Life / Do Polish names generally have a meaning to them or a particular structure?. [88]

We are providing social context to your book free of charge. Isn't that great!:D


The same responsibility had Polish szlachta. The pretext on which their privileges were based was obligation to provide unpaid military service (pospolite ruszenie). They constitued the lower and higher chamber of Parliament (Izba Poselska, Senat). They had the juridicial power over rest of society. They (and in most cases only they) held the state offices. What's your point in degrading them?


Yes, always. Regardles of his wealth he was always a noble, a part of the high social class, with the same responsibilities, rights and privileges as the most afluent noble in Poland.

Don't come up with superficial definitions that have no relation to reality. Szlachta was nobility in Poland.


For your information, the political system of I RP was Noble Democracy, not Anarchy. My point about stereotypes went straight over your head...

If you don't trust wikipedia, then read some books on the subject. Carlyle had no idea; Davies would be fine. I recommend God's Playground.

Life / Do Polish names generally have a meaning to them or a particular structure?. [88]


which comes from Latin and means a famous person. In later times a person of high social position in society. That is why Davis used it to describe such social group in Poland, France, etc. He didn't mean that in every element they were the same as British nobility. The common platform was a high social standing in their respective societies.


You are wrong. This is a part of a myth that is about 300 years old.
I can see that old stereotype is still thriving in West countries ;) I repeat: the stereotype. Let me give an example: in the first volume of French encyclopedia under the letter "A", the longest article was about "anarchy" and almost whole was about Poland. As if anarchy was a distinctively Polish "thing". It's not all. For example, the Liberum veto was not so stupid, as some believe. The usage of this legal mean since the mid-seventeenth century, especially in the eighteenth century, was of course detrimental to Poland. But the very notion of Liberum veto had a lot of sense and it worked well till second half of XVII c.


I'm quite aware of that,


But I'm not using this, not because of your conspiration theory, but simply because most of the articles there were written by morons to morons.

Life / Do Polish names generally have a meaning to them or a particular structure?. [88]


Yes, he did, but you still don't get it...



In "God's Playground" he is using "nobility" as an exact word to describe szlachta. If you read his book as you claim, we shouldn't disscuss this.


Exactly, Polish szlachta had that.
Normally I'm not using wikipedia as a source of information, but since you possess such a vast knowledge of the subject...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szlachta

Life / Do Polish names generally have a meaning to them or a particular structure?. [88]



You are trying to define Polish nobles by using English definitions and this is wrong approach. In case of Polish nobility you will never get the same or even close result to British, French, Spanish etc. nobility. You can't compare noble classes of those countries and claim which was more "noble". Every country, although they are European, had distinctily different social, political history. What was considered noble in Poland, wasn't necessarily in any other country and vice versa.


If we agree that nobility is a high social class, to which one belonged by virtue of hereditary or honorary rank; possessed privileges and rights not granted to members of other classes in a society, then Polish szlachta and British nobility were the same.

In Poland the wealth of a noble didn't matter. Even if he was poor as peasant, he still had the same privileges and rights as other nobles.

I don't know why Davis is using such silly comparisons,... maybe because British can't get that wealthy doesn't mean noble ;)

Szlachta (nobility:) within it's class was very democratic. The principle of equality within the nobility was almost sacred. And it has been adopted by all Poles. Panowie bracia! :) Many of the principles which governed the Ist Republic of nobility, are also a modern democracy principles.


If you will use the definitions used in other countries you will always get the wrong result. With those definition comes theirs original meaning, which is always to some degree different from the thing you want to apply it that comes from another country.

Any comparisons, be it British nobility, gentry, Roman citizen etc will always fail. Szlachta is nobility in Poland, end of story.

Life / Do Polish names generally have a meaning to them or a particular structure?. [88]


Szlachta means nobility (not gentry). The difference between Polish and other European nobility is that it was not wealth or lifestyle that constituted nobility, but hereditary juridical status. Nobility belonged to those of "noble birth" that is those whose parents were of the same noble origin (since 1505 at least the father had to be a noble).

Legally in Poland, there was no distinction between higher and lower nobility, the differences lied only in wealth. The system of nobility democracy in I RP equated the rights of all of noble birth.

