Polish-Scottish American, Chris Ferguson, commands final Space Shuttle mission

I think it was pretty neat to hear about how the commander of the final space shuttle mission, Chris Ferguson, is of Polish ancestry.

I didn't know Chris Ferguson was of Polish ancestry until I heard radio host Michael Savage mention Ferguson's Polish ancestry. Dr. Savage seems to respect all Americans that have contributed to NASA and the Space Shuttle missions.

Atlantis Launch
youtube.com/watch?v=RwHyNmsaE74

At 7:12 Mission control talks to "Fergie".

Atlantis landing and Ferguson's appreciation of the Space Shuttle era. He says "God bless America" to sum it up.
youtube.com/watch?v=dIl3QD2lZH0

Chris Ferguson in his own words
youtube.com/watch?v=snfY5CZ3-Jw

poles.org/DB/F_names/Ferguson_C/Ferguson_C.html

"Captain Christopher Ferguson
The Polish American community proudly salutes NASA astronaut Christopher Ferguson (Captain, USN), pilot of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its most recent mission and a Polish American with roots in Philadelphia. Son of Ian Ferguson (deceased) and Mary Ann (Florkowski) Pietras..."

Polish on his mother's side.

He's also of Scottish ancestry through his father, who had nothing to do with Poland.

Not really worth claiming as Polish to be honest - you'd probably have to go back to 1795 to find an ancestor of his who was actually a Polish citizen.


Shame that he doesn't respect other people. Still, we banned him from entering the UK.


HAHAHAHA. Oh man - MW - did you really want to mention him?

I am proud that he is a Polish American and making history as the Commander in chief of the final space shuttle mission. WTG Chris Ferguson!

But he's not a Polish-American - if anything, he's a "Scottish-Polish American".

Nah, he's just an American, and someone that the whole nation should be proud of, instead of using his ancestry to score points.

The Polish American community wants to claim him because his mother is Polish. I can understand why they would want to. He's quite an astronaut.

She's not Polish though, she's American.

Anyway, nice to see a Scottish-American (with a name like Ferguson, he's certainly not Polish) do well in life.

She's Polish and lives in America.

Just because his father had a Scottish name that doesn't mean he was not of Polish ancestry. There are about 1 million French citizens who speak perfect French who are of Polish ancestry. Do you think all or most of them have Polish names and not French names? There are several million German citizens who speak perfect German who are of Polish ancestry. Do you think they all have Polish names? Of course not.

So I guess you are going to tell me that the Brit Joseph Conrad was not of Polish ancestry because he had a non-Polish name?


Well for some reason, Chris Ferguson feels its worth claiming he has Polish ancestry.


Nobody respects everyone. I'm sure you don't respect everyone you know

To ban a non-Criminal like Michael Savage from Britain is unfair especially when criminals are allowed into Britain.


What is wrong with Michael Savage having Russian Jewish heritage? Do you have something against Russian Jews?

In my opinion, Michael Savage is a good man. Even if I don't agree with him all the time.

congratulations to Scottish American Chris Ferguson , captain of the final (for now) shuttle mission.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds,
--and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of --
Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence.
Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along,
and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Was she born in Poland? Does she speak Polish?


Uh, MediaWatch... I know you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but the name Ferguson comes from Scotland. As he has the name, where do you think it came from? The guy has as much Scottish ancestry as he does Polish.


I prefer to use his Polish name - Józef Korzeniowski. He wasn't of "Polish ancestry" - he was born a Pole and spoke Polish.


Where does he claim that? I'm looking now and can't find any reference by him about his Polish ancestry. Perhaps you can?


What's unfair about it? America doesn't allow plenty of people in - neither do we. Seems fair. Heck, Canada bans people for having a DUI on their record!


I think it's hilarious that after all your ranting about Russians and Jews on this forum, you then admit to liking a radio show host who just happens to be both.


Well yes, if Islamophobia, sexism, racism, etc is your thing. Do you also think that women enjoy being raped, like Savage said?

(mods, can you edit the title of this thread? It should be Scottish-Polish American)

She is of Polish ethnicity therefore she is "Polish." Think of how it is in Europe when people are of one ethnicity and live in another country. For instance, someone with German parents born in Poland, speaks Polish and all that. If someone asked he would say he is German because his parents are ethnic Germans but he has the customs of Poles and Poland because he was born there and knows the language and culture. It's the same idea with Polish Americans. They have a Polish parent or Grandparents and identify with the Polish ethnicity so they call themselves "Polish" even though they are born here. Same with Italian Americans, African Americans, Irish Americans. We are Americans by nation, Polish by ethnicity.

