History / 'Poland: A Knight Among Nations' - Book about Poland by an American Author, dated 1907 [51]


But isn't it just nitpicking on words, just like with the issue whether Katyń was a genocide or not? Tell me, what exactly is the difference between annexed and occupied in this particular situation?

Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]

I would describe it as cold!

Life / Awkward Polish dinner party conversations with 'patriots' ... [25]


Ohh but just for once agree with them and BOOM! ;)

History / Miracle of the Vistula 80th anniversary? [56]


Not many, as instead of fleeing they joined Solidarity movement and fought the system.


Yeah, Wałęsa is only known in Poland. lol


Did it ever crossed your mind that Gorbatchev abandoned Brezhnev's doctrine becasue, among other reasons, the civil unrest in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and that it happened the other way around?

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

Yeah, it is, but there is also a brand of beer called that way, both unrelated. I prefer the beer though. :) Ohhh, important info, it's NOT a lager! :)

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

While in PiP be on the look out for Fortuna Czarne or Fortuna Miodowe. The best beer from Wielkopolska! :)

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]


Actually I didn't have anything specific in mind present on that site , but I wanted to point you to the authors of that blog. Surely they are more informed about retiring in poland and aquaring permanent residency than any posters that have posted in this thread. Here you have their e-mail adress: piekar66@hotmail.

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]

Maybe this couple can help you out here: david-polanddavid.blogspot.com/

History / Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki) started anti-Semitism? [101]

It seems that Jew related threads outnumber the ones about immigration into the UK! And THAT says A LOT! :)

News / Brown's 'Bigotgate' and the debate about Poles [63]

True. There is an arrogant side of my people that I didn't nottice before joining this message board.

Still, if I were to generalize about jews, blacks or cyclist i bet that you would call me racist without any hesitation. Or am i wrong?

Love / Are Polish men romantic and caring or... "plain"? [85]


Not quite. It would be : "Judging from the tone of your reply he also hit a nerve, innit?" ;)

News / Brown's 'Bigotgate' and the debate about Poles [63]

I know what you mean, but I thought of you as of a person that condemns generalizations. I gues I was wrong.


We would all hold hands and dance in circless to emphisize our love and european unity.

News / Brown's 'Bigotgate' and the debate about Poles [63]


Have you seen Flower888 making any nasty remarks about other ppls?

History / Should visitors to Auschwitz pay an entrance fee? [82]


Just like Wrocław said, I think it already has boceme a tourist destination. Cracow - Wieliczka - Auschwitz are top must see-ers when it comes to Polish tourist atractions.

As for the initial question:


I don't think that we Poles have the right to point fingers and demand who should pay for the up-keep of the camp. I mean, why should todays germans pay for it? The only people, however, that should pay for it are those that still take profit from it's existance. And it should be done valunteerly. If Polish or Israeli government have the desire to build their nations national identity on this tradegy than they should pay...

Love / Are Polish men romantic and caring or... "plain"? [85]


Judging from the size of your reply he also hit a nerve, innit? :)

History / The great mistakes of Poland's history? [216]


Sorka, in the end it was my answer that was vague. :)

What I meant was that you can say that life of a pessant in the Commonwealth was relatively good or awful andboth statements may be right. It all depends on the time frame you are reffering to, as people in the 15th and 18th century had different living conditions.

History / The great mistakes of Poland's history? [216]



The problem here is that the subject matter is to vague to discuss it properly. You cant talk about living conditions amongst inhabitants of Rzeczpospolita mentioning facts from 14th and 17th century with one breath and establishing some common ground with each other. If you really are interested in generalizations, though, than I would say that first Rzeczpospolita had a great potential and gave great opportunities for it's citizens and at the same time the wealth it generated was the reason of its downfall, because while magnates where multiplying their fortunes, the state, or should I say the King, was basically in a state of constant bankruptcy since the time Vladislaus III of Varna got into an enormous debt trying to fund his crusades against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.