Polish nobility can't be compared to it's counterparts in other countries. Unlike the Polish nobles they were divided into layers with distinct rights.


He clearly had no idea about Polish nobility.
Read something else, preferably something written in XX or XXI c.


Since second half of XVII c. and because of continuous and destructive wars. In earlier times it worked well.

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


France changed the number of republic many times.
Kaczyński wanted to change constitution and whole Poland (moraly- whatever he meant by this). The different number was meant to be a visible sign of significant change, just like in France.

Poles never really were convinced to change the number (even the supporters of Kaczyński brothers). The number of Polish republic changed only when the independence was restored: I Republic ended in 1795, the second Republic was restored in 1918 and the third in 1989.

As you can see the change in constitution would be a minor change in comparison to restoration of independence. Because of that the change of republic number was unjustified, so Poles didn't agree to that.

However the most ridiculous thing in this situation was that the changes in constitution was Kaczyński's political platform during presidential elections. He virtually can't do anything as president and still was proposing consitutional changes! Kaczyński's political platform was like Lord Farquaad castle;) Somebody had some kind of complex...

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


Article 126 "The President of the Republic of Poland shall be the supreme representative of the Republic of Poland"
:D
just joking... but seriously, he really can't do much.


I wouldn't exaggerate his role. Sometimes is rarely or almost never.

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


No, it depends solely on constitution. sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm


His veto can be outvoted in next round of voting in Parliament. He really can't do much, thats why national presidential elections in Poland are absurd. In national elections we choose person with almost no prerogatives.

In my opinion president should be choosen by Parliament.

He have only representative role, Top Model would do just fine as president;)

Po polsku / Jaki seriale polecacie dla dorosłych? [30]

A teraz coś z zupełnie innej beczki ;) Prawdziwy serial dla dorosłych;)

Porządny polski serial sensacyjny o mafii z Pruszkowa i Wołomina, czyli "Odwróceni".
Film ("Świadek koronny") im wyszedł gorszy, ze względu na jak zwykle wspaniałą i poruszającą grę Pierwszego Drewnianego Aktora Polski, czyli oczywiście Małaszyńskiego :( ale serial jest bardzo dobry, polecam.

Całość jest dostępna na youtubie i tvn. Tu są linki:

youtube.com/watch?v=lDvEyMiPpnc
tvnplayer.pl/seriale-online/odwroceni-odcinki,18/

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]


Well you can drink, have fun, but there are more restricions on that than in any other place in Poland. For example you have there clubs but they are under more control and restrictions and they are open seldomly than anywhere else.

The way of private life is also under more scrutinity. I'm not talking here about people who actually live there, but those who come there as pilgrims. They are coming there because of sanctuary and are behaving more zelaously than normally. They also tend to impose the same behaviour on others. If you live near sanctuary it is nothing new to you and you also behave normally. You sometimes drink, have fun and wear more reveling clothes in the summer. Pilgrims sometimes have problem with that. Thats all I wanted to point out.

People from Częstochowa are sick and tired of this, so if you will talk to them you will see that they have even more liberal views than other Poles. It's a reaction to strict rules that clergy and pilgrims are imposing on them.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]


A priest from a village near Gniezno told me once how people from there called people from near village - Słupca. They called them Poles :)

Near Słupca was once border between Prussian and Russian annexed territories...

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]


Very interesting article. Each day 250 thousand people from £ódź goes to Warsaw to work there.
For me it would be a terrible perspective. I like to travel ;) but thats to much...

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]

Mind boggling ;)
Two days ago I was talking with £ódź city official and he complained for four hours about Warsaw taking £ódź money. He completly brainwashed me ;D

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]


Thats a no, no, no...
Apparently you never lived there.
There are several thing you can't do when you live near the spiritual capital of a country. To go there as a tourist or pilgrim is one thing, but to live there is completly another thing.

Personaly I pity people who live in Częstochowa, £ódź and Oświęcim.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]


I don't know what ugliness in Kraków center you are talking, but since everybody have their unique taste...
£ódź ugliness is also historic, something like XIX-century ugliness.


When you have been in £ódź, you had to wear pink glasses all the time, because what I saw is rather different, from what you saw.

