BEING POLISH MEANS....?

Being Polish means cherishing the culture and traditions of the 1000 year old nation
in the heart of Europe, enjoying Polish music, literature and arts, reading Zbigniew
Herbert's poems and essays, listening to Chopin's polonaises and mazurkas and rejoicing
being immersed in a unique Latin/Slavic culture and civilization.
It means speaking the beautiful Polish language, our beloved mowa polska which is
"groźniejsza niż burza i od słowików miększa" as Władysław Broniewski once said.
It means praying on a Rosary, honouring the Saint Virgin Mary - the Queen of Poland
and Her Son - Jesus Christ Our Lord. It means to cultivate the memory of fallen heroes
and our great ancestors who created this great nation.
Being Polish means attaching a very high value to the traditional family and patriotic
values, it means standing for something...

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Oct 29, 09, 12:45 / #
Being Polish means driving a German car with the radio playing US pop hits to the French-owned supermarket to buy plastic jack-o-lanterns and Halloween masks for the kids' Halloween party at school as well as hot dogs, frozen pizza, popcorn, Bulagrian wine and Hungarian salami to have something to munch on while sitting on Swedish furniture in front of the Korean TV set to watch American-licenced TV game shows and sitcoms. Comments, clarifications, additional examples???

kiokoThreads: - Posts: 85 Joined: Jan 3, 08	Oct 29, 09, 13:12 / #
This could be about any other nationality...

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Edited by: MareGaea Oct 29, 09, 13:14 / #
That you were born in Poland. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything else is conditioned. But the examples you mention go for indeed every country across the world. It's called modern times. You wanted to be part of it and to stick to national stuff only is outdated. How old are you? 75 or something? >^..^< M-G (tiens)

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Oct 29, 09, 13:33 / #
The point is that Korean, German, Hungarian, American, Italian, Bulagrian and French connections WERE mentioned, whilst Polish ones were not. Does the 'modern world' mean that Poles must become a land of non-owning mercenaries employed by foreign interests? Hell, even the Żywiec beer, Wedel chocoalates, Sobieski vodka, Krakus ham and Winiary mayonnaise consumed Poles are all foreign-owned.

frdThreads: 8 Posts: 1,956 Joined: Feb 3, 09	Edited by: frd Oct 29, 09, 13:53 / #
You are overexaggerating Polonius3, could you type in the threads name in lowercase letters for a change, according to the netiquette writing in capitals is considered as shouting... First flaw is the whole "Haloween" thingie, I have to say that Poland is a country where this "holiday" is nearly nonexistant - it's all about going to cementaries and mourning. We haven't got americanised that much yet. Beside it's happening everywhere, british football teams are owned by Indian bussinessman. We are all using "made in china" products. That's how capitalism works. There would have been many foreign brands owned by Polish folk if we haven't had all the wars and communism raveging the land and canceling all our achievements.

DiceThreads: 20 Posts: 677 Joined: Nov 27, 07	Edited by: Dice Oct 29, 09, 13:58 / #
Dude, that's every nationality. American Budweiser is owned by a Belgian corporation too. It's the New World Order, baby. BTW, I would just skip the "Bulgarian wine". I've never heard of any good Bulgarian wines, have you? frd: could you type in the threads name in lowercase letters for a change Yes, please! I second that motion.

noreenbThreads: 4 Posts: 1,082 Joined: Apr 22, 09	Edited by: noreenb Oct 29, 09, 18:31 / #
Polonius3 Being Polish means driving a German car with the radio playing US pop hits to the French-owned supermarket to buy plastic jack-o-lanterns and Halloween masks for the kids' Halloween party at school as well as hot dogs, frozen pizza, popcorn, Bulagrian wine and Hungarian salami to have something to munch on while sitting on Swedish furniture in front of the Korean TV set to watch American-licenced TV game shows and sitcoms. Comments, clarifications, additional examples??? Being Polish means driving enough good car to contrive with our roads with the radio playing "Trójka" or "RMF FM" station to the nearest supermarket with possibly cheap stuff to buy nice and funny masks for kids for them to have the most wonderful party ever + some ingredients for mum or grandmother who have enough time to make "pierogi" or "sernik" + (for example) frozen pizza for immediate family (usually other food to make a quick dinner)+ a good wine (could be Hungarian) and then having a lot of domestic duties or having fun what for every person means something else. This is a picture taken from polish roads or everyday life. "Being Polish" means a lot more than Polonius3's caricatural picture.