Life / Polish Hip Hop [47]


True, true... But than again Lenon, McCartney and Co had as much to do with black culture as polish rappers have and yet nobody is making fun of their music, innit?

Ahh K 44. :)
...

News / GERMANS WANT TO GERMANIZE KOPERNIK (COPERNICUS)! OUTRAGE! [1016]


Not at all. He was the one exception to the rule. ;)

News / Kaczynski to be buried at Wawel ?! [289]


Certainly, to die as a result of overdoing gherkins is nothing to be proud of. ;)

More seriously though, I found this decision to bury Lech at Wawel to match Jarosław's overblown ego, but the die was cast and there is nothing we can do about it. Plus, there are a lot of people that were allowed to be buried there purely because they were head of Rzeczpospolita, just like Lech Kaczyński was.

News / Kaczynski to be buried at Wawel ?! [289]


I wouldn't say that all of Poles are like that, but some definately are. Just check the news about a group of Polish workers demanding a right for 2 min of silence during their working hours, as if they couldn't mourn Kaczyński in their free time. But I agree with you that most of those putting flowers by the shrines really mean it.

As for Lech being burried at Wawel,... Well, if King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, whose greatest achievement was to stuff his mouth with food until he kicked the bucket, could be burried there, then why not Lech?

History / Why did Hitler kill so many Jews in Poland? [261]


"Kto się lubi, ten się czubi". :)

News / Sikorski or Komorowski for president? [32]

I bet that every morning Sikorski looks into a mirror and thinks "Jesus Radek, how do you do it that you look so damn good!"

UK, Ireland / Which country is more corrupt - Poland or the UK? [35]


But that means that people in Poland that had zero contact with the previous system are 20 years old and that the vast majority grew up in an enviroment where everything was a deficit product and where you really had to be rude, use your elbows and cut into the queue if you wanted to bring something back home to your family. These people won't change over night. They might even not change at all. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks or old habits die hard and stuff... ya know.

Life / Proper dose of life in Poland... the harsh realities. [64]


There are tons of things that need a serious work here, no doubt about that. After all, Poland is in a state of a transition... but WB is not just pointing them out. He sounds like a man on a verge of a mental breakdown. This place wears him down to much. But if he is destined to stay here at least for more several years he might as well focus more on the good things and ignore some of the petty things like dog **** or delapetated mercs on overflowed car parks. It will only serve him good and make the time spent here pass faster. Constantly repeating "I hate it here, I hate it here, I hate it here" will make this experiance a long and painful nightmare and a waste of his youth.

Life / Proper dose of life in Poland... the harsh realities. [64]

Wrocław Boy, life in Poland isn't a puff with custard, granted, but wouldn't it be better for you to focus more on the good than on the bad and ugly? You said it yourself that you will be out of here in few years... Why would you want to lose those years being negative about everything? I mean, we will never be again as young as we are right now. Make the best of what you have and in few years time you will be laughing about it in Ottawa or somewhearez....

Life / Doctors taking bribes in Poland [76]


Actually, according to some survey I stumbled uppon few weeks ago, the only nations that have worse teeth than Poles in the EU are Hungarians and Estonians. Maybe this myth should be changed? :)

Life / Doctors taking bribes in Poland [76]

I have never bribed a doctor, but than again I have never been in a sitution in which I would need to. I did hear a lot of stories about it though.

And when my wife got discharged after she gave birth to my daughter I did give the hospital staff some chocolates and coffe... Could we consider it a bribe or not? It was definately sooo PRL. :)

Genealogy / If your ancestors were in the "Wehrmacht"... [217]


Well actually I am not sure. It's from my father's side of the family. They could have been from all over the reich, it's just that every descendant of German setlers that moved to Wielkopolska in the 18 century were being called Bambry.

Genealogy / If your ancestors were in the "Wehrmacht"... [217]


Yeah, your family were die Polen, and mine were Bambry. :))