but she feels Polish and if she really wants to be Polish, with her background, she'll certainly become Polish, sooner or later.
ShawnH  8 | 1488  
21 Aug 2013 /  #18
What makes a man a Pole? what does it mean to be a Pole?

What about women. Do they have a different standard to measure up to?
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #19
In my opinion ,although I have a polish citizenship ,I'm only around 5% polish .

OK Dany but you have to admit that it also has to do with the way you feel about yourself.
Paulina  16 | 4353  
21 Aug 2013 /  #20
Yes, goofs, it is a matter of patriotism :)
Of course I suspect most Poles living in Poland know at least the first verse (zwrotka, I mean) of the anthem and the chorus, but that's what you are thaught at school. Kaczyński was laughed at because he made a mistake in the anthem and it sounded as if he didn't know the melody well enough lol

A foreigner studying Polish language could learn the whole anthem and maybe even sing it better than Kaczyński and? Would that make him Polish?

come on paulina... two kings at least.. rota?? its not much.

Goofy, everybody learns in Polish schools about Polish kings. So, of course, most Poles would be able to name at least two of them. But I really doubt most Poles know "Rota" by heart, they may know the first line and that's it.

I think you should visit Poland and get a reality check ;)

What about women. Do they have a different standard to measure up to?

Haha lol I was wondering about that too :)
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #21
A foreigner studying Polish language could learn the whole anthem and maybe even sing it better than Kaczyński and? Would that make him Polish?

damn girl, I wanna marry you, LOL Where were you hiding for so long? You're very smart, indeed ;-)
Paulina  16 | 4353  
21 Aug 2013 /  #22
Haha... Oh dear... *blushes* Well, I must say I like your comments too, you seem to be a wise and reasonable man :)
dany_moussalli  13 | 259  
21 Aug 2013 /  #23
OK Dany but you have to admit that it also has to do with the way you feel about yourself.

exactly .. for me ,the way you feel is the most important thing ..some people don't even know their country's history ,you can't say that they aren't from a certain nationality if they don't know their history or national anthem ...
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #24
thanks Paulina ;-)

for me ,the way you feel is the most important thing .

agree 100%
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #25
i disagree, i know quite a lot of poles and i can bet my head that all of them can the National anthem, and tge first half of Rota.

You are right Poles go to school where they learn to understand Poland, its heritage.
it takes time and effort to memorise all that knowledge, thats is why i stress yet again that not everyone can be called Polish.
Foreigners that are born in Poland... but thats about it they are not really Polish.

Knowledge of your history, heritage and culture also the love...even a little one make Pole a Pole not a crappy piece of paper that can get lost easily, its your soul to say poetically.
4 eigner  2 | 816  
21 Aug 2013 /  #26
OK, let me ask you another question goofy, let's say a German couple (any country) decides to live in Poland and they eventually have a baby, born in Poland. Then the kid goes to school and learns Polish national anthem, knows Polish history etc. etc. is he/she a Pole or not?
Polson  5 | 1767  
21 Aug 2013 /  #27
I'd say we are all humans first. And that's what really counts. To me. The rest shouldn't matter that much. Patriotism (this is what this thread is about) is like make-up that one uses to make him/her think s/he looks better that s/he really does. Or better than his/her neighbour.

Too many frontiers, too many walls in this 'free' world.

Plus, not sure the Polishness of someone living close to the Belarussian border and the Polishness of a Silesian or West Pomeranian is exactly the same. Lots of 'nuances'.

38 million (different) people, let's be serious, that's a lot.
ShawnH  8 | 1488  
21 Aug 2013 /  #28
have a baby, born in Poland. Then the kid goes to school and learns Polish national anthem, knows Polish history etc. etc. is he/she a Pole or not?

Foreigners that are born in Poland... but thats about it they are not really Polish.

I think I can predict the answer 4.

So when does one (or does one?) cease to be Polish after leaving Poland?
OP goofy_the_dog  
21 Aug 2013 /  #29
he/shes a pole.

polson thats ur view of the world.
Polson  5 | 1767  
21 Aug 2013 /  #30
polson thats ur view of the world.

And as a Christian, it should be yours too.

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