History / Poland - problem for Germany? (historically continual hostility of German state on Poland) [154]

Patriotism and one-sided nationalism aren't the same!

I wonder what separates AfD's future "dictatorship" from Merkel's quasi-dictatorship? One's right-leaning, the other left-leaning, and so what, actually where's the difference here?

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Don't know how they read in English, but I found them great fun, the few I actually read.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Bingo! "Old Shatterhand & Winnetou".

Not bad for an old Saxon bumpkin who'd never set foot in the New World.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

Poles are generally more numerous in cities such as the capital, less so in Erfurt, this is true.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

How about "thunder stick" (gun, firearm)?
:-)

History / Poland - problem for Germany? (historically continual hostility of German state on Poland) [154]

Weimarer,

Herr Hoecke has lost the way and is opting, as per usual, for easy solutions, quick-fixes if you will, to infinitely complex problems.
Not too different from Mr. Trump over in the US. Hoecke's rhetoric is nothing more than pandering to the lowest common denominator, so too the PEGIDA people!

DIfficult challenges require rethinking old, worn, and useless strategies. We all have our cross to bear and finger pointing, revisionist chat along with
not so veiled racist agendas don't solve anything.

Life / Are Poles mentally more Eastern European or Western European? [170]

I've found urban Poles completely at home in being considered Eastern Europeans with a large dose of Western culture, from their alphabet to their religion.

I readily admit that historically, the more rustic Poles from far-flung areas of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire DID tend to remain closer to the language aka local dialect and folk traditions of Ukraine and Russia than to the German-speaking regions of the West.

History / Why do Polish people hate to be called Eastern European? [120]

@Ironside, please explain what you mean, in English (or preferably...privately) in Polish.

Poland historically allied herself with the culture of her neighbors, above all, in her fervent practice of Roman Catholicism vs. Russian Orthodox Christianity.
Now these are facts, how can you argue with facts?

Life / Are Poles mentally more Eastern European or Western European? [170]

King Ironside the Contrary strikes again!

History / Why do Polish people hate to be called Eastern European? [120]

You don't know the meaning of the word "fake" then:-)

On a map, Poland is closer "East" than either Czech Republic or Slovenia etc. Therefore, it's clearly geographically Eastern, rather than Central.
You just love busting my chops, that's all. That means, you enjoy giving certain posters a hard time, arguing non-existent points.

History / Why do Polish people hate to be called Eastern European? [120]

For those among us seeking the proverbial "white man's refuge" (if that's your thingLOL), still better in Poland than Germany.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Already did, Rich, and I trounced ya!
Guess ya forgot that "unimportant" factoid, huh?
:-))

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

Nadia's late twenty-something and ADORES any type of alcohol, so yes, pawian, I'm sure she heartily enjoyed the vodka, zubrowka, what ever they offered her:-)

History / Why do Polish people hate to be called Eastern European? [120]

Poles often don't wish to be reminded of their Eastern or Slavic roots, instead, they wish to be associated with Poland as a Westernized democracy. Therefore, many try to stress their "Westernness":-)

That's what I've been told.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

You never lost an argument with one because you probably never had enough ammo to get one off the ground aka it was a stalement from the get go!

Face it, dude, you're licked and you know it:-)

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Analogies between Trump and Hitler ain't all that far fetched, Dirk.

Love / Do Polish guys like girls who are shy, modest and sensitive [41]

Ironside, if you have nothing of value to say, kindly button your lip unless you're willing to say something pleasant, chuck a bluff, pretend, just pretend once in a while to behave like a human being! Surprise us, why don't you

Love / Do Polish guys like girls who are shy, modest and sensitive [41]

Just my two zloty worth, but although a married American man living here in the States, my encounters with young Polish men in particular, at work and socially, is that they enjoy feeling in control! Although Polish women whom I know are on the surface highly educated, capable, multilingual etc., they'll even confess that in comparison with women throughout most of Western Europe, they continue to defer to men.

While I certainly can't judge every Polish woman vs. every Polish man, I believe my extensive experience is representative of the current situation in Poland.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Discipline needn't stifle creativity, it can, indeed it does, encourage people to work within a framework which allows for complete expression!
This idiotic notion that standard is something to avoid, that structure is tantamount to faschism and what not's a bunch of bull from beginning to end.

