Do any other Polish Americans feel that our culture needs to be more well preserved?

I am part of a Polish community in NYC (Lower East Manhattan) but it is about 45% of people with at least some influence of Polish heritage and my question is why do some people oppose the Americanization of it? Of course it interfere's with its preservation but how are we going to be recognized if we don't befriend Americans and make it look more appealing to them? We are living in their country and I don't understand why some are so sensitive and enraged about the issue. I love my way of life and wouldn't change it a bit but just think some are a little too uptight and touchy. We are going to be hated if we seem snooty and ungrateful to Americans and I don't want that. Americanization is a part of the preservation of our communnities.

You won't be snooty.. It's more honorable to carry out your old, traditional ways. Don't worry.. Americans at heart like it when you're feisty.

You come over with us, you have some fun and learn something new maybe.. that all that's really required. You stay.. that's fine. You leave.. that's fine too.

However, yes I'd like to see Polish culture preserved in the US. It takes guts to be this way. I find it very honorable.

Someone who made a decision to live here as a citizen of the US supposed to be loyal to this country. No one here will hate you for your feelings to the country of your origin.

However, I'm against creating little "countries" inside the US like it is for example in Chicago where a part of it is practically Polish. Cultural exchange is very much welcome but I believe that if it's so important for someone to live in almost 100% Polish environment and in many cases don't even speak English then why not just live in Poland. This is just an example, I feel the same way about any other ethnic group that lives in the US.

Right exactly, do your own thing , just don't slam us Americans all the time. What the hell, we're fighting a hard battle too.

Well Poland has a very bad economy (mostly the reason why we move here) and Polish immigrants are vastly different from American wasps these I think are the main reasons for the "Little Poland" type communities.


Hey I never said I was in favor of slamming you; that is exactly what I was against. I recognize your struggles and I can understand them in a way.

It's difficult if not impossible to maintain your culture when living in a foreign country. You change, your host country changes and your native country changes. It's no different if you are an American in Poland, the longer you stay the more you lose touch with your country. Nothing stays the same.


In time they'll assimilate. If not them certainly their children.

I don't know what kind of Americans you guys meet over there but in general, we're very friendly and helpful people.
Talking about your economy etc, no one said that you're not welcome here (read my previous post) but we expect you guys to be loyal, that's it.


I've met an older guy from Chicago, after 35 years living here, he barely spoke English. You have to admit that this is not right.

Yeah brother.. chill out. I was on your side. I'm not a WASP either.. I never identified with them.

pp he is a she :)


if you dont mind, i never heard this expression, so what is wasps?

White Anglo Saxon Protestant

.. uhh what the hell kind of bulls.hit is this??

lol cause you said yeah brother chill out..

I agree, the guy misses out on a lot of what's going on around him.

Well I harken back to old hippy days so I use expressions like that.

I didn't say they were bad or I didn't like them (although the men are often quite soft), I'm part wasp (not american wasp but Euro wasp) just have a very different way of life than Poles/Slavs in general. You obviously have no understanding of what I'm talking about (no offense) but you should probably just quit the conversation all together. It is a little frustrating to have to keep explaining to you.


Oh I definitely agree with you, if someone is living here and has the right to vote they DEFINITELY need to learn english properly. This is the point I was trying to make by creating this thread.

:) NO problem :)

Just out of curiosity, are you Polish?

It depends how one defines Americaism. Is someone who dislikes apple pie and baseball unAmerican or even a traitor? Not until a law is enacted making not liking thsose illegal.

America is a huge salad bowl comprising diverse ingredients. Will it contain everythign but Polish ingredients is up to us PolAms.
PolAms need to be culturally more assertive and expose fellow-Americfans to our unique cultrual contributions. The Jews, Balcks, Hispanics, Irish, Arabs and others are doing so. Czy my gorsi?

You know, this is not what I meant before, :-)


Agree as long as we keep it as it is in a "salad bowl", all tastefully mixed together :-)

No, that's not Polish people. Polish people assimilate. Some ethnic groups assimilate, some don't. Why do you want Polish people to be like Blacks, Hispanics, Irish or Arabs???? Why can't Poles be Poles??

Because that's the goal of multiculturalism.


Well, because that's not.

I feel pretty preserved right now, had way to many rum and cokes :) lol

No it does not, it's actually quite good and still improving.

video.mpt.tv/video/1320132922/, a highly relevant video to the thread. One on Polish Americans that have made sth of themselves in America.

This thread is a joke, I was being sarcastic. But I can't believe people actually fell for my ruse hehe.

Just curious: which battle might that be?

Preserving our way of life.. making things better for our kids.

I'm with you one-thousand percent there, Pete.

i agree... spread the word in the Chicago area..... ;)

lol. You are so nice to Allison pgtx...