The BEST Guide to POLAND
Unanswered  |  Archives [3] 
  
Account: Guest

Posts by pawian  

Joined: 30 May 2008 / Male ♂
Last Post: 19 Mar 2025
Threads: Total: 226 / Live: 154 / Archived: 72
Posts: Total: 27461 / Live: 21378 / Archived: 6083
From: Poe land
Speaks Polish?: Yes, but I prefer English
Interests: Everything funny

Displayed posts: 21532 / page 663 of 718
sort: Latest first   Oldest first   |
pawian   
8 Aug 2013
Life / Relation in Poland to Orthodox Christians? [117]

Do you think in Polish majority minds exist some principal difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity?

In Polish majority minds some principal difference doesn`t exist. Simply speaking, most people who are Catholic here don`t care about Orthodox/Greek Christainity because they have no real contact with each other. As I suggested in my post before, combined Catholic and Orthodox people occupy outback regions of the country and they constitute more or less less than 1% of the society.

Do Poles believe that Catholic or Protestant denominations are superior to Orthodoxy?

Yes, they sort of do, naturally, because Roman Catholic denomination is prevalent in Poland. Check google for statistics.
pawian   
8 Aug 2013
Work / What is life like in Poland for a student? [26]

I live in Wrocław, which is the nicest city in Poland.

I dare to disagree... :):)

But never mind, "every magpie praises only its own tail" ...... :):):)
pawian   
6 Aug 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

That's obvious. Poles were trying to defend themselves against the rampaging Ukrainian terrorists who used the most barbaric of massacre techniques

Yes. First, there was self-defence, local Polish villagers tried to repel the attackers with what weapons they had at the time.
Then, Polish partisan units came to help villagers and they took part in repelling Ukrainian terrorists from UPA.
But eventually, there were cases of revenge, too. Poles attacked Ukranian villages and killed inhabitants. Sad but true.

Yes, those who tried to leave the area were chased and killed too. Today Ukrainians claim that UPA only wanted to expulse Poles from the disputed territory. But it is not true - they wanted to exterminate all Poles to make sure the land is clean.

Yes. First, there was self-defence, local Polish villagers tried to repel the attackers with what weapons they had at the time.

E.g., here:
Huta Stepańska was an ethnic Polish village, located in prewar Kostopol county, Wołyń Voivodeship, in the Second Polish Republic. In 1943, during the Massacres of Poles in Volhynia, it became an important Polish self-defence centre, captured by the UPA between 16 and 18 July 1943. Some 2,000 UIA soldiers, supported by 3,000 local Ukrainian peasants, killed 300 Poles (other sources put number of victims at 600),[1] as they were trying to break out of the encirclement.[2]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huta_Stepa%C5%84ska

Then, Polish partisan units came to help villagers and they took part in repelling Ukrainian terrorists from UPA.

E.g.,
A second attack took place on July 12, the UPA concentrated its forces on the village of Rafalowka. The Polish side managed to force the enemy to flee, but this was not the end. As Henryk Cybulski wrote in his memoirs, throughout the summer of 1943 the "war for grain" persisted. The number of Poles in Przebraże was too high and its defenders realized that it was impossible to feed so many people. Thus, in April and July 1943, Polish peasants, guarded by patrols, were harvesting crops, transporting it to the settlement. The Ukrainians would attack the peasants, killing several.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Przebra%C5%BCe_Defence

But eventually, there were cases of revenge, too. Poles attacked Ukranian villages and killed inhabitants.

Sahryń was the site of the initial thrust of the AK counter-offensive against UPA, under the command of Lieutenant Zenon Jachymek,[2] due to Ukrainian self-defence stationing there.[4]

At dawn on March 10, 1944 the AK unit from Division Hrubieszow attacked the fortified village. A heavy fighting broke out.[2] The Ukrainians retreated, but both Catholic and Orthodox churches in Sahryń were burned down.[2] Some 700 villagers were killed by the AK in reprisal, and 260 farmhouses set of fire.[3]


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahry%C5%84

revenge, too.

What did Poles take revenge for?

E.g.,

On August 30, 1943, armed members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) murdered 438 Poles. Among the victims there were 246 children under 14 years of age.[1] On the same day, the insurgents murdered 529 Poles in the neighboring village of Wola Ostrowiecka (see Massacre of Wola Ostrowiecka).[2] After the massacre, Ostrówki was burnt to the ground, and all goods were looted by local peasants. In September 1943, commandant of the local UIA unit Lysiy reported to the UIA's headquarters: "I have carried out the operation in the villages of Wola Ostrowiecka and Ostrovky. I have liquidated all Poles, from the youngest to the oldest ones. I burnt all buildings, and appropriated all goods".[3]

The massacre followed a schem


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_Ostr%C3%B3wki

Exhumation and second funeral

Exhumation and second funeral of killed Poles

Exhumation and second funeral of killed Poles

Exhumation and second funeral of killed Poles
pawian   
5 Aug 2013
Life / Street names in Polish towns/cities [26]

Smutna street in £ódź. With prison and cemetary.

