Can I feel a very tiny bit Polish?

Hello everyone,

I was checking up my family on a research site and found that I have a Polish ancestor. He was born in 1716 and died in about 1800. Is it too distant for me to feel a tiny bit Polish, and with that I mean to have a little connection with Poland which those who are not Polish at all doesn't have. I only think he passed down 1/512 to me, so that's not even 1%. What do you think? Is it enough to feel something?

you may have a genetic disease unique to Poland thanks to your Polish ancestor - in that case the connection would be very real ;)

on a more serious note - if you feel like you wnat to feel part Polish who will stop you

Well I hope I can escape that :D What kind of Polish diseases are there?

I am just wondering what legitimacy it has to feel a tiny, tiny part of something, when it's even less than 1% of your total ancestry. The late 18th century isn't that far back in time, but the big numbers disappear quickly. I wouldn't go around thinking of myself as part (as in significant part) Polish, hell no, but rather just feel a little connection to Poland that others don't have. A silly example, to cheer for Poland instead of Czech republic just because I have a Polish ancestor. Does it make sense? If I go to Poland, is it legit to think "I have ancestors that lived here, which makes the journey more interesting".

Exactly. And from now on you should support Polish team in the European football cup, and also Poland as a whole. Welcome among (even a tiny, tiny bit) Poles!

Up to you!
Being a Pole is not about genetic make up. If you feel Polish and you mean it - you are Polish.

- Haha thanks, yeah I'll support Poland vs Ukraine :D

- I disagree :) A Chinese man can become Polish when it comes to culture and citizenship, but not ethnically. I don't think a German man can feel like he's Greek just like that. So I am asking from a ethnic standpoint.

So? Do you have a problem with it?


Who cares?


Who said that it would be - just like that ?You need to know what you get yourself into, IF you know nothing about Greek culture, don't know the language, no idea about values and history how can you call yourself Greek? That is folly.

I talking about serious people not jesters.
You might be sympathetic towards Poland if your DNA is Polish its entirely up to you. Fair enough.
Claiming that Polish DNA makes you to some extend Polish - nah!

"So? Do you have a problem with it?"

- I simply do not see them as Polish, at least not in a sense that truly matters.

"Who cares?"

- Why wouldn't you care? I think your country and people has a great value.

"Who said that it would be - just like that? You need to know what you get yourself into, IF you know nothing about Greek culture, don't know the language, no idea about values and history how can you call yourself Greek? That is folly.

I talking about serious people not jesters.
You might be sympathetic towards Poland if your DNA is Polish its entirely up to you. Fair enough.
Claiming that Polish DNA makes you to some extend Polish - nah!"

One could move to any country and learn their culture - but they still wouldn't have ancestors who lived there since ancient times and made the country what it is today. Therefore, their connection to the country would be extremely vague, and meaningless in comparison to where they came from.

This thread wasn't supposed to be a discussion about nationalism, but I'm fine with it. The point I was trying to make is being 0.5/0.3% native Polish enough to care the slightest for the country, but since you don't seem to understand those values, you are probably not fit to answer the question, but I still appreciate all viewpoints.

Look up the guy below and read some of what he writes, this guy is as Polish as I am and my DNA is 100% Polish

Poland swears in Nigerian Godson as first black MP

bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11990869

Polish nationalism is not ethnocentric. Unless you learned about it from Soviet sources.


Really? Who would be judge of it? If they would be willing to defend its country on the battlefield, if they would embrace its values and culture. Who is to say that wouldn't make them Polish? True it could be more difficult for them than those who been born in the country but it is not impossible.


Racism has not place in the Polish modern nationalistic doctrine.

"Racism has not place in the Polish modern nationalistic doctrine."