All one needs to do is to read "Lord of the Flies" and see what happens when untrammeled youth runs amok and individual vice is given free reign, when

the little fat kids of this world are told a la Darwin's corruptors that only the strongest and toughest are useful enough to survive ad nauseum. Who are WE to judge one's fitness? That alone emanates from G-d.

Complete lack of supervision brings out the inhuman in all of us. Give man an inch and he'll gladly take a mile, then another, then another until only ONE person;s left standing.Too little control is surely as bad as too much:-)

The rampant sickness of laissez faire capitalism has infected the European continent too, I regret to say. You've been hypnotized by false advertising.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Would we be any less "stupified" if national education became a total free-for-all, in which everybody could learn as they pleased?? Why such fear of standards, you people?? If the individual fails in their human responsibilities to their neighbors aka fellow humans, certainly there should be someone to turn to to set things (back) on the straight and narrow as soon as things start to go awry! We see something bad begin to happen, nip it in the bud before it gets worse.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Ahem, I'd choose a different book upon which to base your ideas, Milo. By such logic, a traffic cop, school board, oversight body of any kind or what have you is somehow sinisterly "dictatorial" by its very nature, if only to attempt to tame and control our most human instinct, notably to take unfair advantage of a given situation or rest somebody else's sweat and toil to exact personal profit....

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Why then in heaven's name do you both contend that the EU is some sort of conspiratorial "dictatorship", hell bent on destroying European freedoms?

It almost seems as if you've given prepared answers of what you're supposed to say.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Well?

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Each of your responses is sooooo PC, as if right on cue. Whom are you trying to impress, you guys?

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

How so, if you'll permit me playing the Devil's Advocate for a change? Seems your definition of freedom needs some clarification. In the US, since Attty Gen'l Ashcroft, those who are merely deemed at odds with the US are labled "enemy combatants", placed on no-fly lists, and made into paraiah in their own country. Our sitting duck president expressed a desire to even close the NY Times if their criticisms of His Highness became too truthful.

In Germany, casual references to the Hitler Era, mocking the Third Reich in public might land one in jail.

Where's the difference, pray tell?

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Is the EU "anti-freedom" any more than the US?

Here, our Federal Government, nationwide, controls each one of the 51 States. Over there, the leadership of Bruxelles,
living fulfillment of Metternich's dream, "The Concert of Europe", controls over 21 among numerous countries, a number of
which aren't yet EU-members!

Our country began with a mere 13 independent colonies by 1778. By 1904, much of the Western Territories had only quite recently been established as states, and even then, certain areas had yet to be granted statehood by Washington. The last US-territory to become a "state", was Hawaii....in 1959!!! That was nearly over one-hundred odd years in the making.

Moreover, a handful of states over the past centuries have even desired breaking away from the Union, namely Texas. Yet, nobody in our nation's capital seriously

entertained the notion of a "Texit"LOL

Now, you tell us which is "freer", Europe or America?
:-)

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

As I've reiterated on at best any number of occasions, a Polexit would be a disaster for Poland!
It's geopolitical implications for the rest of Europe remain to be seen.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

Totally, pawian.

A lady friend of my wife and mine from Hamburg just returned from Krakow and of course was full of her trip. She confessed that her Polish hosts bent over backwards to speak to her only in English, inviting her to dinner and explaining the menu selections and so forth. Yet, upon he arrival, a few words in Polish, and some local knowledge brought tears to her host family's faces and she ended up having a great time. Had she only spoken English, she confessed (they spoke no German, only English and some Russian), she wouldn't have had half the experience she did:-)

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

My experience with younger Germans especially, those between 20-40 or thereabouts, is that they are perfectly open minded about Poles and Poland!
I'm pleased to say, a number whom I know, are even learning a bit of the language to prepare for their trip:-)
Oh sure, they realize most Poles will try to speak English, some a bit of schoolbook German, to be hospitable, but they feel that learning some Polish will

only make their holidays more pleasant, not to mention, much more fun.

As most have said on this site already, and it's really true as well, it depends on the generation of Germans, that's about it.

History / Why are Poles/Poland disliked by Germans? [140]

Milo,

Germans typically believe only half (or even less!) of what they HEAR, while nearly 100% of what they read. As long as something has the "authority" of the written/ printed word, many Germans will take it for face value. If the author's an alleged "expert" with a high degree, all the better!