Not necessarily. In Europe, things are much more fluid - someone born in the UK to Polish parents won't immediately be classed as Polish, for instance. Depending on how he grows up - and where - he could easily be British. I know several people like this - foreign parents, but they're as British as they come.

Heck, I even know one lady who was born in Ireland, but moved to the UK at the age of 2. She identifies as British, not Irish - and this is very common.

Ethnicity just isn't such a big deal for white Europeans - nationality is far more important. Certainly - someone not born in Poland and who couldn't speak Polish would never be claimed as Polish in a million years.

I have heard people say they have Irish ancestory and live in England.

No kidding Sherlock the name Ferguson is Scottish.

But just because somebody has a Scottish name that doesn't mean he is of Scottish ancestry. Poles have moved to Scotland, Britain and Ireland over the decades and have adapted the names of the people of the country. Just like here in America there are ethnic Jews, Italians and Poles that don't have names that represent their ethnic background. Don't tell me a smart guy like you wasn't aware of that??

So Martha Stewart is not of Polish ancestry because she has a non-Polish name?

So comedian Jon Stewart is not of Jewish ancestry because he has a name like Stewart?

Maybe they really have Scottish or British ancestry? LOL

But having said that, I did not say Ferguson's father did or did not have Scottish ancestry.


Oh come on Delph.

Try a little harder.

Chris Ferguson in Philadelphia Pulaski day parade
polishamericancenter.org/PANews/October07/Page03.pdf

Chris Ferguson thanks Pulaski Day Parade for being military Marshal of parade
"Thank you to PAC parade committee and Polonia"
polishamericancenter.org/PANews/December07/Page11.pdf


LOL

Oh my goodness Delph.

I only criticize people who I think do bad things and say nice things about people who do good things.

I have criticized and praised people who are of Jewish and Russian ancestry. Just like I have done with people of Polish ancestry.

But that's the problem with you Delph. You think we should make judgements about people based on their ancestry and not as individuals :(

What about all your rants about Polish people inside and outside of Poland?

You're really stretching it now if you think that his paternal ancestors were Poles who moved to Scotland!

I mean, there's patriotism, then there's just ridiculousness. The guy is clearly as much Scottish as he is Polish.


She's a criminal, who cares about her?


Uh - neither of those two links contain any admission by Chris Ferguson that he is Polish. Do try again.

Incidentally, one of those links is hilarious - Christmas Day is spent with rest and prayer? Not in Poland it's not! And boys most certainly do not "trudge from village to village".

The only things Scots do in America to celebrate their Scottish heritage is play Bagpipes and wear kilts. It's easier to celebrate Polishness than Scottishness unless you want to buy an expensive kilt and take lots of bagpipe lessons.

Where did Savage say those things? Are you sure your not just taking anti-Michael Savage propaganda from Leftist media?

Is it Islamophobia for Savage to criticize Islamic terrorists?


Just because somebody has a Scottish name that guarantees they're Scottish or %100 Scottish?? People can have a Scottish name and be ¼ Scottish. They can have an Italian name and be ¼ Italian, etc. How do you know his father didn't have some Polish in him?? Because of a NAME????? His father could have been half Polish and half Scottish. Or some other mixture of Polish and Scottish.


The witch hunters couldn't prove she hurt anyone. Even so she did her time for something a guy like you does all the time. Lie. If she's a criminal, I would hate to say what you are.

Even if she did something you didn't like, you don't think people deserve a second chance when they had otherwise done a lot to contribute to society? Oh but since she is of Polish ancestry, you only look for the bad things in her and nothing else. Too bad you never do that with your favorite people the Russians.

All the old Russians who did things a million times worse than Martha Stewart, during the Soviet days are all forgiven by you. That's because what they did was "in the past" according to you. What a hypocrite you are.


No of course not LOL

People who are claimed to be Polish and who want to march in Polish parades are rarely Polish LOL How dense can you be??

Also, why would Michael Savage talk about Ferguson being of Polish ancestry?? Savage is not Polish. He's just an objective observer.

Savage said it in a way like Polish Americans and Poles should be proud of Ferguson. He's right.

You will like this one ;)

Michael Savage likes to also talk about Joseph Conrad as being one of his best English writers even though English was Conrad's second or third language. Savage also is not shy about talking about Conrad's Polish ancestry. Maybe that's why you don't like Savage? :(

He's an example of a Pole who would be mistaken for an Englishman if judging by his name alone.

Martha Stewart's birth name is Martha Helen Kostyra. Her parents were Polish immigrants to the best of my knowledge, making her Polish-American.

