News / Poland - Ukraine. Młodzież Wszechpolska against Ukrainians. [180]

Well, no it wasn't. Since 1954 it was part of the Ukrainian SSR, and since 1993 it was recognized BY RUSSIA as part of sovereign Ukraine, they agreed to its borders in 1993, they shouldn't have signed the Budapest Memorandum if they objected. They just DGAF about international norms and the international order, thats all. To the point about Ukraine's East, there is absolutely nothing that would suggest it isn't Ukrainian. Even in the center of Donetsk, there was only 25% native Russian speakers, the rest speak Ukrainian as a native language (my ex g/f is from Donetsk, btw). They identify as Ukrainians, NOT Russians.

Life / American army stationing in Poland is a danger to Polish sovereignty [8]

@Ktos

Since 2008, Russia has not been able to get along with its neighbors without gobbling up pieces of its territory. They have an ever encroaching border with Georgia, constantly moving it inward toward Georgian territory. They kidnapped an Estonian Security officer a few years ago, coming onto Estonian territory and bringing him back across the border. They started a war of aggression in 2014, annexing Crimea (sovereign Ukrainian territory, a border which they agreed to as inviolable in 1993), kidnapped Nadia Savchenko from deep inside Ukrainian territory and held her hostage in Moscow for 2 years, and are currently supporting a proxy army with irregulars and regular Russian servicemen in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. They have assassinated British citizens on the sovereign territory of England in the last 10 years. They conduct large scale snap military exercises along the border of Poland and Estonia. They give every indication and every reason for their neighbors to distrust them, and no reason to think that they're a good neighbor.

The American troops in Poland are no threat to Poland, there is only 4,000 of them. They are there as a 'tripwire,' so that any attack on Poland MUST kill U.S. service members and will automatically trigger Article 5 of NATO.

Your obsession with the United States is unhealthy. Here's a hint, most of us Americans really don't think or care about Russia, a gas station pretending to be a country, on a daily basis. Russians are irrelevant to us, and I speak Russian!

Law / I have Temporary Resident Permit of Poland. Can I travel Ukraine without visa ? [2]

mfa.gov.ua/en/consular-affairs/entering-ukraine/visa-requirements-for-foreigners

Work / Native English looking for a teaching job in Poland [135]

@Maltinka Came across an opportunity you may or may not be interested in. The pay will certainly be considerable, and there are universities nearby.

aecom.jobs/chantilly-va/polish-linguist/7EDF3229993F4607AA4F0F93EF42477A/job/

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

Really Lyz? C'mon you're an educated and well read individual, that sort of hyperbole is beneath you. You really got social Darwinism and 1930s racist sentiment from someone advancing a libertarian world view for limiting the role of government in personal interactions? Just wow bro, come off it.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

Denigrating someone's sexual orientation or religion, while mean spirited and impolite, and something I would stand up for another person if I saw, is a matter of manners and common decency, but certainly not an area for the state to become involved in policing people's thoughts and feelings about other people or groups. It does not rise to the level of excepted speech or the incitement of imminent violence. Stop trying to move the goal post.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

@shockedInpoland

Who was arguing that threats of imminent violence not be punished under the law? I certainly never have in my life, as that's a clear exception to free speech. There are numerous examples among those 4,000 people arrested who never made such threats, and merely said something very critical of Islam, an ideology, and all ideologies deserve ferocious and brutal scrutiny. That is the danger I see in those laws. Feel free to sign up to the forum and be taken seriously, btw.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

Sure. But you do see the problem with that right, physical violence is an objectively observable and therefore punishable thing. The problem with ' hate speech', or mean and offensive speech, is that it is entirely subjective and based on a person's perception. Atch, i imagine some things I would consider to be offensive you would not and vice versa. Should the state then start sanctioning people based on the individual feelings of what that person finds offensive? How can someone know if something is likely to be offensive to another person? I'm sure you can draw a line at some point, but certainly the net will have to be cast very wide, and we've seen the sorts of issues that arise from that with UK police arresting 4,000 people last year for saying mean things on social media. So, we'll let government draw the arbitrary line in the sand about what constitutes another person's feelings being hurt? Sure, just hope that you realize the implications this has for controversial speech. In the United States people are claiming that having to listen to conservative oriented speakers at their college constitutes 'violence' against them. Others have said that affirming the fact there are only 2 genders is a form of violence that makes trans people feel unsafe. Should people censor their own beliefs in order to avoid running afoul of the law? Certainly in some European countries giving scrutiny to the belief system of Islam is considered hate speech, while openly denigrating Christian beliefs is not. So, I think that this is a totally arbitrary concept of law, and I think it will end up doing a lot of harm.

