Life / Opłatek, not presents, epitomises the true Polish Christmas spirit [85]


You seem to quote Bernard Margueritte quite often; as an ex journalist, you probably came to know him personally? I do respect the man overall, especially for his coverage of Poland in le Monde and Le Figaro, but you are aware that he was a somewhat controversial figure, with contacts with the SB (and the nickname 'Gamma' to boot)..

Life / Opłatek, not presents, epitomises the true Polish Christmas spirit [85]


Here it is (in French unfortunately, but I am sure you are fluent enough to understand it).
lemonde.fr/elections-europeennes/article/2009/06/01/pologne-le-passe-controverse-d-un-candidat-nomme-bernard-margueritte_1200738_1168667.html

Here is the gist of it: on 4th April, speaking to Rzeczpospolita, M. Margueritte revealed his past contacts with the Polish political police (SB). [...]. The journalist says he was briefly registered as a source in 1971, under the "Gamma" pseudonym.

Funny it comes from the same newspaper who he used to work for..

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]


I am afraid that this is nothing new if you look at Poland's history. Although Poland was one of the first European countries to dismiss absolute monarchy and have "parties" (kings were elected, 2nd written constitution in the world), it never really managed to get opposing parties to sit down, hammer out a reasonable compromise and abide by it. I put this down to slavic temperament.. And that's also why I believe that Crow's dream of a slavic Intermarum will never materialize.. Even if it would, it would collapse soon thereafter :)

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]


Why do you say this? Given the very low birth rate in Poland, anything that helps give it a boost must be welcome. The fact that it is also a vote grabber is the icing on the cake.Only conundrum is why PO had not thought of something similar when they were in power..

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]


i am not sure that is entirely right. Look at France, where the birth rate has been one of the highest in Europe (and not only thanks to immigrants :)), this was largely due to in my mind to the tax and allowance system which was until recently favoring families.

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]




Ziemowit is right. Poland has to date been rather more thrifty than other EU governments; its debt/gdp is only 52%, whereas for example Germany is at 71% and the UK at 88%.. If Poland brought its indebtness on par with Germany (71%), that means an additional 19 pts of deficit, which given Poland's GDP of ca 500 bn$ means another whopping 100 bn$ could be made available. Of course, it would be ridiculous to spend all this on a 500+ type programme, but it shows that no, the money has not run out!!

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]

That is wrong.. unless you show me a link or data to back up what you say

News / Berlin terrorist attack -- Poland's ethnic homogeneity a true blessing [436]


I very much doubt this

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]

Come on P3, even you can see that the site you provided a link to ('muslimstatistics.wordpress.com') is of the same ilk than Pravda or RT today? A simple glance at the comments is enough ..

News / Ethnic tensions erupt in Ełk, Poland [180]


You probably believe that all places selling pizzas are staffed by Italians?


So what is your point? That Muslims kill other Muslims?


Hardly new, the Le Pen family has been in the business of politics for the last half century!!

News / Polish Wigilia on UNESCO's world heritage list? [30]


No grounds for this, Wigilia is hardly a unique Polish feature. It exists in most Christian countries under one form or another and is indeed spent most of the time with the family; what you describe as restaurant hopping pre Xmas or on Xmas day is the exception rather than the rule

News / Polish Wigilia on UNESCO's world heritage list? [30]


We are talking about Dec 24th not 23rd aren't we? Well, part of my family is British, and until I became an adult most Christmases were spent with my cousins at my grandmother's in Somerset. It was always with home cooked food and a very nice atmosphere and the time was spent playing board games. I never remember us going out. Granted, there was no oplatek, but instead a glass ot two of port to accompany the stilton, and I do remember two or three of my uncle/aunts nipping out at 10 pm for a quick one at the pub but they were back within an hour at most. In France, in Provence where I now have a second home and where we often spend Xmas with the family, it is also spent at home around a nice table. We start to eat at around 8 pm, midnight mass is usually at 11 pm and we finish the meal (desserts) when we come back. The custom is to have 13 differents desserts (not dishes) on the table.

News / Ethnic tensions erupt in Ełk, Poland [180]


Well, you're just plain wrong. Apart form Turks, most of the foreigners killed in Reina were Arabs


Nope. My reply was to Bieganski that kebabs should only sold by Turks..


You're right. In the eighties I remember how culturally enriched I felt every time I ate a zapiekanki , a prime product of Polish culture

News / Polish Wigilia on UNESCO's world heritage list? [30]

Once again, you will find this not unique to Poland :

12 dishes: in France/Provence, 13 desserts
no red meat: in my Polish family, it is no meat at all
hay under the sheet: OK (although never seen it practised in my Polish family)
extra seat: same in France/Provence
midnight mass: same in France/Provence

In addition, there are "crèches" laid (birth of Jesus with the animals.;) in most French homes

News / Ethnic tensions erupt in Ełk, Poland [180]


This year, in the church where my family and I went for midnight mass, there were several families of Christian Syrian and Irakis refugees who sung hymns in Syriac language. That was amazing.


Like Crnogorac 3 and others, you are just a self serving egoist with no sense of compassion. That you pretend to be Christian just shows how deluded you are..

News / Ethnic tensions erupt in Ełk, Poland [180]


Have you even watched the videos you post or do you understand them??

UK, Ireland / My bad experiences with Polish neighbours in UK (not meant to offend) [173]

@rozumiemnic
+1. Trust Rozu to instil some good old common sense in any discussion!

News / Ethnic tensions erupt in Ełk, Poland [180]

Welcome to the Matrix!

History / What is Poles opinion on Intermarium (Międzymorze)? [188]

When you put a majority a slavic nations together, we now what happens, they argue between them and the union soon disintegrates, unless a strong man is at the helm. Look at what happened to Yugoslavia when Tito disappeared. What makes you believe that the same would not happen to an "Intermarium"??

Food / Whats with pomegranate everywhere in abundance in Poland now? [6]


Pomegranate is well know for its health values (very strong anti oxydant, against cancer)

Classifieds / Reporter for the Sunday Times wanting to speak to Polish nationals in the UK about Brexit [8]


Countdown to Armageddon has started!

Real Estate / Renting apartment in Poland, only via landlord? [5]


Because companies are in general more scrupulous about abiding by existing regulations

History / Give Poland back it's lost land ! [132]


That's quite normal. Let's not forget that both world wars originated in Europe , and that our continent created both evil totalitarisms, nazism and communism. Quite natural that we got punished for this. That might of course change if the USA creates its own totalitarism of "the third kind", ie Trumpism. They might ultimately be punished for this and Europe will have its revenge :)

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]


Trump does not care for Europe, full stop. Today it is Western Europe who is disappointed by him, tomorrow it will be Central and Eastern Europe's turn.

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]

@Crow
brate Crow, your English is getting worse and worse. The first sentence you wrote is totally ununderstandable.

News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]


Your posts are usually very to the point and interesting , but this one is wide off the mark! Poland had experience of democracy (or at least elections) before many western european countries, plus the second oldest written constitution in the world!

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]


We can start judging as of today!!

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]

@Crow
If by that you mean an Anglo that can be as impulsive and irrational as a Serb, I think you are right!

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]


Like China for example?


Indeed, but he always falls back on his four legs. Have you heard how he explains his complete change of tack re Paul Ryan, the Speaker, once viewed as worse than evil and now almost a genius? It is not that DT was wrong, it is that Paul Ryan, like fine wine, improves as every day goes by..