England and Poland are friends

Marek:

.....you mean, like Mexico and the US?? I hardly think so, considering Poland's economy, by European standards at any rate, is certainly on the rise again. Nevertheless, the common stereotype amongst many English whom I've spoken with of late, many of them relatively young too, is the persistant image of the dumb polak (sorry about that folks!!) merrily mangling the English language, often not very dissimilar from the Hispanic stereotype found here in the States!The more enlightened naturally ignore such errant prejudices, still, it cuts both ways.Politics makes for strange bedfellows - and even stranger friendships LOL

Pavel	Dec 22, 06, 15:57 / #
Come on! Now. You called us the "civilized" Slavs. You put your pre WWII empire on the line, to save our asses from Hitler. We both are in Iraq together, with the USA. (I think) English chicks are hot, known a few. Red's (my) favorite color, don't know about yours. English flight attendant: Oh she was hot for my s***! And I was hot for her cute little self too. It was my first flight, so I was a bit nervous, but her sweet face and thin smile put me to sleep the whole 2 hours and when I woke up... pssst, sir, we are at our arrival destination.... I even bummed a light off of her when I got through. You drew the picture of a Polak on a horse and called it "The Noble Slav". Polish goverment in exile, Czech governemnt, (French) government... LONDON, LONDON, LONDON. Moscow (so it is said) and Washington wouldn't host our Polish asses, but England sure did. The Union Jack: your flag looks sharp, mate. Best one I've seen. Plus you don't have 10 million stars So I am done, it is said...

Stupidwelsh	Dec 22, 06, 16:13 / #
I admire you attempt at festive peace and love to all, but I can’t agree that The British Empire risked its existence to save Poland. In fact both Britain and France just flexed some muscles in Nazi Germany’s direction and watched while Poland was overrun- certainly France has to shoulder the greater blame in that episode, but Britain is ultimately guilty of collusion. In truth the whole war was about Old Empires, and Poland found its self caught between them and was trampled underneath the stampede. That’s not to distract from the heroic efforts of the peoples of Europe, Britain and America and the Commonwealth that ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Nazi war machine, I only wish that given the time passed since the end of that war we could talk more honestly about Britain’s flawed policy in the years and days leading to the invasion of Poland.

dulcianaThreads: - Posts: 29 Joined: Dec 3, 06	Dec 22, 06, 17:19 / #
Let's get our facts right. England was a NAVAL power above all else, and it's a bit difficult to sail ships across Europe. The Nazi war-machine grew at a prodigious pace, and whilst the alarm-bells may have sounded, very few ever thought that Hitler would incite and then wage war on Europe, as he did. So soon after WW1, the thought of German aggression after such a defeat, was not taken as seriously as it should have been. When England declared war on Germany, the UK was not terribly well-equipped to actually go to battle, and an immediate foray into Eastern Europe would have been a complete military disaster. Before going to war, it pays to assess the likely outcome, and simply running around with sticks and stones is not a very good battle plan. Once England got going, and with allied help, it started to go the right way, but the fate of Poland had been sealed by that time.

Stupidwelsh	Dec 22, 06, 17:42 / #
I can’t argue with your points, in fact there was a strong body of political opinion that felt that Britain could have her Naval empire and Germany could have her land based empire. However it can’t be claimed that Britain was unaware of the risks to Poland when she made promises to retaliate if Poland faced aggression from Germany [no condition had been made as regards the Soviets, but the Soviets only commenced invading Poland after Germany had succeeding in eliminating the Polish military threat to the extent that the Soviets would have an easy ride of it]. There’s no doubt that once the invasion of Poland commenced Britain was totally unable to fulfil it’s diplomatic obligations to Poland, but that is not the issue- the issue is why did Britain make obligations to Poland even though it knew it could not fulfil those obligations. The fact of the matter was that Britain’s influence in the world had been in decline for at least 30 years before the invasion of Poland- we ‘weren’t all that’ and hadn’t been for a long while, and had it not been for the intervention of the 1st war in Europe we were on course to become a trading Empire rather than an empire built on military strength. We didn’t sacrifice our empire to save Poland, because we weren’t in a position to save our empire or Poland.

MoralnyThreads: 1 Posts: 71 Joined: Nov 21, 06	Dec 22, 06, 17:49 / #
What a thread man, grew up and bleble ble ble about history. Focus on the future but not yourself if you really care.