@ShockedinPoland

Sorry I thought it was quite clear I was speaking about the left/right on social issues only. And rather, I was probably referencing more the American left/right paradigm, but I'll be sure to clarify that for you in the future.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

No not really. There is a very big distinction between hateful feelings or rhetoric, being mean, and physical violence. Only the latter is illegal and punishable by law. The previous two are and should not be purview of the state to sanction people for.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

Lol, hilarious the logical inconsistencies in the lefts argument, they seem to like authoritarianism when its used to brow beat people into accepting their version of social justice by using the states legitimate monopoly on violence. Brilliant.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

Sorry I wasn't intending to be patronizing at all...I was really hoping it would lowerall the overall tendness for rudeness on here to one another and not just in this thread in particular. I'm sorry you saw it the way you did.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

Hmm not really sure what your reply had to do with just trying to speak nicer to one another and the commonality we all share by being here. Maybe its a barbed wire wit, but I found it to be rude, and I'm sharing that opinion. I tried to strike a conciliatory and unifying tone in my post to point out we all share at least one thing in common and have no reason to be rude or condescend to one another; so you took that opportunity to take a personal dig at me? Thanks.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

This has been an interesting thread, but I am really disappointed with both of you and the way you're talking to each other. We can have conversations about points with which we disagree, without using such blatant condescension and an overall snide and disrespectful tone. The both of you need to quit it, and Jon as well, you are not 'usually' nice, you usually have a kind of arrogance in your posts that is just totally unnecessary. We all are on this board because we have a connection to Poland or an affinity for it. So, with that common thread among us, let us talk to teach other in the same way that we would if in front of that person. Be nice to one another guys.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

You missed the mark completely on this one CMS. You've attempted to conflate a misstatement of fact regarding history with libel&slanderous speech, which are illegal and are exceptions to free speech. A persons BELIEF that an event in history didn't happen can cause physical harm to no one, whereas an intentional campaign of slander does have real consequences for a persons reputation and character. You're comparing apples to moon rocks on this one my friend. If you read what I wrote, I said people should be free to express an OPINION. If I paper the town with pamphlets describing you as a child molester, that isn't an opinion, because I'm intentionally making statements which I know to be untrue, and which are aimed at damaging your character. There is a small movement of idiots across the globe who proclaim the Earth to be flat, and go to great lengths to espouse this view point. Why wouldn't we sanction them? A law like this turns the state into the thought police.

You think it's also possible to voice your countering opinion on this matter without trying to be intentionally rude and insulting?

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

Honestly the motivations of a person who chooses to deny something such as the holocaust really don't matter, if it's from ignorance or malice. The states job is not to police the thoughts of individuals, only the actions. If there are people who make those denials, it's really rather inconsequential, the history books and the status quo still exist, and those of us living here in reality know that the holocaust happened. Individuals have the right to 'deny' or 'affirm' whatever they want, and should be free to express an opinion however ill-informed or intentionally derisive and malicious, so long as they aren't physically harming any other human beings, without consequence from the state. This is a very clear issue of free speech, and its binary.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

Kind of apples and oranges Jon. Just as I'd expect the same result if they extolled the virtues of Marx or any other inappropriate material not germane to the work being done, lol. The political orientation of most contractors has nothing to do with the inappropriate behavior of one of your former colleagues. What that orientation is and in what percentage is probably something we have our own anecdotal opinions on.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

@maltinka

I suppose my biggest reservation would be if I saw a CV come across my desk, and I don't know what the criteria would be for language studies, but in general and that person was a Canadian/US/UK/NZ/AUS citizen, but they had a degree from a Polish university delivered in English language, my first and most immediate thought would be that they were unable to matriculate to a university in their own respective country for one reason or another, but all of those reasons I can think of would be derogatory. Given what many members have said regarding the lower quality of degree programs delivered in English in Poland, and that they're regarded lower, would make me seriously apprehensive. Now, maybe this sort of thing is irrelevant in your particular job field, but that is my initial thoughts regarding this particular path. If in your particular niche job field this sort of concern would not raise red flags, then of course the best of luck to you and I hope you enjoy studying and living in the country! =)

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

@maltinka

I'm a bit lost in seeing the connection between a masters in English from a Polish university, and doing translation work. Wouldn't a masters in Polish language make more sense, as you're already proficient in English? Couldn't you become certified as a translator without this? I suppose I am looking at this and not seeing a linear progression here, or a connection between them. In any case, with the tuition so incredibly low, you're not investing much more than time, so I suppose there isn't a whole lot to consider with ROI. Anyway good luck to you, you sound quite contented either way.

