Expats in Poland - would you fight for your new country?

Seanus should gain polish citizenship. Just he's just passed the exam ;)

We have a similar history in terms of resisting bigger powers. It's a hard question as there are individuals here that I'd fight to save but saving the country?

Nun ja...Seanie can't even help his own country against a bigger power. How could he help Poland???

;)

We can all help, BB. That's the point! Don't forget that Scotland has access to nukes and Germany doesn't ;) ;)

True...*hides shamefaced*

I think it depends who the enemy is. If I had to fight Mujas as Serbs did, it would be a challenge but warriors will be warriors. It's in our blood!

US and Germany bombing Serbia was the start:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_arches_theory

Mind you, the Serbs (and Macedonians) destroyed their McD's in anti-US protests, I believe.

one only gets one chance. get it wrong and your dead.

and let's face it, we've fought enough wars on behalf of other people already (including the Auld Enemy).

That's true, Wrocław. However, that's the nature of war and you have to have a healthy dose of luck.

True, Trevek. Some might say that the SAS were Thatcher's skivvies in a sense.

Fighting for Poland is noble but good weapons would be needed.

read up the light blue army in France during ww1, then later in the Polish fight for independence!

If it would be a war between Norway and Poland (God forbid) then I would probably stay neutral or side with the defending force.

I was thinking of the number of Scots who fought abroad while their homes were being ransacked during the Clearances.

Well, that too :)

I couldn't imagine waking up to fight whoever here but times may change. It's a war of sorts for many here as it is ;) ;)

i think you'll find that the reality is that folks will worry about their family at home, but won't be able to do much about it.

I can't imagine Ryanair offering cheap flights home for expat Poles. especially at a time of war.
you might also notice that some of the comments on this thread are by ex-military who suggested they would not fight.
this is no longer the early 1900's. when a country goes to war how many people do you really think would fly home to face mandatory conscription.

there are no rules on the frontline. die for your family... acceptable and honourable. but to volunteer to die for a war that is never likely to happen... foolish.

Many thousands voulenteered when it wasn't even a Polish state! I think the numbers speaks for themselves...

I really don't understand the expats who claim they would return home for war...you don't like your country enough to live in it but you claim you would go die for it? I don't believe it. Sure you can always find a few cases who would but I think in general people would stay put and not give up their lives where they are...it's all nationalistic bravado. Expats seem to have an overabundance of that.

I am an American citizen in Poland.

Being able to type this out and being put into the situation that requires a decision are two totally different things. One thinks differently with a (metaphorical) gun in his face. That being said, if Poland went to war with America I would 110% either return to the U.S to fight against Poland or try to sabotage the country from within. I know that sounds quite bad, but I would also like to add that anyone (besides the U.S), that were seen as the aggressors, invaded Poland, I would also combat them in some capacity.

I am in Poland for a cultural exchange. I will most likely (though one can't read the future) end up in the U.S.A, but for now I am enjoying the culture, the fairly cheap cost of living, and of course the women. I love Poland and I love the U.S.A, but my heart truly lies in the country that has given me the freedoms and opportunities I have today. I would always fight for my homeland.

Yeah thanks. Who knows what you'd do under the circumstances...? Probably try to get as far away as possible!

In any case, no, I haven't been to the Ashfield Club yet. I visited the Bankstown Club a few weeks ago, and ended up on the dance floor as you might expect!

I hear the restaurant at Ashfield is quite good though, so that should tempt me there at some point in the future.

Hey, If you're around on Sunday there is a Polish Christmas Festival in Tumbalong Park.

Check it out...
polishchristmasfestival.com.au

:)

On a related note, would Poles readily fight for a cause in the conflict of another country?

E.g. The Spanish civil war attracted sizeable support from Irish volunteers (on both sides) as well of course as ideological volunteers from other countries.

On a related note:

Hasn't this already been proven?

Go on...

Well there are Polish special forces in Afghanistan aren't there?

Doing the Yanks a favour?

Nooooooooo!

Not what I mean. I mean unofficially, not representing Poland, going out on a limb.

Which is why I said "volunteers"

: )

I have heard more than one wise older Pole claim they are participating more to get experience with their modern army than out of some love for the Yanks. I can believe this. AND Poland is at the Eastern border of the EU and a lot closer to the extremists than the USA is so they do have a national interest to be involved. And no matter what people want to say about Poland, the Polish military has shown itself to be very professional and they have superb reputations amongst the Americans and their allies. That is more than can be said for a lot of other nations contributions...and I am not talking about people who aren't there as that is every nation's choice to take part in any action or not...but many that ARE there have proven worthless and even detrimental..not the Poles however.

That's kind of a weird question then. As in the fact that there are men who volunteer to spend above and beyond the required time in the Polish special forces fighting under the general leadership of a foreign army are somehow less "volunteers" than would be men who took up arms for the same general struggle but without formal training?

Just not sure what you're general gist is.

Maybe it's late. :)

It's not only special forces, and they were also in Iraq. Poland decided it was in its best interest to fight there. There's a thread on it.

Personally, I'm in "I wouldn't fight blindly for any nation" camp. I'd fight for people, and for reasons that I agree with.

Would you guys really fight for your country if it attacked another unprovoked and for no discernible reason?

Well this is the big ideological question. I mean patriotism doesn't ask too many questions right? I mean I have no idea why I support the Australian football team when they compete abroad (ok, shite example). But I kind of support anything my country stands for. I guess that's the deal when you call a country home?

And remember, freedom comes at a price. When does war stop being honourable or righteous? I mean we honour our fallen don't we? So when does it all become a farce?

Fighting in another country, in their conflict, unsanctioned by their own government. In fact usually deemed illegal to participate by their own government. They are fighting because they believe in the cause - no other reason.

That kind of volunteer.

War is not honorable...men can be honorable during war however.

What the ideological urge to kill the f*ckers?