Smutna Street with such facilities? Yes, it is Sad Street, indeed .....

Hey, sth amusing for a change:

Eccentric Duck Street (from a kid poem) in Dziekanów Leśny

Polish Street
pawian   
5 Aug 2013
Life / Street names in Polish towns/cities [26]

A huge misunderstanding is "Ronald Reagan Central Square"

And I like it. It is a nice revenge to call a stalinist-built square with the name of a confirmed anticommunist. :):):)

Central Square in Communist Nowa Huta

What is the future?
-dziebły - Danowskiego
...

What do you mean?
pawian   
4 Aug 2013
Life / Cult videos on Polish youtube [18]

a "cult" classic.

Stuhr may be best known for his minor role as thick-witted hairdresser Jurek in Kieślowski's Three Colors: White, in which he starred alongside Julie Delpy, Janusz Gajos, and Zbigniew Zamachowski. In Poland and nearby countries, he is probably best known for the part of Max in Juliusz Machulski's 1984 dystopian cultcomedy Seksmisja (one of the most popular Polish movies),

Pop music hits score dozens of millions views too

Piersi Balkanica

youtu.be/Pqaxe5o2Apo

She dances for me

youtu.be/JvxG3zl_WhU

English version

youtu.be/fkUZ-0LHTUY
pawian   
4 Aug 2013
Life / Street names in Polish towns/cities [26]

There should be balance. Dead famous people plus amusing names from wide pop culture, too.

Sometimes names can cause a scandal.

E.g., there is a roundabout named after rebellious Chechen leader Dudajew (killed by Russians) in Warsaw. I remember how in 2005 the naming by Warsaw authorities unleashed hell on Russian forums, I happily took part in it too. :):):)

Poland Russian leader

Here is: Aleja Elvisa Presleya, Kraków, Poland

Yes, it is in one of the parks in Krakow. I took the photo but don`t know where it is now.

they have a statue of the king as well on that street.

Wow, I missed that one!

More American street names:

Cooper Street in Warsaw

Cooper

Merian Caldwell Cooper (October 24, 1893 - April 21, 1973) was an American aviator, United States Air Force and Polish Air Force officer, adventurer, screenwriter, film director and producer. His most famous film was the 1933 movie King Kong.
pawian   
3 Aug 2013
History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [341]

I think he meant the fact that there were some local communists in Poland after all and that`s why Poland didn`t really lead the fight and we shouldn`t be so proud etc etc...... Very idealistic approach, if I guess it correctly. :):):)

Ronald Reagan joke

Well, a bit funny but most importantly, it pertains to reality of 1980s. :):)

However, Reagan seems to laugh at himself too because he was the one who put sanctions on Poland after martial law was introduced. Communists made a big halo about chickens whose production went down due to American ban on grain export to Poland.

However, Reagan seems to laugh at himself too because he was the one who put sanctions on Poland after martial law was introduced.

Sanctions were lifted in 1987: articles.latimes.com/1987-02-19/news/mn-4550_1_polish-leader. See communist anti Reagan propaganda posters:

Crusade against Poland (communist media loved to present Reagan as a possessed cowboy)

jezuicka13.pl/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/pershing.jpg
pawian   
3 Aug 2013
History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

Today, Wola district in Warsaw celebrated the victims of Wola Massacre of 1944 when rabid Germans executed about 50 thousand civilians within a week.

Commemorated the inhabitants of the capital killed in the uprising Will in Poland

The Wola massacre (Polish: Rzeź Woli, "Wola slaughter") was the systematic killing of around 40,000-50,000 people by Nazi German troops during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Between 5-12 August 1944, tens of thousands of Polish civilians along with captured resistance fighters were indiscriminately shot or killed in organised mass executions throughout the Wola district of the Polish capital Warsaw. The action was designed to crush the Poles' will to fight and put the uprising to an end without having to commit to heavy city fighting.[1] However the Germans soon found that the atrocities in Wola only stiffened Polish resistance. German authority across the city was only achieved after more than two months of heavy fighting and the total destruction of Warsaw.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wola_massacre

Wola Massacre victims in Poland
pawian   
3 Aug 2013
Life / Cult videos on Polish youtube [18]

That seems odd too because Fellini was a mainstream director and LDV is enjoyed by most people sincerely rather than ironically (another marker of a cult movie).

