USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're a Pole living in America, not the descendant of a Pole living in America. And honestly, people that live here, in Poland, will complain about the things that are worth complaining about. Just like we do anywhere else that we are because believe it or not, quite a few of us aren't sheep. Why is it bad to point out things about your surroundings? Why do Poles have a monopoly on making comments about Poland?


Good to know that. I thought it was taken as an insult? Guess I'm wrong there.

Anyway, the point that was made was that Polish-Americans were somehow instrumental in getting Poland into NATO, I asked a couple of basic questions. Like whether or not the Slovenian-American community was instrumental in them joining NATO as well, and why the oft complained about visa waiver program issue hasn't been affected by the vocal Polish-American community.


So what's your limit? A parent? A grandparent? A great grandparent? Going back to an old topic, what makes a Pole? Great grandfather was Polish and I speak Polish, visit once a year, and celebrate Polish culture vs. Polish parent, no knowledge of the language, and not really caring too much about the culture other than when they can hyphenate their ethnicity? Which one is more Polish? How about people with half Polish children, that live in Poland, and work in Poland? They should just be quiet because great great grandpa wasn't a Pole? That makes zero sense, wouldn't you agree?

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


I don't think he's criticizing Poland and Poles as much as Polish-XXXX, whatever nationality, as overstating their connection to Poland and having more of a say in Polish politics than people that live her long term (and of course pay expensive taxes, VAT, etc). Just an observation, not necessarily one that I agree with.


Not so sure about that. The vocal Polish American community hasn't been able to budge the state department on the visa waiver program. I highly doubt there was much of an influence in pushing Poland into NATO. Was the Romanian-American community paramount in getting Romania into NATO? How about the mighty Slovenian-American lobby? Not buying this one.


He created this thread because I didn't want to keep sending crap to random. You both obviously have things to say about it.


Absolutely.


Now, the big question, do you feel qualified to make political decisions in Poland? Do you feel the need to defend Poles, or Polish-Americans? Do you think that Poland, as a nation, as a people, need defending in the US...or do you think that Polish-Americans need to be defended?

Life / The Polish Dream - move out from Poland as fast as possible [73]


Really? Americans invented greed? People have been wanting crap they couldn't afford since there first was crap people couldn't afford.

They don't have plenty of food back home, that's the problem. They want what the west has, like a varied diet, the ability to save up for a home instead of waiting for granny to die so you can get hers, buying a car so you don't have to spend an hour and half to get to work in the morning.

Greedy indeed.


Entry level? I highly, highly, highly doubt that. Would be interested to hear about them though. That's 5k a month. I'm sure that a lot of people would like to know of an entry level job that pays 5k a month...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Poland is still complaining about fuel prices. Do you think if Poland had to pay market rate with a planned economy, that it would have survived for more than a year?

"Sure it was a planned economy, but it was a Polish planned economy, therefore sustainable..."

ahem.. :)

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


You know what freed Poland? Neither the people at home, nor the ones overseas. Simple economics freed Poland. The Soviet Union not being able to sustain Poland. That's it. So, the biggest contribution to the communist government in Poland faltering would have to be the failure of planned economies.

So here's to you economics!

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Is it that they're voting "conservative"?


So it's a feeling of superiority?

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Why shouldn't they? Even though it's somewhat diluted, isn't it a bit of Polish culture overseas? I for one don't mind eating "pierogies" in Oklahoma :)

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


Context means everything. Do they mean teaching in Polish? Or Polish as a second language?

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


Do you know what the context of this sentence is? The article doesn't give much.

Po polsku / DZIEŃ POLAKA? Dlaczego w Polsce nie ma pracy? [12]


Nie wiem, ale teraz ja pic polski piwo, i mieszkam w polskie domu. Moja automat jest marka "whirlpool", ala manufaktura tutaj (Wroclaw). Tankowane w Orlen, i kupic w sklepu Alma...

Przepraszam, nie dorbra mowisz po polsku....

Baby steps...

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


Talking about the hordes of repatriated Poles currently being oppressed by the Lithuanians. Regarding the gherkin, without a decent amount of buttered bread, they're just another table ornament.


Lithuania is part of the VWP, Poland, not so much.

Theoretically, they have better opportunities to seek work overseas than their brothers with Polish passports.

It is however, all a bit ridiculous. If laws are being broken, there is a really expensive court in Strasbourg that it should be brought up in.

