News / Do Poles in Poland really feel betrayed because there won't be any US Shield? [288]

Russia doesn't like it because America is (once again) intruding in their backyard. Just like with the Georgia fiasco last year. Remember how America was going ape **** over the Cuban Missile Crises or the rumbling your hearing because Russia and Venezuela are buddies.

News / Do Poles in Poland really feel betrayed because there won't be any US Shield? [288]

As for WHY Poland is saying they feel betrayed is because they sent troops to Iraq on a promise that this shield would be put up and Polands government found out about the new revaluation on Czech tv. Obama didn't pick up a phone and say this is what we've decided. Although no more shield is good, the way that Poland found out and how the deal was broken (although Obama is not Bush) they indeed were betrayed. Obama should have called and told them straight up.

News / Do Poles in Poland really feel betrayed because there won't be any US Shield? [288]


I mean what has America ever done for Poland? They didn't convince Churchill not to hand us over to the Russians after WWII and for all sakes and purposes they use Poland as a political pawn against Russia. Poland foolishly took Americas word and ran with it angering the rest of Europe. America has major financial problems at the moment and their military is strapped in two wars - so what kind of credibility does America even have right now against a Russia even if Russia did something against Poland? They don't, basically all were doing is angering our neighbors for the sake of bragging we have a buddy half way across the globe.

Let me put it this way, show me an example of America helping another country just for the sake of it. They don't, there is always a bottom line for America and if it doesn't add up they won't become involved or back you. So there is no point of being strong allies with them because they will help you either way - if it will benefit them somehow.

News / Do Poles in Poland really feel betrayed because there won't be any US Shield? [288]

It's the RIGHT WING that feels betrayed. The shield was always only backed by 50% of the population and the article I read today stated that the publics backing was decreased since then, with only 29% in favor of it.

It was a STUPID idea from the start and personally I'm very glad that it's been scratched. Poland needs to improve relations with their neighbors. As much as America likes to claim they care about Poland they do not. I've lived in America for 21 years now and can tell you first hand it's a one sided relationship. For example I had a relative that wanted to move here but there are specific quotas set on how many Poles can immigrate, on the other hand other European countries such as Czech for example do not have the same restrictions. And considering all that Poland has done for America "Poland was one of the first eastern European nations to join NATO. It opted to buy American instead of European fighter plans for its airforce in 2003 and rallied to the support of Washington during the Iraq war."

Poland has a ******** government at the moment (too right wing IMO) and this crying out that they've been betrayed is stupid. It was a stupid idea from the start and all my relatives over in Poland were against the shield idea from the start. Yes this takes some leverage away from Poland when it comes to it's dealing with neighboring countries because they no longer have America in their corner but if you didn't see this coming your a fool. Personally I'm ashamed to see stuff like "we were betrayed". I look over at the Czechs and see how they quietly sit around and wait for all the dust to settle and then get involved and wish we were more like that. Czech have always been followers and yet look at what leading has done for Poland....not much. We need to improve our relations with neighboring nations and elect a more "liberal" government. The right wing/Catholic Orthodox (even though i am Catholic) is ********. Western Europe is angered at our dealings with the US and don't have a favorable view of Poland.

Life / Why there is always around a horrible smell of sweat in Poland [188]

I don't think it's the lack of showering.....it's the lack of deodorants.......

Life / Polish and Czechs [191]


While a few bad apples don't represent the whole bunch, I personally have never responded negatively to being asked if I'm Russian, Czech, from Ukraine or whatever judging by my long last name. I have respect for them but I'm a Pole through and through


Great post all around I'd say. Hits on all the stereotypes which is basically what this thread is aiming at.

Speaking to my family and parents, they said Czech's view Poles as too hot tempered, acting too quickly on emotion.
While they view Czech has more eager to calculate and let the dominoes fall before making a decision. Not the first to act but then again not taking the risk of getting burned. They say they would rather have Poland re act in the same way as Czech politically in the past and even in some manners today and if they had they would be better off economically, instead of being the first to jump in the fire and fight, Czech sat back and waited to see what would happen before making choices. Wiser decisions

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

Interesting man

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


I'd say in terms of national pride and holding a resentment towards your neighbors - Poles/Turks are similiar. Plus when the hard booze starts flowing....

Greeks/Turks are simliar because they are neighbors, much like you would say Poles/Russians or Germans are smiliar but you wouldn't say Germans and Russians are similiar.

I dunno, it's a difficult question, but overall I'd say I have a lot of respect for Turks and think they mean well. I know there is a huge percentage of them in Germany and when that happens obviously your gonna encounter the worse that they have to offer at the same time. Kebab with sourkraut was very odd to me .....

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


I haven't encountered as many Greeks as Turks but no I wouldn't say Greeks/Poles are as similar in character.

How would you say the two compare?

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


Well obviously politics is a reason why you don't learn much about Turks in American history books. For the most part the history books in Grade School are pretty pathetic in America as a whole....

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

I would say Turks are the most out going/loud with Germans being on the extreme and Poles somewhere in the middle. Poles just have to open up and get the Vodka flowing and they are nearly just like Turks I'd say.

It has to do with the whole, we've been in the middle of Russia/Germany throughout our history and the Turks being over shadowed by Greeks and Italians to a lesser extent that I was trying to get at.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

I have a brother in law that is a Turkish German. Born and rasied in Germany but views himself as Turk first.

I visited Turkey for the first time in 2006 and loved it. Very passionate people with A LOT of pride that kind of have to take a back seat to Greeks in hitorical terms atleast. For example in American history classes you are drilled with Greek culture but are taught nearly nothing of Turks, which is odd since they are neighbors and at times are nearly identical. Overall I think they hold the same exact qualities that Poles do. Very similar in my opinion.

But it does take a little getting use to. Poles for the most part are reserved and try to be very respectable/quiet. Turks on the other hand, are very loud and open people....that is in their blood. While it might not mix at first the combo of Turks and Germans is even more odd in my opinion. Seeing first hand how the cultures interacted in Germany was funny at times. Turks being the loud and out going group while the Germans are very quiet and in a shell at times.

I think Poles and Turks are very similar in many ways for better and worse.