Yes, doesn`t it?

But there are many more cases of the usage of cult classic about box office hits....... :):):)

George Lucas's epic film saga Star Wars (Episodes I - VI) has become a cult classic and its characters cultural icons. One such character who made his film debux in "The Empire Strikes Back", was Yoda.

worldoffroud.com/films/yoda.php

Do you think people who say so don`t know their English???

PS. All in all, I am afraid the old meaning of cult has changed and now it is very close to its Polish counterpart.
pawian   
3 Aug 2013
Love / Adultery- Is it ok for Polish women [41]

polish men who work with me are also married in Poland but they have "girlfriends" in my country.

I didn`t know there are so many Poles in Colombia as you wrote in your profile. Funny. :):)

Is it normal in Poland that men have several women?

Of course, it only depends on how many cows you are able to offer... Some farmers have a lot of cows.....:)

In my country its a big scandal when a man cheats his wife

Hey, decide at last: big scandal or forgiveness. You seem to contradict yourself.

Ridiculous thread title!

It is the same old silly story about Polish women posted from time to time in PF, those phrases about girls and money betray all the trolls and their attempts:

Are the polish girls only interested in money thats why they dont care about loyalty?

:):)

Are the polish girls only interested in money thats why they dont care about loyalty?

It only intrigues me why posters fall for that crap and reply at all. I don`t think they are so stupid as to not realise what is really going on.

Probably they do realise but they pretend they don`t and contribute anyway.... Why??? :):):)

And to answer your question, some Polish men consider any lie worth telling....

Harry, you have replied in the same way hundreds times in dozens similar threads. Aren`t you tired??? :):):)

Most do. It depends if they can afford it.

Cows, cows, cows!!! :):)
pawian   
3 Aug 2013
History / Communism fell 20 years ago, Poland led the fight since WW2 [341]

This thread is an attempt to absolve Poles of any responsibility for their history.

What??? Don`t be silly.:):) Read the posts again and see that Poles took responsibility for their country and history far more often than other eastern block countries.

Yes, a small group embraced communism and terrorised others who didn`t, but to get to know the mechanism you should read more about it as you seem utterly ignorant. For easy starters, I suggest you read "Animal Farm" by Orwell. You won`t find it too demanding.

Enjoy.
pawian   
2 Aug 2013
Life / Cult videos on Polish youtube [18]

Wow, that`s interesting. Thanks for making it clear. :):):)

Sorry, I have come across the phrase on several occasions and it refered to films which appealed to many people, not just

small, non-mainstream, eccentric but very loyal audience

E.g., Anita Ekberg, the star of cult classic "La Dolce Vita", is hard-up and homeless and has asked for money from the foundation of the film's director, Federico Fellini, Italian newspaper La Stampa has reported.

sg.entertainment.yahoo/news/dolce-vita-star-asks-fellini-fund-money-081850068.html

La Dolce Vita (Italian pronunciation: [la ˈdoltʃe ˈviːta]; Italian for "the sweet life" or "the good life")[1] is a 1960 comedy-drama film written and directed by the critically acclaimed director Federico Fellini. The film is a story of a passive journalist's week in Rome, and his search for both happiness and love that will never come. La Dolce Vita won the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival[2] and the Oscar for Best Costumes.[3]
pawian   
2 Aug 2013
Life / Cult videos on Polish youtube [18]

Czechoslovakian cabaret music production from 1970s became a hit a few years ago and scored millions of viewings:

youtu.be/v9MTGNaEXGM
pawian   
2 Aug 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

Sad. There's still so much bitterness on the part of ordinary people over the whole thing.

It is natural that some kind of reconciliation should take place, similar to the Polish German one. Of course, the weight is different, after all, Germans murdered people on a much greater scale.

However, it is difficult for Poles from old Kresy regions to reconcile when Ukrainians (from Western Ukraine) openly honour the organisers (both physical and moral) of the massacres.

Monument to Bandera in Lwow:

Poland Bandera

and to UPA:

Poland UPA

That is what Poles think about it.
pawian   
1 Aug 2013
History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

So the Associated Press published the following blurb regarding the anniversary of the Warsaw Rising:

Oh, dear Shawn, thank you so much for remembering. We have just come back from the seaside and on the way I had been wondering if anybody had mentioned the anniversary. You saved the PF`s reputation in a way. Not only silliness prevails here, after all! :):)

On Thursday, the Warsaw Rising Museum will show on its Facebook page people stopping in Warsaw's streets

As usual, the tradition is continued:
see how young Warsawians, probably football fans, stop the traffic:

youtu.be/X253qMpkalc

at 1500 GMT

Did they really write so? Not 17.00?