Its pity for £ódź, that it is located in the same province as Warsaw. All the money goes to capital and not much is left to this city. If they had their own province the situation would be different.

I remember that when the administration reform was introduced, Kielce fought to have separate province from Kraków. That was a good choice, bigger and more important city would have outflow all the money and vitality from the smaller city.

£ódź unfortunately don't have it's own province and as a result is deteriorating.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]

Maybe first 3 min. can be found in other cities. After that is only plain and ugly £ódź in its best. Seriously the pictures you posted were taken in the city center. 1 meter from center is kilometers of ugly £ódź. Unfortunately I have been there, I know what I'm talking about.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]

Every city have propaganda pictures. You intentions might be good, but seriously £ódź is ugly and depressing.
Here is movie with a promising title "Ziemia obiecana 2" about how £ódź really looks like:

youtu.be/8pk7ukm09aI

My previous statement is justified.
In my case if Russians would want to exile me in the indefinite future ;), they should choose not Siberia but £ódź. It will be a more severe punishment for me.

Life / Lodz vs Wroclaw - difference in mentality of people? [53]

£ódź is the most depressing city I have ever been. Go for Wrocław, Kraków or any other Polish city and you can be sure that it will be always better choice than £ódź. I don't know the suicidal rates of £ódź but they are for sure higher than in any other Polish city. Recently I was there for few days and couln't imagine how £odzianie are able to live there. Sad but true.

Food / Polish cuisine for Euro 2012 - poll results [9]

I'm soooooo hungry. PF will be my inspiration when soon I will retreat to kitchen to prepare żurek :)

Po polsku / Gdzie jest najlepsze miejsce w Polsce aby kupić książki? [29]

Proszę bardzo, zawsze do usług :)

Po polsku / Gdzie jest najlepsze miejsce w Polsce aby kupić książki? [29]

Allegro is great and is accesible everywhere :)
You can find there rare books.
I think that every city have it's own "best bookstore", with it's own tradition, climate...or even cats :D

You have to look by yourself; find which bookstore have the kind of books you are most interested.

Pomyłka :D
Przyzwyczaiłem się do pisania po angielsku na PF i takie są skutki ;)

Ponadto co już napisałem, sprawdź sieciowe księgarnie w stylu Matrasa. Mają tam sporo ciekawych pozycji i w dodatku często robią duże promocje. Po nowości na rynku zaglądam właśnie tam.

Oprócz księgarni, polecam też antykwariaty. Możesz tam znaleźć rzadkie już dzisiaj, nie wznawiane książki i sporo książek, które można nie tylko czytać, ale również podziwiać ich wygląd. Niestety w czasach komuny zatraciliśmy nieco ze swoich tradycji wydawniczych. Za komuny książki nie mogły być wydawane dobrze, ze względu na brak środków i ograniczony przydział papieru, a teraz ze względu na masowość produkcji...

Szkoda tego wszystkiego....

Law / New Large Hospitals and Airports in Poland to be built in 2013-15? [7]

The idea of building airport in Radom dates back to 2000. City authorities tried to find moneys and permissions for investition. They have now both and will start building soon. Here is article about the final permission from Civil Aviation Office:


forsal.pl/artykuly/548390,w_radomiu_powstanie_nowe_lotnisko_cywilne_wladze_otrzymaly_zezwolenie.html

Here is article about building hospitals in Poland, projects, money, problems with law etc. It's in Polish and it's long, so I hope that you can read it ;)


rynekzdrowia.pl/Rynek-Zdrowia/Plac-budowy-pelen-wyzwan,114619,drukuj.html

Study / Is it possible to study, work and do sports training in Poland? [7]


15-20 hours shouldn't be a big obstacle in your studies, however I don't think it is easy (or possible) to obtain study and work visa.

The best option for you is to contact Polish Consulate in India. They will give you the most accurate informations about visa, working and studying in Poland.

Study / Opinion about the Kozminski Business School? [22]


It is the best business school in Poland and it is not easy to get there.