Speaking of surnames. although almost all accounts claim him as Polish, I seem to recall that he was also part Georgian.
usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-07-23-Shalikashvili_n.htm

The American General bearing that surname died today
cnn.com/2011/US/07/23/john.shalikashvili.dies/index.html?section=cnn_latest

it does look like a Georgian name but he was born in Poland and he sure looked Polish.

sfbg.com/News/34/51/51dissb.html

Read and weep, my friend.

Unless of course, you choose to deny that he said this stuff - but he certainly hasn't denied it.


So - by your argument, it's entirely possible that he's only 1/16th Polish or worse. Good to know.


Uh, she got found guilty of lying to federal investigators. I'm not sure what your agenda is, but in general, lying to federal investigators isn't exactly a good idea. Therefore, she's nothing but a criminal.


Who said anything about her getting a second chance? She's a convicted liar - that's that. Doesn't matter if she's Polish-American or whatever-American, she's still a convicted liar.


Where did I ever forgive Russians? In your head?


You still haven't provided any proof whatsoever that Chris Ferguson has publicly said that he's Polish. His participation means nothing - we need a solid quote from him. Just one, MediaWatch, just one. Or is it too difficult?


Objective? The man is pushing his own agenda down the throats of anyone that will listen. He's about as unobjective as it gets.


I don't like him because he's a racist moron with his own twisted agenda. Nothing to do with who he speaks about.

I'm not surprised though that you like him - after all, he appeals to your bitter side that seeks to blame everyone else for your own problems.

I clicked on it and it didn't say anything about Michael Savage.

Duhhh!! LOL


Yes people who are non-Polish or barely of Polish ancestry volunteer to march in the Pulaski Day parade as the Military Marshall all the time! LOL!!

Man are you dense.


But you are obsessed by defining her only by something negative she did when she has done much more good for society then bad. If people didn't like her, she wouldn't be on TV for over 10 years and selling her products to many people.

If only you were to judge your Russians by the same standards you judge Martha Stewart by. What about those Russians who were in Poland, Afghanistan, Ukraine and other Russian dominated countries? If Martha Stewart is such a terrible person to you for just lying (which she already paid more than a sufficient price for) what do you think about all those Russians who eagerly participated in hurting other people but were never convicted by Russian sham courts for anything?


You mean you don't remember whining about how you don't want Poles to have negative feelings about Russians because of what Russians did during the Soviet era??? Come on.

You mean you don't recall saying in a debate about the disgusting things Soviet Russians did, how Polish Catholics should forgive Russians because that's what a "good Catholic who believes in the bible" would do?? Don't tell me you don't remember that.

Why don't you apply that Holy Roller bible talk about forgiveness to Martha Stewart the way you want "good Catholics" to forgive the Russians??


His participation in a Polish American Parade as a Military Marshal means a lot. Why would a non-Polish, non-politician go out of his way to be the MILITARY MARSHAL of a Polish day parade??? Yeah that kind of thing happens all the time!! LOL!!!

So if I provide you with a statement of his that he is Polish, you will believe he's Polish??

In the meantime I would like you to provide me with a statement from him that he's Scottish.


He only appears to have an agenda to some Anarchist Soviet Leftie like you who has his own agenda


Really???

So what does your judgemental logic about Martha Stewart, say about all those Russians who gleefully participated in all those evil Soviet Union operations? Like all those Russians who went into Poland, Afghanistan, Ukraine and other countries to get their jollies hurting other people because they arrogantly thought they were "mighty Soviet Russians"??

Also whatever happened to all your Holly Roller talk about Christians forgiving others especially when it comes to forgiving criminal Russian activities? Don't tell me you can forgive Gulag loving Russians but not Martha Stewart?? LOL

Who is worse in your mind? The Russians who occupied other countries against their will, or Martha Stewart?


Oh lord. Look who's talking

Lols, you lot do realise how pathetic and petty this must look if someone who has looked down on sunrise over the planet and floated in space and seen how tiny our world is happens to come across this page?

Well, he did somehow manage to mention the word "Russians" 16 times when replying to a post that contained no mention of Russians.

Unreal.

Jealous as always :)

Get a grip of your sad life and enjoy the fact that many Poles attribute a lot to the world :)

You mean many Poles attribute a lot to the supposed Polish contribution to the world.

Are you now going to claim that Massey Ferguson are Polish tractors? Although to be frank some of them are more Polish than Chris Ferguson is!

To be fair, you don't really hear this kind of nonsense in Poland - it seems to me to be much more of an American thing.

I haven't seen/heard one thing in the Polish media about this supposed "Polish" astronaut - all the news sources said he was American.

poles.org/DB/Pol_Astros/Pol_Astros.html

"Several of individuals of Polish descents are invoved in the American program of space exploration as astronauts".

Chris Ferguson's mother's maiden name is Florkowski.