Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


You mean the way Mother Russia is showing her love to her children in Ukraine at the moment? Or how Mother Serbia went on a killing spree in Kosovo, Bosnia and Croatia to -


?

I think the Silesian people are well able to decide for themselves what they need and want without the "motherly love" of your "slavic kind".

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


Well, your professor, "expert in linguistics" seem to have forgotten about the fact the Silesian differs to Polish in writing. Therefore, it simply can not be just a dialect. If it was the same in writing, I would actually consider his points. As it differs in writing, and hence can not be just a dialect, I have to conclude that he is either a very bad "expert" or his opinion is somehow politically motivated.

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


Yes, I agree. It is a nice and comfortable way of "forgetting" how these regions actually became Polish. Just a pity that the people of Silesia see it differently. Specially those 500000 who stated that the "dialect", as some Poles call it, is actually their native language.

But at the end of the day, there is no argument whether or not this is a language or a dialect. A dialect does not differ from the language when it is put in writing. It remains the same. For example Austrian German and proper German or "High German". I sometimes do wonder if Austrians speak a different language when they talk. I need to listen closely. In writing, it is exactly the same. Here we can talk about a dialect.

Silesian however differs to Polish in writing too. As Ziemowit has said he was able to make out what the article he read in 1990 was about, but that is only because it is similar and the context of the article was understandable. But, similar does not equal the same. Here we can not talk about a dialect.

I do speak Dutch but at the time when I did not speak Dutch, let's say 15 years ago, I was still able to understand and read Dutch and get the context. The Dutch would have chased me out of their country if I would have said that Dutch is only a German dialect because I can understand and read it.

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


How else would I argue? I have admitted to have been wrong. Then I proceeded to say that regardless of the fact that the government may not have recognized it as a regional language yet, the 500000 people who said that their native language is Silesian, see Silesian as a language.

I am not sure what your problem with this is. If you prefer to see it as a dialect, that's fine for me but the 500000 people would disagree with you.


Neither is a friend of mine from Zabrze, yet he says that his native language is Silesian. He too is not politically motivated at all.

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


I just did and you are right. It was not recognized as a regional language yet. But the notion for it was put forward.

However, it does not change the fact that over 500000 people have declared Silesian as their native language. Just because you and other Poles want to make them believe that it is only a dialect, does not change the fact that for those people it is a language.

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


Because Silesian has been officially classed as a "regional language" in Poland. That makes it a language, not just an accent or dialect.


It is an opinion shared by the Polish government. Otherwise they wouldn't have granted Silesian the status of regional language.

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]


It is a separate language however similar to Polish it may be. And it is not only spoken in the Polish part of Silesia but also in the Czech part.

In the 2011 Polish census, about 500000 people declared Silesian as their native language.


There are quite a few German language newspapers in Silesia. Here is a link to a list of the main publications:
press-guide.com/poland.htm

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]

The referendums had nothing to do with "Drang nach Osten" because at the time, these cities and towns were already part of Germany. The referendum asked the question whether or not they would like to remain as part of Germany. No "Drang nach Osten" or "Anschluss" involved.

Law / Polish Visa Refused, Going To Make Appeal, What should I do ? [81]


What is a small bank account? How do you define it? And more importantly, a bigger bank account still does not mean that the person will return home. Visas are issued on the basis of the persons willingness to return. A 1000 euro or 1000000 Euro bank account does not give any information about the persons willingness to return.


More like it.

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


Really? Well, I did not have the impression until you have told me. Until now, I was quite happy to say that I am German and did not get any such response (apart from "Des Essientes" but i don't take him too serious) . Neither did I get any such response in real life here in Poland.

Speaking of which -


Are you in the least bit ashamed of what members of the AK did to Jews?

But to respond to your question. What exactly should i personally be ashamed of?

Law / Polish Visa Refused, Going To Make Appeal, What should I do ? [81]


Yes, he does not say anything about it. So because he does not mention it he does not have it?


Oh but i do! And i never said that a letter from the employer would be enough. Read post 27 in which i said that a proof of income is a payslip or whichever is considered to be proof of income in that country. Trying to twist my words again?

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


-


Negative TheOther! I don't care about this whole "Volksdeutscher" thing. Neither do i care for comments from people who are unable to read and understand. I have never made any claims on "German soil in Poland" and i also respect the new Polish borders.

However, after reading my post you have nothing better to do than come up with "Volksdeutscher" instead of asking yourself why Poland is unable to reconcile with it's history completely. Instead, you are trying to laugh it off with a nonsense post. Well done :)

Law / Polish Visa Refused, Going To Make Appeal, What should I do ? [81]


Yes, I agree, Sorry to be brutal but your post is utter nonsense. How do you know that "Sahil19" does not have any medical insurance? I can not see that he has mentioned that part anywhere in any of his posts. Do you just assume that he does not have or did not pay for it before he applied for the visa?

Seriously folks.......can you serve any facts, real life experiments or is this forum based on assumptions and made up figures?

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


My mother was born in Poland just after the war. She and her family was forcibly removed to Germany for having Germany ancestry which went back 200 years or so. That was the point my grandfather prohibited to speak Polish in our family.

Am i patronizing for asking for a proper reconciliation of true historic events? I hardly think so but statements like yours make me say that "I am German" instead of "I am half Polish". I am German with a mother born in Poland because people like you are unable to reconcile historic events properly. You are too consumed with playing the victim role because you feel too comfortable in playing the victim card instead of reconciling history properly.

Your white vest is more important to you than actual historic events. Quite sickening and disturbing considering that Poland wants to be part of a modern and forward thinking Europe.