Technically it is correct that the Soviets were advancing. Why do you think the AP would conveniently omit the fact that once the fireworks started, the Advancing Soviets decided to check up on the other side of the river?

Do you think it has some deeper meaning?

people stopping in Warsaw's streets

youtu.be/XEVzLbdxaD0

They have coloured archive films and combined into a long documentary going to release it next year

s

s

s

I wonder: what happened to them? Did they survive or got killed? If they did, how? In combat? Or of wounds in insurgent hospital? Or in an execution with other captured POW insurgents?

Poland lost so many patriotic young people in 1944.... Those who survived insist there was no choice.....

Football fans celebrated the anniversary last year:

s
pawian   
25 Jul 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

Respectable - and far more authoritative than 'kresy.pl' who exist to present a point of view.

Don`t be silly, you only think it is authoritative.
Let`s be honest, the article is a history in a pill for simpletons - it contains a few mistakes. And it also presents a point of view, e.g, quotes from that Lviv based historian which are nonsense:

Mr Hrytsak says. "You had a terrain that was ready to explode." What followed was genocide, he says, but it must be viewed within the context of a pyramid of genocidal acts committed on the territory of Ukraine in the 1930s and 1940s, starting from the Holocaust and ending on Akcja Wisła, the forced deportation of tens of thousands of Ukrainians.

Would you like a reference for the figure of 17,000?

No, thanks, you took it from English Wiki entry on massacre.

But again you messed things up

Are you trying to suggest that the 17,000 veterans who were promised land were handed the keys by the owners

while the Wiki says:
By 1938, thousands of Polish colonists and war veterans were encouraged to settle in Volhynia and Galicia. This number is estimated at 17,700 in Volhynia alone

So, the number 17700 doesn`t only refer to military settlers, but to all colonists.

Andrzej Gawryszewski (2005)

OK, I will try to check these sources soon.

Guys, see you next week, we are going away.
pawian   
24 Jul 2013
Life / Professional feminists' of Poland meet-up [631]

I noticed it long ago that you tend to be quite aggressive toward male posters in PF. Why? Are you trying to get rid of some kind of trauma? Then a contact with a psychologist/counsellor might be a better idea.....
pawian   
24 Jul 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

That would be because I didn't take those references from that page. I took them from this page:

It doesn`t matter which Wiki page you took it from. What matters is you chose rather random references to prove your point. You haven`t read those books you mentioned, have you? So how do you know that they comprise the 4% issue we are talking about????

Isn`t it funny?

You didn't ask for quotes: you asked for sources; so I gave you sources. Do feel very free to argue with them.

hahaha you are very accurate, indeed. Quotes are not sources, true. :):):)

So, the random sources you provided from a Wiki site are fully enough in your opinion?
pawian   
24 Jul 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

hahahaha :):):)

Enjoy.

Yes, I do enjoy the fact that you only copied the references from this Wiki site
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_population_transfers_%281944%E2%80%9346%29

instead of quoting directly from it:
The situation was however aggravated by the fact that only 4 percent of the newly-arrived settlers lived on their land, while the majority either rented their land to local farmers at a high price or abandoned their land altogether, a situation unacceptable to many inhabitants of the overpopulated and land hunger-stricken region

Embarrassed to admit you use Wiki? :):):) Come on.....

But thank you anyway. :):):) This matter is really very intriguing and needs further research on our side.

Jon, Harry has just provided a source for you to solve your numerical problem with Polish settlers in Kresy:
In Poland, 8,265 settlers (mostly of Polish ethnicity) were settled by the government in Kresy.
pawian   
24 Jul 2013
History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]

I've read that only 4% of the Osadniks actually lived on 'their' land.

Source, please... :) After all, it was you who demanded facts: :):):)

And yes, it was 17,700 people moved there.

Where in the article you gave us link to is the reference to the number 17700????

An excellent article on this:

Where is there any reference to Polish pre-war settlement policy in Kresy?

It seems you don`t know what you are talking about and you mix all your sources. :):):)

Jon, get a grip and run a serious discussion but first you need to do more reading on the topic. (possibly, not through 1000-word articles from Economist .....)

jon357: It always has been well researched.

Sorry, I have to withdraw this one. :):)

They have a first class reputation for integrity and a much better reputation than the internet sites that you try to selectively quote.

:):):)