Law / New Large Hospitals and Airports in Poland to be built in 2013-15? [7]

In 2013 new airport will be built in Radom. Here you have link:
lotnisko-radom.it.pl
Here is link which might be useful to you:
kompasinwestycji.pl/katalog_inwestycji-miasto-radom.htm

Study / Opinion about the Kozminski Business School? [22]

£azarski and Koźmiński are private academies. They do not have "university" status. In Poland if academia do not have enough Phd courses and enough staff with highest academic titles (prof. ordinarius), thay can't use "university" title, but nontheles they are institutions of higher education.

The problem is translation and some differences between higher education systems.
Akademia, Uczelnia and Uniwersytet can be translated into "university".

I don't have any opinions about them. You probably saw their websites, but I will post them anyway ;)

kozminski.edu.pl/en/
lazarski.pl/en/

Language / "Ego" as an ending in Polish Names? [19]

Polish surnames are declinated.
Klepacki
N: Klepacki
G: Klepackiego
D: Klepackiemu
Acc: Klepackiego
Abl: Klepackim
V: o Klepacki!

News / The spiritual heirs of the Polish Communist Party [91]


The funny thing in this situation is that both Left and Right have the same extreme and outlawed.
The best example is Rymkiewicz.
One of the arguments he brought in court against GW journalists is that some of their parents belonged to Communist Part and because of such education they are consciously or subconsciously hostile to Poland and Poles. The problem is: Rymkiewicz parents also belonged to Communist Party, so does he know what he is saying by that? He is consciously or subconsciously hostile to Poland?

but it's getting better. Rymkiewicz himself belonged to Union of Polish Youth (Związek Młodzieży Polskiej). Moreover he was an active member of ZMP. He defended then the achievements of UB - Urzedu Bezpieczeństwa (Security Department operating from 1945 to 1954, in another words stalinist bloody police). In one of the articles he attacked "intellectual jackals" who betrayed communism and try to create "myth of bloody Security Department).

In 1964 some Polish intellectuals wrote "Letter 34" - the first public protest against censorship. Rymkiewicz didn't take part in this, instead he signed "Letter 600" - a responce and protest against "Letter 34" inspired by Gomułka. Jadwiga Staniszkis said in an interview for "Europe" in 2009: "I remember Rymkiewicz from the 70s as a frequenter of the cultural establishment in costume lover of the classics: disciplined, cool and silent. Then, when you could have this impulse or even a shy ethical protest against the system, in Rymkiewiczu there was no sign of despair, no such impulses. (...)"

He became part of opposition when it was difficult to find someone in Poland who wasn't.
Now he is right-wing supporter and ideologue. He was opportunist and he still is.
His life-history is not so different from history of many. Everyone lived under the same communist rule, everyone had some kind of connection with communists. Both left and right side of political spectrum had more or less the same experience during communism.

Another thing is ideology. Both parties have or tries to have it's roots in interwar period. So if you want to look for ideology to which right in Poland is reffering to you should read about Narodowa Demokracja (endecja) and Piłsudski during his authoritarian times (sanacja). Left is reffering to PPS - Polska Partia Socjalistyczna (Polish Socialist Party). Note that PPS was rather different from other, foreign socialist parties at that time. They main objective was independence of Poland, so they were some kind of patriotic, socialist party.


This is not a first time when press is suing because of defamation, so there is no precedent. This law exist almost since the beginning of IIIRP and was used many times. I don't think it is bad law, because the quality of public debate in Poland is still low.I think that culture of public debate will increase by the time, but now we still need defamation law.

If you compare situation and debate from the beginning of IIIRP with that of now there is a big positive quality change. Although hearing what some politicians are saying everyday you might not believe me, but at the beginning it was much, much worse. I cant even find words to describe the situation then, it was misery. If you compare newspapers content from that time with now you will see the difference. So there is progress. Maybe someday we will no longer need defamation law, but for that to happen more people need to create skill and culture in debate and know boundaries




When you finally decide with whom you are talking let me know and then maybe I will disscuss with you.

News / The spiritual heirs of the Polish Communist Party [91]


After he published his apologies, he had an interview with Tomasz Sakiewicz (in Gazeta Polska Codziennie). He said:
"Perhaps such an apology have any meaning to the court- I don't know. For me this apology have no meaning." (...) "In Poland we don't have any trockists and luksemburgists, and therefore GW have no reading public."