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


But hasn't that been government policy with the whole Karta Polaka thing?

PS, wouldn't they have already gone to the UK...or the US, where they don't need visas? :)

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


In fact, isn't that government policy with the Polish ancestor card thing?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Come on now, it depends on who has the gun...


Because homicide rates are as low as in Poland, and yet the people still have the right to defend themselves? Seriously, if someone else were to threaten your life, you wouldn't be grateful if I were to shoot that person and therefore save your life?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


So I'll run with this. Is it ok to kill people without guns in Poland vs killing people with guns in, say, the Czech Republic? What if that stats point to the equal amount of homicides? Would you rethink your position?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Who knows what happened, but I'm fairly sure there were screams, crying, yelling, etc while these two were being shot and stabbed.


It's sad to have to put up with being kept in your home after dark :( . Good that you live somewhere safe now. Here in Poland, guns are difficult to get a hold of, but people still end up dead...often actually! Anyway, my Krav Maga and Muay Thai courses are going well. It's pretty popular over here, people beat the bejesus out of each other, and sometimes people die :(


Pfft, there's Zizkov, the rest of Prague...yea, pfft!

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


In this case, was a screamer...


Above the law to defend your life? Would you suggest just sitting back and seeing what the insane screaming man waving the knife and gun wanted?


Can't deny, lots of private ownership in the Czech Republic, and quite a few of us carry. In fact, next time you're in town, let me know, we can go to Kladno and "pop off a few rounds"...


Personally, I enjoy emptying my clip anytime of day. But alas, it's difficult to go to sleep all worked up.

But all in all, considering the disparate laws in Europe regarding gun ownership, I don't think there is a single European perspective on the topic.At least, not yet..

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Yea, but he came in screaming...


I would shoot you in Prague if you threatened me or anyone around you, as would plenty of Czechs.


Not many Americans own guns in CZ, I don't know of any that do, and I know a bunch of 'mericans.


There are lots of us walking around armed, seriously, I'm not making this up!


ah, wilt, wilt, wilt... It's getting close to bedtime..

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


That runs contrary to what people like Patrick Henry, John Adams, Jefferson, etc wrote about long before Shays Rebellion.

Nonetheless, it's there, and we like 'em in the US.

Probably ain't going to happen over here. We'll see how the attitude changes as things slip further...


Are you looking at the last year, the last 20, or the last 100? Some interesting things went on in the 40s, one side had all the guns, and the other side was getting shot.


No I won't. That's between you and your soon to be Dutch stalker.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Guns are available to US citizens as a check to government power. That's not an interpretation, that's why it's in there.



So guns will stay, most Americans agree on that.

Now the big question is, what drives those firearm deaths? Why are New Zealanders twice as safe as the French with the same number of households with weapons (from the chart)?

If violent crime keeps rising in Poland, do you think that there will be a bigger push to loosen up gun laws?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Don't know, Katrina and what's going on along the border make a pretty good case that the government can't adequately protect it's citizens. Crime is still on the rise even though the number of guns in the US is fairly stagnant. That would point to the police not being able to do their job for whatever reason. Those exact same people that you're trusting to provide you with the last line of defense to protect you and your loved ones. Would be interesting to hear from older Poles (WW2 survivors) and hear what their opinions are.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

That's true, that's what they're for. But that's not what the debate is about. Most Americans support gun ownership because at the end of the day, they don't trust their government to defend them...neither against people or ahem, the agents of the government itself.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


I already have, that's why both of those pistols will never cross the border into Poland.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


It's illegal. If I were to place my hi-power into the trunk of my car and cross the border and get stopped, I would be thrown in jail.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

But, if it's not enshrined as a right, it only takes simple legislation to make it illegal, which is the case here.

No legislation against kitchen knives BTW.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


But, the only problem is....in Poland, that right is not enshrined in the constitution :(

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


A handgun to protect your house is almost unheard of.

Regarding the Police, they can shoot when they feel threatened.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Now show us the same stats for Russia. Genetics has less of a role than society.

I'm still under the impression that Poland should take the Swiss approach.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


But...not many people are interested in them. Poles really don't seem to care much for guns.


Absolutely. Needed in the US, wouldn't make much sense in Poland.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


They're categorized separately. The laws here are very restrictive when it comes to personal ownership. On the other hand, there are shooting ranges where you can rent pistols and rifles :)

Strange.