Stupidwelsh	Edited by: Stupidwelsh Dec 22, 06, 17:59 / #
I can only agree, however the phrase ‘you won’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you are coming from’ has validity I think

MoralnyThreads: 1 Posts: 71 Joined: Nov 21, 06	Dec 22, 06, 18:29 / #
It's obvious SW, nobody will care about something that dont understand etc

Stupidwelsh	Dec 22, 06, 18:53 / #
That is untrue as throughout history humanity has sought to understand and define what it finds incomprehensible, and with general success

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 13, 08, 07:18 / #
ENGLAND AND POLAND ARE FRIENDS Sure they are; Poland supplies England with cheap immigrant labor and England grants Poland's workers asylum and/or citizenship..... all at low or no cost to the Polish government. (The English taxpayer? That's another matter.) Sounds like a beautiful friendship--:)

PolsonThreads: 15 Posts: 2,812 Joined: May 9, 07	Dec 13, 08, 07:36 / #
Of course England and Poland are friends, like every other European nations are, officially ^^ We're all friends, let's leave in peace, we've got many other issues to solve ;) What about Poland's relations with Zimbabwe?... ;)

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 14, 08, 16:33 / #
Yes, Prince. What has your post got to do with the topic other than to make yourself look foolish? The last time I looked (and with my glasses on!), Jews ARE of European heritage (Poland, Russia, Germany etc.. aren't in Asia or Africa now, are they??), besides, I got finished by stating as a disclaimer that the Polish stereotype amongst the English, is exactly that: UNTRUE!! Guess I shouldn't be that hard on you. English is obviously not your first (or even second) language, and so the subtle points of my post probably passed you by. Be up front enough though to admit it-:)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Dec 14, 08, 16:35 / #
It seemed anti-semitic. If this is the culture we have to look forward to, God help us.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Dec 14, 08, 16:47 / #
My ears betray me then. Maybe I should bring a tape recorder with me to let people hear how Jews are spoken of.

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 14, 08, 16:54 / #
No recording needed. Although I've nerver actually experienced anti-semitism in Poland, or anywhere else in Europe, there's enough documentary evidence from gentile sources alone, to justify the trepidation of Jews traveling around Eastern Europe.

Foreigner4Threads: 22 Posts: 1,971 Joined: Nov 18, 07	Dec 13, 08, 07:41 / #
nations are not people, that is all.

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 13, 08, 07:56 / #
'Of course England and Poland are friends.....' .....you mean, like Mexico and the US?? I hardly think so, considering Poland's economy, by European standards at any rate, is certainly on the rise again. Nevertheless, the common stereotype amongst many English whom I've spoken with of late, many of them relatively young too, is the persistant image of the dumb polak (sorry about that folks!!) merrily mangling the English language, often not very dissimilar from the Hispanic stereotype found here in the States! The more enlightened naturally ignore such errant prejudices, still, it cuts both ways. Politics makes for strange bedfellows - and even stranger friendships LOL

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Edited by: Marek Dec 13, 08, 09:40 / #
Incidentally, diplomatic "friendship" is almost exclusively based on political/economic expedience, and little else. Sort of an international marriage of convenience -:)

HatefulBunch397Threads: - Posts: 1,018 Joined: Nov 5, 08	Edited by: HatefulBunch397 Dec 13, 08, 19:40 / #
Stupidwelsh: In truth the whole war was about Old Empires, and Poland found its self caught between them and was trampled underneath the stampede. I agree. It was about grudges and older conflicts between Poland and Russia and Poland and Germany or Prussia. I think Stalin and Hitler both had the past in mind to some extent. Old Empires like you typed. That, and I am sure Poland aquiring Gdańsk and the signing of Mutual Assistance worried Hitler and stirred his bolshevik paranoia. In Hitler's mind, the Bolsheviks were behind Poland getting the revered sea port, probably. He thought Britain was caving into Bolsheviks, even though the threat was more imagined than real.