@jon357

Well never mind to the previous point. But illiberal politics? Most people working on military contracts do not endorse liberal politics. In fact, why would anyone who was far left of center choose to work for the evil 'military-industrial complex,' as that would seem highly hypocritical and go against everything they believe in. They would just be a sell out at that point.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

Well, that makes sense from what I know. A good buddy left the military training side to run an ESL branch on a contract in a GCC country and he's getting $120k, but the derelicts he has to deal with would cause me to jump in front of a tracked vehicle. I guess my assessment is pretty spot on then. Also curious why people with certain proclivities would choose to be on a military contract, in an all male environment? Do you have any insights based on your experiences?

@maltinka

I see. But why would you choose to get a masters in English at a Polish university? One of the posters on here, DominicB, frequently points out that degree programs delivered in English in Poland are inferior to the Polish language programs. Wouldn't it make more sense to do that degree at a more reputable Canadian or UK school? What are your career goals post-grad?

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

@Lyzko

Whose facts? The Russians think that they won the second world war by their lonesome, and that Stalin was Georgian so the pogroms and holodomor were actually Georgia's fault and not the USSR's. I mean, that's quite a subjective distinction. You should be free to espouse whatever view of history you want, it doesn't mean I have to buy into it. The onus is on the reader/listener to do their own research, to look to their own sources, and make their own conclusion. You can deny the holocaust if you like, I'll think you're an idiot, but I don't think you should be sanctioned by the state for being ill-informed or uneducated, and I would venture to say anyone who does think the state should sanction people for espousing stupid things like that is themselves a tyrant.

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

Not sure which contract that was. Generally the feeling on most training/advising contracts is that the EFL branch is mandated by the client, and one which the contractor wishes they could do without. The only contract I'm aware of that's paying EFL teachers over $100k is with Raytheon in Afghanistan. In any case, having those guys on a defense contract is nothing but headaches, and the majority of lawsuits come from them and their whinging. You can understand why my opinion is generally poor. One particular contract I have friends working had to have a sexual harassment clause written into it specifically due to these guys, and it's an all male contract, so you can just imagine why that was. Outside of that, I always imagined it was a subsistence type of job for people traveling in Europe or wherever, correct me if I'm wrong though you seem to be a SME in that area.

@maltinka

What are you planning to study in Poland, and are you doing the degree program in Polish or English?

Work / Polish Canadian ESL job/student advice [78]

One of my closest expat friends who is British is a teacher at an international school and is paid a western salary in GBP. Can you become a state licensed teacher in Canada prior to moving, and then have the ability to earn real money? The ESL game seems to be more fit for early 20's backpackers, it's not a serious career or way to earn a living.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

@delphiandomine

Maybe the 3rd time is a charm, let's give this another try. Want to justify your nationalistic statements about the State of Israel?

Still waiting on an answer....You do in fact support monoethnic theocratic states in the 21st century? Or is it just this one exception? You also seem to support nationalism in this case as well.................If Europe is for the world, why isn't Israel for the world as well? We should increase the diversity in Israel with migrants from MENA countries, shouldn't we?

From the tone of most of your previous posts on this forum, and how I interpret your political position (left of center), I thought we'd all be in agreement that theocracies have no place in the 21st century. Is this somehow an exception? I thought that Israel was a secular state, like other 1st world modern democratic states? Is that not the case, and it is instead masquerading as a democracy and in fact a theocracy using democracy as a front like other despotic theocracies? Please explain.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

@delphiandomine

Still waiting on an answer....You do in fact support monoethnic theocratic states in the 21st century? Or is it just this one exception? You also seem to support nationalism in this case as well.................If Europe is for the world, why isn't Israel for the world as well? We should increase the diversity in Israel with migrants from MENA countries, shouldn't we?

From the tone of most of your previous posts on this forum, and how I interpret your political position (left of center), I thought we'd all be in agreement that theocracies have no place in the 21st century. Is this somehow an exception? I thought that Israel was a secular state, like other 1st world modern democratic states? Is that not the case, and it is instead masquerading as a democracy and in fact a theocracy using democracy as a front like other despotic theocracies? Please explain.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

I need to also point out the irony here, that many of our left leaning members posting in this thread who are vociferously defending the State of Israel, have in many previous threads decried and denigrated many of us who expressed patriotism or nationalism toward Poland or our respective countries. The irony certainly isn't lost on me in this thread, nor the rank hypocrisy.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

@delphiandomine


I'm really confused now delph. From the tone of most of your previous posts on this forum, and how I interpret your political position (left of center), I thought we'd all be in agreement that theocracies have no place in the 21st century. Is this somehow an exception? I thought that Israel was a secular state, like other 1st world modern democratic states? Is that not the case, and it is instead masquerading as a democracy and in fact a theocracy using democracy as a front like other despotic theocracies? Please explain.

