American people attitude towards Poles in the USA

So true. We usually can't even tell they're Polish just by looking at them. They blend in with other Europeans. And we don't see them committing major crimes in the streets. There's nothing to complain about. They're not bothering anyone.

But UK is so much smaller than the USA. Maybe that has something to do with them being more noticable there than here.

Yes this could have a lot to do with it. Also the fact that we like to think we're multi-cultural in the UK but compared to the USA we aren't really. Such a big influx of people from one nation has seemingly caused a lot of negative feeling - or that is the impression given anyway, particularly on here.

I've said this before somewhere on PF. The Polish have always been prominent in UK society.

This discussion is about American attitudes to Polish people in the USA?
If we widened the debate to include Canada, might someone actually mention the Western side of the Atlantic for a change?

Or perhaps add a little more of a historical context.
How were Polish people seen in America before the end of Communism?
Did things change much?

With two eyes.. hardy har har.. :)



in the 60's the focus was more on civil rights, I dont think anyone really was concerned
with new Immigrants coming. in the 70's dancing was a big deal.. so nationality
was not important. and in the 80's People were all about music and big hair
and peace :)

two polaks go bear hunting.
as they near their destination they come to a fork in the road
and they see a sign that says"bears left"
so, they turn around and go home.

LOL

I agree, the crime in other ethnic neighborhoods is way higher than here in Polonia



Thanks PD, I can drive from one side of my city and pass through
Little Korea / Asian
Greek town
Ukrainian village
Chinatown
Little Italy
Latino
Irish/ celtic
German
Polonia
to name a few

I just copied English people attitute towards poles thread
then changed the name of the country

Thanks donkey you are very observant:)



To tell you the truth I dont think many Americans payed much attention to it

Don't forget Little Mexico

I volunteered for an organization that gave free English lessons to immigrants and refugees regardless of their status (legal/illegal) and RARELY did any Latinos/as show up - they'd sign up but not show up. The fact is (at least from my experience) they 1. don't want to learn English but think all Americans should have to learn Spanish and 2. they don't want to work legally because they would have to pay taxes and this means less money to send back home.



These things vary a bit from state to state but in my state (Minnesota) they can't receive ANY welfare without a Social Security number which is the ever-sought-after green card. They still manage to get welfare here though, thanks to false documents and people who have died and people who have returned to their native countries giving or selling their documents.



Does all that really matter?

At the end of the day, I hate all illegal immigrants - in every country around the world (including idiot Americans that sit in other countries teaching English illegally, taking work away from the nationals of the country)! I don't see why people can't go through the proper channels and enter legally, other than they're criminals or have lied on their applications about something and were caught. I know the problems illegal immigration causes here and I have heard from Poles about the problems of illegal immigration by Ukrainians in Poland so I'm sure Poles on reading thread can understand both sides of the issue.

But I can honestly say that I have never heard about problems with illegal immigrants in Mexico. =)

All that aside, I think Poles are great contributors to all of western societies and I don't understand why the US government is so tight with their visas.

Why are they so tight with them?

Why? Because there are too many who overstay their visa. They get a tourist visa and don't return as promised. The US goverment does not like that. There are too many illegals who don't pay taxes, while we work our asses off and 1/3 gets taken away for taxes while they work illegally and pay no taxes.

And yet they do little to secure the US/Mexico border. Our largest illegal immigrant population is by leaps and bounds from Mexico. We shouldn't worry so much about a few Poles until we take care of the how-many-millions of Mexican.

That's true. The Mexicans dig holes, jump fences, swim just to cross the border. Other countries can't do that, except for Canada which borders the US. But they could care less. :)

We love Canuks! Really, my state borders Canada and we LOVE them because they 1. put up with us and 2. don't flood our border. In fact, I should imagine they have a similar problem with the US as the US has with Mexico! =)

The cigarettes and vodka is cheaper in the US

Soo true!!

Illegall Mexicans are the scurge upon the US
They overburden our health and education system.

Yeah, they make us learn Spanish and make us fart after eating them bean buritos.

That's pretty much the answer to the question, I think. I grew up in the Chicago area, and there were a ton of Polish immigrant kids at the schools I went to, but there were so many Ukranian and Russian and Romanian and other European immigrant kids that it all blends together. Only when you get older and think back into your memory do you sort of remember where specifically everyone was from. When you're a kid you just think of them as regular kids with odd accents, although the accents disappear pretty quick in most cases. :)

Hmmm!!! Chicago...where do I start. Okay...

1st-Learn English.

2nd-Get a valid drivers license and insurance.

3rd- This is America so quit throwing Polish flags in our faces because that is rude,
unpatriotic and an insult to the citizens of this country.

4th- Pay taxes on the money you earn (i.e. scabbing construction jobs for cash) and join a union....isn't that what the hero Lech Wałęsa was all about....unions & worker rights??

5th-The recent surge in heroin dealing Polish gangs is unacceptable.

6th- Quit moving 6-10 unrelated people into a house when the neighborhood is zoned single-family residential.

I am not an immigrant basher.... but when a large populace from the same region of the world continuously ignores the rules of the country that they are guests in....well that is going to cause some bad sentiments. The idea is to blend and fit in. In order to do that you emulate the customs of the country that you live in.

How about all of the people with foreign heritage? Italians, PR's...etc. I think flags are ok because people have the right to be proud of where they come from. It's part of being American and utilizing your rights as one. It's no insult to me :) just a minor few


riiiight.....

We were/are seen as stupid dolts, hence the dumb Polak jokes you often hear all over the USA. Not only among the idiots you see standing around the keg at a frat party, but also in the press ( I have seen Polak jokes in Stuff magazine). Maybe we are stupid, we have a habit of worshipping and idolizing the same people who cut us up right to our faces. Pathetic.

Probably because they don't need to. Their standard of living is just as high plus they even get free health insurance. Why do you think Poles willingly go to Germany to work, but almost no one from Poland goes to Ukraine or Moldova to work?

Did you ever notice that there are jokes about every nation & race in America?


Are you speaking for yourself? I don't know any stupid PL. Perhaps you believe these jokes ;)

ditto. when i was at Basic i heard Polish jokes all the time. but thats exactly what they are...jokes. this world is becoming way to politically correct for me, when no one can take a simple joke.

I think black, Mexican and Michael Jackson jokes are heard more.

yeah, and they can't take it either. the mexicans can. there are some awesomely funny MJ jokes out there though :)

No because I don't worship the Great Satan like many misguided people I know. I lived in America long enough to know the difference between some drunk fool that sputters off some Polak joke just to try to get a laugh and a wink out of you and someone who calls you a dumb Polak with actual venom in their voice just because you said something they didn't particularly like. And I'm not talking about one isolated ******* I came accross at a lame party, I'm talking about many wonderful Americans I have come accross. But I prefer the jokes Germans tell about Poles- I'd rather be jokingly known as thief than a retard.

So maybe there are, I was just answering Osiol's question. He asked what Americans think of Poles...

And aside from a minor group of ignorant people, we generally like and welcome Poles.


You yourself are guilty of calling PL ppl retarded :)

.\nn/

i'm the opposite for sure, i am a self proclaimed retard at work.



that's not what americans think of Polish people dude, if you think that then you are retarded.