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


I am quite happy to stand up and admit my country's past mistakes. In fact, as someone from East Germany I even need to reconcile the mistakes of my birth country and the Germany before my home country was born. Why you can't do that for your country is something that you need to discuss with yourself.

Law / Polish Visa Refused, Going To Make Appeal, What should I do ? [81]


Exactly. You assume! Any facts?

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


Unfortunately it is something I have faced many times. Poles appear to need a bit longer than their neighbours Czech Republic. The Czech government is actively supporting organizations which work through all aspects of history. Even though sometimes not very welcomed by some, they have done a very good job so far even when it comes to the reconciliation of Germans being murdered by the Czech after the war. I guess it takes guts to look at history in all its colours.

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


Who do you refer to as the innocent in this case?

Law / Polish Visa Refused, Going To Make Appeal, What should I do ? [81]


Can you back that up by facts and real life examples? Or is this, once again, something you make up as you go along?

"Serious money" is not a reason for a person to return to their country. What they are normally looking for, apart from whether you can support yourself during your stay, is a genuine reason for the visa applicants return to their home country. Usually they are looking at the family circumstances (is the person married, has a child etc. ), employment records (payslips or other documents that refer the income).

From my time in Ukraine, I know of quite a few Ukrainians who went on bus tours throughout Europe. Most of them earned the average Ukrainian income of 200 - 300 Euro per month and saved for their trip for quite some time. There was never any serious money involved but they had genuine reasons to return to Ukraine and were issued their visa. On the other hand, I have heard of people who were refused a visa because they could not prove a genuine return reason. Yet, they had plenty of money and a bus journey to Europe would have been beneath them.

I would like to hear and understand your examples of how they are "looking for serious money". Perhaps you have ever tried to assist a Non-EU citizen to get a visa and they had it rejected?

I am waiting for your examples.

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


In my opinion it does not matter. Poles like to point their fingers at Germany or Russia (and in some way rightly so) but when doing so they like to forget about the atrocities committed by Poles during the war. I wonder how many streets in Poland would change their name if history would be taught without missing important factors.

History / Terrible past for the Jews in Poland? [930]


Not to blame them but surely you will not deny the antisemitic stand of the Armii Krajowej which has a street named after them in literally every Polish city?

Genealogy / Are Silesians people German/Germanic? [178]

Yes Crow. I guess Angela Merkel, the EU and NATO Germanized them. Regardless of the fact that in the referendums held in a lot of cities and towns across Silesia in 1920 / 1921 the majority of people voted to remain as part of Greater Germany.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]


So, I guess we are in agreement?

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]


I honestly don't know. But, the pilot is in charge of the plane. Kaczynski or any commanding officer do not have the authority to make the pilots decisions.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]

At the end of the day, only the pilot is to blame for what happened. Even if Kaczynski told him / ordered him to land, it is the pilots call to make.

As the pilot, he is in charge of the aircraft. Similar to you driving a car, turn at a crossroad and your passenger tells you that there are no cars coming. You wouldn't take his word for it and simply start driving, would you?

Work / Working in Poland without speaking Polish [75]


Of course! That's part of it. But it is impossible to learn the language of every country you work in if you work here and there. However, I do my best to use the little Polish i know in every day life.


You see, I do not know if I am here for the long-haul. I am in Poland now. Maybe for one more year, maybe two, maybe three maybe for the rest of my live. I do not know how long my Poland stay will last for. But if i ever realize that my stay here will be longer than my working contract indicates, i might put in an extra effort to learn the language properly. Until then, I get by with what I know and still enjoy being part of society as much as the Polish people, who welcome me into their midst, enjoy to speak English to me while teaching me a bit more Polish.


Why would you assume that every foreigner going to Poland goes to Poland for a girl? There are plenty of other reasons to move to Poland.

But, when i lived in Holland i dated a Scottish girl. For the first three weeks I didn't have a clue what she was saying to me. Perhaps that was the reason why we got on so well. She could talk and I would just be a good listener........

Work / Working in Poland without speaking Polish [75]


I assumed that when i said "lived" it would have been self-explanatory. I have managed to integrate into Polish society without knowing the language (or at least not knowing it very well). I even visit the theater and don't understand anything. Yet, it is pleasure for me to go and part of integrating. As I said, if you don't speak the language it does not mean you have to live in exclusion from society.

Work / Working in Poland without speaking Polish [75]

Lyzko, I have lived abroad for 15 years in different European countries. When i lived in the French speaking part of Switzerland, I did not speak French yet i did not feel excluded. When i lived in the Netherlands, I did not feel excluded (although for me as German it was easy to learn Dutch). When I lived in Czech Republic, I did not feel excluded. When I lived in Greece, I did not feel excluded. And now, that i live in Poland, I do not feel excluded from society. My knowledge of the Polish language is rather poor (even after 3 years) and I have never felt not to be part of society. On the contrary. Poles are very welcoming and happy to to include you, even invite you to their families. You do not have to speak the language to part of society. The only way to be excluded from society in Poland is if you chose to be excluded yourself.

Work / Working in Poland without speaking Polish [75]


How would you know that or come to that conclusion? Seeing that you are based in the U.S., as you have said yourself, would that not be a hard judgement to make?

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]


It is not too bad. Personally i prefer Ukrainian or Russian vodka but if i had to choose Polish vodka i would probably go for "Sobieski" or "Żubrówka".

On new years eve i was served "Skittles Vodka" which was somewhat of an unusual, creative and quite tasty experience.