News / Poland's economic future? [294]

I really appreciate your response, I agree with just about everything you said save for a few details. Thank you for responding to each point with a clear and rational argument, even though we may disagree on some of the minor details, I think we're on common ground at this point. I like that you're looking to the root cause of many of these problems.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]


Doug, the far right could be stopped dead in their friggin tracks if the left who is in power would put an end to resettling asylum seekers in European countries. Pay off a third country to house them, I think Uganda and Zimbabwe, and other countries with struggling economies would be welcome to the idea of Europe footing the bill, in the same way we have agreed to do with Turkey. Agree that those given asylum already will stay in Europe until their countries become safe, if ever, but will never attain citizenship. With those concessions the support for the far-right would evaporate overnight.

News / Poland's economic future? [294]

@Dougpol1

Quite simple, and in the case of Australia they have housed people who arrive by boat on Papua New Guinea. They are safe from the war they fled there, but as per the Australian law because they did not follow the proper channels of asylum they are being offered resettlement in third countries, and this seems perfectly reasonable and within the bounds of humanitarian law as they will not be forced to return to a country at war. I thought I read that resettlement in Zimbabwe was offered as well, but I can't find the article so it may have been unrelated, however if that had been offered it seems equally reasonable.

To your earlier point. No, there would not be a significant difference between a group of Americans with an axe to grind. However, Americans do not have a systemic problem of axes to grind via indiscriminate attacks on people going about their daily lives, if they as a group or rather a pervasive American ideology led to significantly higher numbers of such assaults and murders, then yes I'd see it as a prudent criticism. The ideology in question DOES have a problem with systemic violence, oppression of women, and murder. This doesn't mean all members of that group are beholden to that, but it does mean there is a systemic problem which should be openly discussed, debated, and criticized; as all ideologies should. Recognizing this objective reality is not an indication of 'hate' or 'bigotry,' but rather a path toward rectifying such a problem within that group via dialogue and discourse.

@cms

Slavery was also legal at one time as well, but we've realized the error of our ways. I view hate speech laws with the same contempt that I view the laws which allowed one person to own another. It is a loosely defined set of criteria, and here in the United States speech which would be prohibited needs to meet a stringent 3 criteria test in order to be deemed illegal. A person does not have the right to be free from "emotional distress," as the way that I read many of the 'hate speech' "laws." I fail to see a victim, or how speech alone can cause physical harm to another human being. It may invoke bad feelings, but sadly many of the cases I've read were merely people being mean. I see it as an existential threat to political speech, and the criminalization thereof.

News / Poland's economic future? [294]

@Dougpol1

"Hate speech" is not a legitimate term in any legal lexicon. It is a fake, made up word, which can be used to stifle opposing opinions by conflating genuine racist hatred with opposition to such things as immigration. We refer to it as the path down the slippery slope, and it leads to censorship.

@Tacitus

My solution would be tighter border security, and implementing a policy similar to Australia's,"No one who arrives by boat will EVER be resettled within Europe." You don't have to be inside the United Kingdom for instance, in order to file your claim of asylum. Furthermore, these asylum seekers would be just as safe in Belize, Equitorial Guinea, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Indonesia, South Africa, or the Solomon Islands. The idea people fleeing actual wars should be resettled in the most advanced and wealthy societies on Earth is quite distasteful to me. But this is really a matter of opinion rather than policy.

Yes we could make that argument about beer, but we all have beer in the supermarket. As I pointed out previously, there exist other safe countries they can go to. Germany has a policy where any asylum seeker convicted of a crime punishable by more than 3 years must be deported. I disagree with this policy completely. I believe any asylum seeker who breaks any German law should be immediately deported. They should be held to a higher standard, and not break any laws in order to show their gratitude to their hosts. We know for a fact that female genital mutilation occurs in the United Kingdom, yet the first 'landmark' prosecution has only just begun in November 2017. Can you at least concede that hyper political correctness is causing real harm to people, and in this case children? Authorities allowed over 1,200 underage females to be sexually abused for 10 years because they didn't want to appear racist. There are consequences to these policies.

I have given a bit on this issue in our discussions Tacitus, so at least a few concessions from you would show me you're reasonable and not an ideologue.