PrinceThreads: 26 Posts: 826 Joined: Nov 4, 08	Edited by: Prince Dec 13, 08, 22:31 / #
Marek: .....you mean, like Mexico and the US?? I hardly think so, considering Poland's economy, by European standards at any rate, is certainly on the rise again. Nevertheless, the common stereotype amongst many English whom I've spoken with of late, many of them relatively young too, is the persistant image of the dumb polak (sorry about that folks!!) merrily mangling the English language, often not very dissimilar from the Hispanic stereotype found here in the States!The more enlightened naturally ignore such errant prejudices, still, it cuts both ways.Politics makes for strange bedfellows - and even stranger friendships LOL Marek Marek you are american Jew ... most of americans are europeans. be careful because we all understand what you are trying to say. I am sure that you are going to catch it. http://www.polishforums.com/history_european_anti_semitism-34_29186_0. html Maybe something from england http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Expulsion "In 1290, King Edward I issued an edict expelling all Jews from England. Lasting for the rest of the Middle Ages, it would be over 350 years until it was formally overturned in 1656. The edict was not an isolated incident but the culmination of over 200 years of conflict on the matters of usury." " story told of a captain taking a ship full of Jews to the Thames while the tide was going out and convincing them to go out for a walk with him. He then lost them and made it back to his ship before the tide came back in, leaving them all to drown.[10] Other stories exist of Jews being robbed or killed, but the majority of the Jews seem to have crossed the channel in safety."

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Dec 13, 08, 23:04 / #
What has all that got to do with Polish-English relations?

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 14, 08, 16:44 / #
Anti-semitic? You're kidding! --:) There's no more anti-semitism in Europe, didn't you hear? That all went out with the currency switch. LOL

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Edited by: osiol Dec 14, 08, 17:14 / #
Talk of Jews only came into this thread for Luki's apparent anti-English rant. I have thoughts on the subject of why he posted this stuff, but I'm still waiting for him to explain for himself.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Dec 14, 08, 17:22 / #
Yeah, let's return to the thread. Prince, you are causing problems for members and your racism is not warranted. Try and play fair or face disciplinary action. Rules are rules, I will post them if you need a reminder. Many Poles wear England shirts. Not through love of the country I presume, more for the love of sport. Many good relationships have been formed tho and we should be happy of that.

PrinceThreads: 26 Posts: 826 Joined: Nov 4, 08	Edited by: Prince Dec 14, 08, 17:53 / #
I am not racist my grandmother from fathers side was Jew. :) I am not candiate for moderator. :)

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 15, 08, 09:24 / #
Prince, unfortunately, Jews were some of the worst self-haters, including anti-semites! The only difference between a Jewish 'anti-semite' and a gentile anti-semite, is that presumably the Jew doesn't seek the extermination of his own people. Marginalization however, trivializes real anti-semitism and enables the anti-semite by suggesting "Oh, stop being oversensitive and paranoid! Hey, they're only kidding!" It was precisely those types of sentiments which essentially opened the oven doors of Auschwitz.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Dec 15, 08, 09:28 / #
How about them Braves? ;) Nah, let's get back to the thread, guys. I feel that a lot has been written elsewhere on this. What I like about the title is that it leads you in a positive direction.

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 15, 08, 10:13 / #
We have indeed gotten (way!) off the topic here!!-(: Again though, I maintain that most political so-called friendships are little more than economically motivated relationships that quickly sour when certain expectations are not met. In the case of England and Poland, I'm curious as to the converse, i.e., how many English workers go over or move to Poland, unless of course they have Polish spouses. LOL

MatyjaszThreads: 2 Posts: 1,786 Joined: Jul 20, 06	Dec 15, 08, 16:57 / #
England and Poland are friends. They are giving high five to each other. :o)

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 16, 08, 07:40 / #
Matyjasz, Done deal! How about Poland and Hungary? One of your footballers for one of theirs. LOL To the follow up statement: Hungary and Poland are friends. Definitely!-:)

MarekThreads: 4 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Feb 15, 07	Dec 16, 08, 16:35 / #
On the subject of friendship, there's always Poland and Germany, 'eine schwierige Freundschaft, noch eine aergere Nachbarschaft!' (Willy Brandt) = Polska i Niemcy; trudne przyjacielstwo, gorzieje ___________. Are Germany and Poland really 'friends'? Well, I guess it depends on one's definition of 'friend'. There's an old saying 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. They're certainly not waring any longer. But is there necessarily a friendship between them? Old hatreds die hard: Some never really die, they merely linger-:)