Polonia / Which country is better SPAIN or POLAND [118]


And, that is one of my my points: the racial mixing that has gone on for generations makes impossible to distinguish between, say, an Aztec from a Castilian. In Mexico, more times than not, you'll find a single person incorporating both origins. I know several Mexican families that half the children look pure Castilian and the other half look pure Indian...and they come from the same mother and father.


But, it has nothing to do with being an American. It's based on justice, logic, and common sense.

Polonia / Which country is better SPAIN or POLAND [118]

I'm not comparing Spain with Nazi Germany or one type of oppression with another (perceived or real). My point is that current generations have no claim to redress for the oppression of their ancestors that occurred generations ago, whether that be the historical oppression based on race, religion, creed, ideology, or what have you. The call for reparations neither compensates those who have been wronged or solves an historical injustice. It only causes further injustice (those who had no hand in oppressing paying those who were never oppressed), discord, and division.

Polonia / Which country is better SPAIN or POLAND [118]


Yes, I agree. I also think it's highly unjust to demand compensation from the Spanish, as I find it unjust for Jews to demand compensation from Poland, Poland to demand compensation from Germany, Libyan or Nubians to demand compensation from Egypt, etc., etc., etc..

This modern-day call for reparations is nothing short of extortion. The oppressors and oppressed of the past are gone. Assigning the sins of the father to the current generation is not only unjust, for the current generation did not commit the oppression, but it's also nearly impossible to distinguish who are the descendants of whom. Generations of mobility, intermingling, and intermarriage have made it moot.

Additionally, the reality is that the current generation are participating members of the culture they live in. A Mexican who is a descendant of an Aztec knows nothing of Aztecan culture and would be lost in it--he is Mexican, he knows Mexican culture because he has lived his life in it. Granted, some may have some kind of romantic idea of living an Aztecan life, but it's merely romantic--if they were ignorant of any Aztecan origin they wouldn't know the difference. It's like if I was to say I'm culturally German (from what I know about my family I'm 75% German ethnicity), although lived my whole life in America--it'd be purely romantic, I'm culturally 100% American.

To speak specifically about the Spanish and Mesoamericans, the Spanish monarchy of today is not the same as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries. It doesn't hold the power today as it did then. It wouldn't be the Spanish crown paying reparations, it would be the Spanish taxpayers. If you consider that just, please explain.

The gold and riches extracted from the Americas by the Spanish aren't hidden away in some account that has been accruing interest for centuries, either. The 10% the conquistadors were obligated to gift the crown was mostly disposed of quickly to pay off debts and fund their wars in Europe.

And, to end this diatribe (as grand and supremely poignant as it is), reparations/compensation/whatereveryawannacallit will not solve any problems or create harmony. It will further divide people and create enmity and discord. It will not bring about justice, accord, and unity.

News / Poland to get the newest version of M1A2 Abrams tank [90]

I don't think you quite get it, Novichok, it doesn't matter what Biden says. I matters what his syndicate of behind the scenes handlers do. Give it some time, Biden will contradict his statement soon enough.

News / Poland to get the newest version of M1A2 Abrams tank [90]

@BB

No, he didn't get the 2%, but real headway was being made. That stuff doesn't happen over night--takes some time. He did a lot of positive stuff in 4 years time--all the while being attacked domestically by the media and tech, unlike anything seen in our history. I miss the Great Orange Combover!

From what I've seen and read/heard, you're 100% correct, the Biden Syndicate is undoing as much of Trump's agenda as possible. It's scary just how nihilistically neo-marxist this group is.

News / Poland to get the newest version of M1A2 Abrams tank [90]


Many may not have liked Trump's style, but he was a very effective leader. He got things going and done.


That's the whole point of NATO isn't it--to join together to fight off common enemies. Ergo, the reason the US is not only right to demand all NATO members hold up their end of the bargain, but justifiably so.

P.S. If Oathi is Grunni, could Gef be Torqi--there's some similarities?

Polonia / Which country is better SPAIN or POLAND [118]

@Oathbreaker

I wouldn't say that lack of microscopes and lack of development in health sciences meant the Spaniards and other early American explorers did not know that disease was infecting the Indian population. We know they were well aware of the spread and ravage of diseases like smallpox and measles.