Amen

None of you seem to understand the concept of racism nor nationalism. Being an ethnic nationalist, unlike the civic American version, where the natives are close to extinct and everyone is living on stolen land, has nothing to do with hatred. It's the wish of preserving your country and people, and essentially about love. Maybe since Poland is so homogeneous, you two haven't understood the importance of this yet. Luckily, Poles are a proud people and it shows. They have resisted the immigration agenda far better than other countries.

"They have resisted the immigration agenda "

Polish and EU law is quite clear and immigrants are welcome here.

There has been a recent issue where Poland rejected some undocumented and unvetted non EU migrants due to safety concerns, but that is a one off separate issue.

"None of you seem to understand "

No I don't understand please expand on your line of thinking.

I am not talking about other Europeans, of course, but the immigration from outside of Europe. Poland has taken in a lot less people who are considered refugees than other nations.

Man I'm telling you what is essentially a formal doctrine of the Polish nationalistic movement. That has nothing to do with propaganda for multicultural society.

Poland for Poles - meaning in the interest of Poles and run by Poles and all those who agree with or want to be a part of it regardless of their origin. Those Muslims who want to introduce their own culture and values do not fit that bill.


Close, that concept was build on the tradition and culture that has been created by the old Poland - that basically was USA in Europe before USA.


It has never crossed my mind that you preach hate here. You are simply misinformed. I told you that contrary to many European nations Polish nationalism isn't ethnocentric.


Poland for a greater part of her written history has been full of immigrants, different religions and cultures. Homogenous only after ethic cleansing, change of borders and Soviet occupation - 1945.

Poland is not high on the list for immigration, millions of Poles have migrated away from Poland due to economic circumstances .

Migrants are a bit more choosy, they prefer Germany,UK, as their promised land, a few genuine refugees do come to Poland but usually they do not stay long and jump over into Germany.

Poland seems to be attracting allot of migrants and refugees from the east, the Ukraine in particular.

OP Wasd ...#12, said = ........" Non of you seem to understand the concept of racism and nationalism."........... You notice this, too. It is very interesting why this should be so, on a Polish Forum, where those who say that they are Polish don't understand the very nature of what has kept the nation together for 1,000 years. They 'speak' as if they do not belong. Maybe, these people can always find their true homeland in the (((Promised Land)))?

@ Nationalism? - Fighting for a foreign country = Mercenaries. There are American Volunteers fighting for the Russians in Russian Donetsk. They do not consider themselves Russian. No matter, if not having a sense of place is OK, then a violent loss of family will be no great burden for the doomed Slavs. And the (((carpet-baggers))) will make a killing, as they always do.

You can feel patriotic by donating 1/512 of your salary, p.a..to Poland.

Spot on. @Doloslask is as British as I am and he is also a Pole. There is no conflict between the two things.


Ethnicity is about shared cultural values. It is possible to change ethnicity.



Exactly. It is far richer and more complex than that.

However, you're not Polish because you haven't embraced or understood Polish values and culture. You bonded with post-PRL boors and think them great.

Perhaps more than you think. Poland is not so primitive that it has only your particular set of values or cultural environment. I prefer to embrace the values of Cardinal Podolski, Gabriel Narutowicz, Janusz Korczak, Tadeusz Boy-Zielinski and Bronislaw Geremek than for example the Dmowski person and his cohorts.


No, you don't get it do you. How many decades ago did you leave Poland.

[moved from]

I should have Polish citizenship. My cousin, brother to my grandfather, was saved by his Polish friend during the battle of Battle of Guadalcanal. They served as Canadian soldiers in regiment consisted of Slavs where solely English were commanding staff. They were ordered to invade the coast but Japanese bombarded them. It was massacre. Fortunately, hysterical English captain was killed and so Slavs start to withdraw back to ship. Some shi* hit my cousin in his head when he was swimming and he fainted. His Polish friend took him for the hair all the way to the ship. When he woke up, friend told him: ``Happy birthday, you are reborn as Polish.``

Does this count?

Plus, I feel 300% Polish. No, wait. Its 500%.