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Posts by Tommo  

Joined: 11 Feb 2012 / Male ♂
Last Post: 8 Feb 2015
Threads: 2
Posts: 8

Displayed posts: 10
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Tommo   
8 Feb 2015
History / Poland during the Renaissance [146]

I've just started working on a translation of Walenty Rozdzienski's Officina Ferraria (1612). The source version is available here.
pbi.edu.pl/book_reader.php?p=50174 broken link?
An English translation was published in 1976 but is not available online, which is a shame as such a significant poem really deserves a wider audience. I'm planning to do 8 lines a day and I figure that at this rate it'll take me about six months to complete. Any feedback would be more than welcome. Here's the link:

rozdzienskiproject.blogspot.com
Tommo   
16 Apr 2012
News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [38]

I wrote that his anti-German position was linked to his nationalism but I take on board your point that it's more complex than that.

I didn't say Dmowski wasn't aware that the Russians were hostile to the cause, just that it wasn't a successful strategy - again I take on board your point that this could've been made clearer.

I'm not surprised now about your oversimplification and generalization since you read "A Concise History." Don't give me excuses that you were "just trying to outline it very briefly."

Fair point - I'd be happy to edit the historical references out of the article although I would still argue that Dmowski's position on Germany (the one you outlined above) is a lot like Kaczyński's today. Both fear(ed) Germany's imperial ambitions. Is this too much of an oversimplification?

what is the sense of autonomy since most of the people who live in Silesia feel Polish?

I agree that Silesian autonomy would be problematic within the borders of historic Silesia - see my original post on this thread. 100% agree with you on Kaczyński's motives for "playing the Silesian card" and the benefits for RAŚ. This is what I wrote about and I think you would agree with most of it if it wasn't for the historical references (which I'll remove as soon as I get the chance).

You are writing an article and you want me and Mafketis to prepare for you material and essentially write it for you.

Not true - merely pointing out that no-one else is writing about the Upper Silesia/Zagłębie region in English, that's all. Completely disagree with Mafketis that you need to speak fluent Polish to be able to say anything insightful about the situation in Poland. I'm not asking anyone to prepare anything. I think RAŚ should outline their policies in policies in English so that they're more widely accessible. I'm open to constructive criticism about what I've written and I appreciate your comments.
Tommo   
16 Apr 2012
News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [38]

There is almost nothing about RAŚ and authonomy and this time you will write something "more insightful in English about the region." I highly doubt...

There's a good reason I didn't write about RAŚ/autonomy - because the article itself was about Jarosław Kaczyński's comments on Silesian nationality. This provides a context for the higher profile that the RAŚ/autonomy debate has been given in the English-language media as a result. Again I'd challenge you to find anyone who's writing anything "more insightful" about the region (Upper Silesia/Zagłębie) in English. Mafketis couldn't - I doubt you'll be able to.
Tommo   
16 Apr 2012
News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [38]

What you wrote about the politicla history of Poland is a heresy...

Alligator - first of all, thanks for reading what I wrote and thanks for the feedback. In your response, you've clarified Dmowski's anti-German position. All I said in the article was that Dmowski held an anti-German position - I didn't say there was anything wrong with that. Read it through again - I don't think you'll find I was being critical of Dmowski's position, just trying to outline it very briefly. Yes, I could've written a lot more about Dmowski - but then it wouldn't have been an article about Kaczyński's comments on Silesianness. I agree with everything you say in the first paragraph and I think Kaczyński would argue that what Dmowski wrote about Germany's imperial ambitions is still relevant today (although I may be wrong on this).

You said I should read something before I write an article. OK - here's my source for the stuff on Dmowski/Piłsudski (which I'll remind you is only supposed to be a brief outline):

There existed two conflicting visions of Poland's role in the eastern lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with their complex mosaic of intermingling nationalities and religions ... The narrowly nationalistic NDs called for the outright annexation of Lithuania, most of Belarus and western Ukraine, areas which they considered could be effectively absorbed within a unitary Polish state and assimilated in terms of national identity. Piłsudski's patriotism, on the other hand, was not based on modern ethnic criteria but owed much to the traditions of the former multi-ethnic Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He felt that there existed a rare historic opportunity to achieve wider regional security under Polish leadership against a resurgent Russia by creating an extensive east European federation, encompassing ethnic Poland, the Baltic states, Belorus and the Ukraine.

pp. 224-225 A Concise History of Poland (Lukowski and Zawadzki, 2nd ed.) Of these two concepts of nationalism, I would argue that Kacyński's reflects Dmowski's/the NDs as opposed to Piłsudski's. At least his comments on Silesianness would appear to be closer to Dmowski's anti-German stance and what I would describe as 'narrow' nationalism (which isn't necessarily to say that 'narrow' is a bad thing).

Alligator - I have to change a baby's nappy. I'll come back to this as soon as I get the chance. You're obviously pretty well-informed. What are your views on Silesian Autonomy?
Tommo   
16 Apr 2012
News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [38]

In other words, you don't have a deep enough understanding of Polish culture and politics to write anything very insightful.....

I absolutely agree that if I spoke fluent Polish then I'd have a better understanding of Polish culture and politics. But I'd challenge you to find someone who's writing anything more insightful in English about the region (Upper Silesia/Zagłębie). If they are, I'd love to read it. My point is that RAŚ should have an English-language website if they want to be taken seriously on a Europe-wide level.
Tommo   
16 Apr 2012
News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [38]

I've just written a piece about Jarosław Kaczyński's comments on Silesian nationality, which is here:

silesiaconnect.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/the-german-option/

As a follow-up I'd like to write something about the Silesian Autonomy Movement (RAŚ) and was wondering what people's views were. I know this has been touched on in other threads but I don't think there has been a thread devoted to the idea. Personally I'm in favour of autonomy but for me it would have to be within the current boundaries of the Silesian voivodship - that includes the Dąbrowa basin and Częstochowa. My understanding is that RAŚ want autonomy for the 'historic' region of Upper Silesia, which I think would be extremely problematic. Having said that, I have no idea what RAŚ stand for because they don't have an English-language website.
Tommo   
8 Apr 2012
Language / Does 'Pimsleur Method' work? [4]

I tried Pimsleur lesson 1, didn't like it. Would recommend Michel Thomas Polish.
Tommo   
6 Apr 2012
Life / Moving to Poland Part-Time (probably Katowice) [56]

Have to agree with Smurf - Katowice is a massively under-rated city. If you want to be close to factories and airports then I don't think there's anywhere better. Those other cities are better places to visit (i.e. they've got ryneks and restaurants and bars) but Kato has more opportunities for the people willing to stick it out.

If you want some background on Katowice (and the rest of the agglomeration) from an expat's point of view then I've written a lot more here: silesiaconnect.wordpress.com
Tommo   
16 Mar 2012
Travel / "Cool Katowice" - a viable alternative to Kraków? [18]

Don't know how much to read into this but popular UK flight comparison website Skyscanner are recommending Katowice as an alternative to Kraków, which it says has been over-run by stag weekends... (can't post the address, you'd have to search for it)

I think Katowice definitely has a long way to go yet but it's unfair to label it as "grim, industrial, etc." Look at how Manchester has re-invented itself as the Lonely Planet/Rough Guide city of choice in the UK. Katowice Train Station has been knocked down and is being rebuilt, they've started work on a new Rynek, there's a lot going on in the city (the new museum/concert hall for example). Give it time and I think we could see more and more people visiting Kato as tourists (things can only get better).