Sigh... this guy will never learn....


Request seconded, Ms journalist.


His statement that journalists and editors of GW "hate Poland, Poles and Christianity" was only a part of longer and more visious speech he gave in front of Presidential Palace and the cross that was erected there by scouts after Smoleńsk crash. At the time of his speech there were many people there, taking part in manifestations against taking cross out of there. His speech was then widely reported in Poland in Tv and newspapers. He also said that journalists and editors of GW were educated and brought up to hate Poland and Cross, that they are spiritual heirs of KPP and supproters of luxemburgism and by that adversaries of Polish independence and fifth column of communists (and by that Russians).

I know that such statements in any other country have no meaning and probably would be treated with indiference. The problem is that he did not say that in USA, but in Poland. Both these countries and nations have complete different history, experience and its own share of sensitive issues. In Poland such sensitive issues are for example: communism and independence.

Poland for the last three hundred years was fighting for its independence, so people here are highly sensitive when it comes to everything that could undermine it. Be it European Union, NATO, or the undercover communists, Jews or whatever someone will come up with to gain support, publicity and applause.

Another thing are people who belonged to and supported communism. The disscussion about screening procedure (lustracja) in Poland was never really carried out. There were some attempts, but they were either too lenient or to harsh. It left the feeling in public that there is some kind of undercover communist organisation, fifth column, who try to undermine Polish state and independence. This and many others conspiration theories are thriving and providing easy explanation to every difficulty Poland have.

There are many people ( whos political affiliation I'm not going to write here, but I'm sure you are bright enough to figure out) who try to take advantage of that and use this as political leverage. It only brings unnecessary conflicts, that have nothing to do with reality. This is often referred as "wojna polsko-polska"- polish-polish war and this description is not far from reality. Both participants of this conflict are using every method to discredit opponent, to destroy him, so as oyu can see polish politic is not about compromise but about completly destrpoying oppnent. The problem is that non of them is able to secure majority in Parliament, what makes almost impossible to carry out reforms.

Ok, enough of rumbling ;)
The Rymkiewicz speech was part of this war and he is not only a poet but also a public person, journalist of GW opponent newspaper. HHis words could have big impact on GW (also financial one). If Gw decided to fight with his lies, I don't blame them.

The same methods are used by GW opponents, when they write something untrue or slanderous.
The public debate is not supressed by defamation law, it only make it more civil.


I decided today to become a true Pole, who could understand Polish spirit and culture. But I need guidance, because there are things that I can't fully grasp. So, I hope that you and Des will help me.

So, can we use defamation law, or not?


I admit that I have my malady. People with whom I consulted my problem, said that it is Concience-Logic Syndrome. For example, when I saw both these statements I thought that it is logicaly impossible to stand by both these statements and the Concience part of my syndrome sended me a signal that this is hypocrisy.

So, Ironside I need help. How you manage to preach both at the same time. I suppose you don't have Concience-Logic Syndrome, but what would you advise to person who have such malady.

I heard that there is a pill, the pill of Murti-Bing, and if you take it, you can get rid of Concience-Logic Syndrome. I was wondering if you Des have such a pill. I'm not asking you because some villains on PF wrote that you are addicted to drugs.This was a lie, slunder, and they were rightfully suspanded. I'm fully supporting you and in such instances you should not hesitate and report such derogatory posts. Oh, no, but what abiut freedom of speech? Oh no, again, Concience-Logic Syndrome!!!

You see, my problem is complicated, I can't afford Murti-Bing pill, because it is not refunded by NFZ. So would help me? Would you tell me how it is possible to preach one and do another? How one can rid of Concience and Logic Syndrome?

Teachers, please help!!!

News / The spiritual heirs of the Polish Communist Party [91]

Next time, please provide full quote or I might think that you try to distort reality to your liking.
"Statements made about a public person (political candidates, governmental officeholder, movie star, author, celebrity, sports hero, etc.) are usually exempt, even if they are untrue and harmful. However, if they were made with malice – with hate, dislike, intent and/or desire to harm and with reckless disregard for the truth – the public person may have a cause of action. This was determined by the U.S. Supreme Court and has been re-interpreted various times."