The proof for the claim of the Spanish purposely spreading disease is pretty weak. I'm unaware of any well-vetted credible historical claims that the Spanish were offering infected blankets. There is some proof that the Brits tried...once. And, there is no proof it was effective. history.com/news/colonists-native-americans-smallpox-blankets


That's undeniable for the vast majority. But, there were those who did want to spread civilization and Christianity. You can argue whether or not that's just or noble, but there certainly were a good number of early settler/explorers from Europe who thought it to be just and noble.


It's not like the native peoples were not brutal in their treatment of other native population. The Aztec were and they oppressed other conquered natives. history.com/topics/ancient-americas/aztecs

So, if Spain is to compensate for something that happened 500 years ago, shouldn't Aztec descendants be held accountable to compensate other Mesoamreican descendants whose ancestors were conquered by the Aztec? If you can even determine who is descendants of who--I mean, there has been so much inter-marrying and intermingling of all those peoples over the past 500 years, it's an absurdity to think you can even identify who comes from who: oftentimes, you'll find in a single Mexican who has a cocktail of Euro and Mesoamerican blood and DNA running through their bodies.

News / Poland to get the newest version of M1A2 Abrams tank [90]


If there was to be an EU army, wouldn't there need to be more than 2-percent spent to build and maintain such a force?


Oathbreaker is Grunni? Makes sense--sensible fellow.

History / What do Poles owe to Jews? [599]

@Novichok

What I wrote was supposed to distinguish religious belief from ethnic origins. Granted, the Jewish people's ethnicity is unique in that it is tied up with the Abrahamic faith, but one doesn't have to believe in that faith to be a descendant of Jews.

Your example illustrates only ethnic origins or the difference between ethnic origin and national residency or citizenship.

@ BB

I think it's a more complicated than that, but I get your point.

History / What do Poles owe to Jews? [599]

@Bratwurst Boy

The State of Israel isn't the same as the Jewish people. Not all Jews are Israelis. Besides, the formation of Israel as a political nation was in the works before European Jews were being tortured by you uncivilized Europeans, check out the Balfour Declaration.

@Novichok

A Christian Jew is still a Jew, like, say, a baptized Pole who converts to Hinduism is still a Pole, just a Hindu Pole.

A lot of people also like them as a people. I admire them as a whole. Individually, they are like anybody else, some are great folks, others are complete a-holes, and others are run-of-the-mill.

History / What do Poles owe to Jews? [599]

...and that all Jews who convert to Christianity remain (and still recognize themselves as being) Jewish.


If the mother isn't Jewish but the father is, the child isn't automatically Jewish?

If not, what exactly is being Jewish? Is not ethnic?


We should also ask what Jews owe Gentiles. The answer is we owe each other much...and it has nothing to do with redress of historical grievances. We have contributed to each others cultures, economic and social well-being in many positive ways. The perpetual victim-victimizer schtick often distorts that reality.

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]

No, no, not an angel. Fully human...just a better version-and I say that with complete humility and charity...and chagrin.

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]

Well hell, then I am flattered. Well, not really, but that's just me being deeply humble about my obvious brilliance, erudition, and just all around superiority-all things I'm embarrassed by, because of my deep humility and self-effacing charity for others. Which, ironically, makes me even a greater guy deserving of more flattery, which will then cause me great angst because of my humility. It's a torturous cycle! If God would've made me only average or touch below average {sighs}.

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]


Ha!

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]


*chuckling*

I'm curious to know what possesses someone to make such a comment on an internet forum.

@novichok

Who the possession of Taiwan was negotiated to by the victor allies has all the relevance .

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]

Again, there is no comparison. The differences between Taiwan/China and the American Civil War are important, IMO, for the justice argument you are trying to make.

The Am South was a part of the Union and operating under the same US Constitution as the Northern states. In other words, the south was a part of the USA.

Taiwan had not been a part of China since the late 1800's when it came under Japanese rule after China ceded it after losing a war with Japan. It was Japan who lost Taiwan after WWII, not China, and it was agreed to be handed to the REPUBLIC of China, not the commies. The ROC gov escaped to Taiwan after the chicom rebellion.

What's interesting and contrary to contemporary belief about Taiwan is that it wasn't under Chinese rule until late 17th century and before that was actually under the control of the Dutch, ie the Dutch East India Company. So, the Chinese don't have a hereditary claim to the place.

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]

I don't think they are remotely comparable.

Here's an interesting article I came across during lunch, it radiates the intricacies of the situation:

thediplomat.com/2017/07/the-chinese-cult-of-cairo-and-the-status-of-taiwan/

History / Why Was D-Day So Significant for Poland ? [266]


Was this reported pessimism consistent from 1933 until 1945, or was it just during the war years?


Interesting, indeed.

Life / What do Polish people think of the Asia and Middle East? [86]


It was part of China until the Chinese signed it over to the Japanese in the 19th century. Then, during WWII, the allies gave it to the Republic of China. Then, the Republican gov gets into a war with the communists and the republicans relocate to Taiwan and setup shop. There's at least a very compelling, if not rock solid, argument that Taiwan isn't a rogue breakaway.

History / Why Was D-Day So Significant for Poland ? [266]


The amount of support the war received within Germany is something I've wondered about. When you say most Germans, is there a reliable estimate about the percentage of ordinary Germans who were against war at the time?


Or, maybe, the repercussions of voicing opposition had more to do with it than the winning :{

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]


Yet, Zieodimwit, he never made a religious argument one time. Maybe its not being able to stand PF's inability to make cogent rational arguments that chases the more intelligent posters away. After awhile you realize swine don't know what to do with pearls, so you take your bag of pearls and leave...because that's the wise thing to do.

Language / Cultural disparities shown through Polish and English languages [195]

:):):). Because, it is the glass' fate, afterall.

Language / Cultural disparities shown through Polish and English languages [195]


I'd go even further and say the traditional Polish mindset is the glass is 10% empty and it's only a matter of time before someone comes along and knocks the glass over and breaks the damn thing. :)

News / Poland rejects international criticism over LGBT rights [28]

@cms neuf

You know your cliches-I'll give you that.

Even though your assumption is wrong, if I was getting all my info from a priest, who may he getting action, if that info is good and correct, does the priest's hypocrisy make what is correct any less correct? He may not be practicing what he preaches, but that doesn't necessarily effect the veracity of what he preaches.

But, anyhow, it'd be more interesting if you had something more substantive.

News / Poland rejects international criticism over LGBT rights [28]


That's also a part of it. Sex also has a very strong bonding characteristic, that's why guilt is often felt after the fun ends when there's no commitment involved. Here's the thing about marital heterosexual sex, every now and again that endorphin rush of sex has associated endorphin rushes when the child you made is born and develops throughout his or her life. It's the gift that keeps on giving.


A unitive purpose is the other.


And you think heterosexuals don't sin? They do, so following your logic, heterosexuals aren't made in God's image either, because they're sinners.

News / Poland rejects international criticism over LGBT rights [28]

With the LBGT agenda, it's not about what people do in bed as much as it is accepting what is being done in bed as natural. It's about socially normalizing an abnormality.

Regardless of how you slice it, sex has a couple co-equal purposes, one being procreation. We can use all the semantics we want, but you cannot erase from nature the reality that the sex organs have one biological use: making babies. And nature has so designed it that a man and woman are complementary to each other sexually, whereas homosexual sex is not and cannot be complementary.

The very basic building block of any civilized and ordered society has been the family-this is designed within nature. The family being where humans are created and nurtured. So, when you start redefining the foundation of society, society itself will not only become redefined but disordered.

BTW, same can be said about certain heterosexual behaviors, like adultery, incest, etc. All disordered.

None of this is to say that homosexuals should be denied respect and dignity as persons, they are human beings made in God's image and therefore are equally deserving of dignity as anyone else.

News / Poland rejects international criticism over LGBT rights [28]

Trump doesn't appear to want to fight against the LGBT agenda-I think he's a libertarian when it comes to sexual relations. The US needs to stop promoting it, though. It's one of my few complaints about the Trump admin.

News / Poland rejects international criticism over LGBT rights [28]

Mosbacher is pushing the LGBT agenda in Poland?

Travel / Poland one of the best places to see golden Autumn colours [11]

You can get those Autumn colors throughout much of the US. But Polish Summers are truly sublime.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Interesting. I'll check it out.