GaaThreads: 2 Posts: 179 Joined: Oct 26, 09	Oct 29, 09, 18:42 / #
Polonius3: Being Polish means driving a German car with the radio playing US pop hits to the French-owned supermarket to buy plastic jack-o-lanterns and Halloween masks for the kids' Halloween party at school as well as hot dogs, frozen pizza, popcorn, Bulagrian wine and Hungarian salami to have something to munch on while sitting on Swedish furniture in front of the Korean TV set to watch American-licenced TV game shows and sitcoms. Comments, clarifications, additional examples??? i'm afraid you accidentaly omitted China... Being Polish means considering yourself Polish. for example Olisadebe isn;t Polish for me.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Oct 29, 09, 18:45 / #
Our American food & wine expert, the late John Beard, was famous for saying: buy the cheapest wine you find acceptable. In other words, be guided by taste and value, not snobbery or price. In line with that advice, I have found Sakar Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon sold in Poland fairly nice. Especially at the price last year of 7.60 zł per 750 ml bottle. It's probably a bit more now, since I understand the PO gang have upped the excise tax.

TorqThreads: 65 Posts: 4,024 Joined: Apr 10, 09 MEMBER	Edited by: Torq Oct 29, 09, 19:11 / #
Polonius3: Comments, clarifications, additional examples??? Being Polish means cherishing the culture and traditions of the 1000 year old nation in the heart of Europe, enjoying Polish music, literature and arts, reading Zbigniew Herbert's poems and essays, listening to Chopin's polonaises and mazurkas and rejoicing being immersed in a unique Latin/Slavic culture and civilization. It means speaking the beautiful Polish language, our beloved mowa polska which is "groźniejsza niż burza i od słowików miększa" as Władysław Broniewski once said. It means praying on a Rosary, honouring the Saint Virgin Mary - the Queen of Poland and Her Son - Jesus Christ Our Lord. It means cultivating the memory of fallen heroes and our great ancestors who created this great nation. Being Polish means attaching a very high value to the traditional, family and patriotic values. It means standing for something...

marionThreads: 1 Posts: 17 Joined: Dec 31, 08	Oct 30, 09, 00:41 / #
Being Polish means being lucky enough to have polish as mother tongue so that any other language seems easy to learn ;) I know about 6 Polish people and they all speak at least 2 foreign languages and they speak it perfectly, I'm always very impressed how gifted they can be when it comes to learn a new language :)

Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58 Posts: 2,314 Joined: Sep 7, 08	Nov 2, 09, 14:51 / #
Being Polish means... being another human in another corner of the world. Speaking Polish language....and looking to learn better English all the time. Women trying to fly UK to get a job....men trying t get a job anywhere (usually). Having a strange latent wish to behave 'American' (probably very disappointing results there). However, always trying to rise against anyone who has got the power =). Being Polish means to be curious about other ppl, races, cultures around the world. Being Polish to a good number means being a Catholic on YOUR OWN TERMS. A Catholicism which is written and followed seperately by each individual....a way of life followed completely due to selfish reasons... Least knowledge about doctrines, theologies and religion. Least knowledge about what you follow and why....JUST GET ME TO HEAVEN! AND TAKE ALL MY SINS. Being Polish is working hard... being Polish earning each unit of money through giving twice the amount of effort any other EU person would give for it (minimum). Being Polish is being a dreamer!... LTB.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Nov 2, 09, 15:16 / #
Being Polish means loving, respecting and protecting the three things Poles have traditonally cherished: God, homeland and family. It means the knightly ethos of helping those in need as well as overflowing hosptiality extended to all and sundry. It means idealism and romanticism in the Mickiewiczian (rather than the Harlequin romance) sense of the term. Do all Poles fit the bill? Of course not, but as in archery, you have to aim above the mark to hit your target.

noreenbThreads: 4 Posts: 1,082 Joined: Apr 22, 09	Oct 29, 09, 19:22 / #
Torq Being Polish means cherishing the culture and traditions of the 1000 year old nation in the heart of Europe, enjoying Polish music, literature and arts, reading Zbigniew Herbert's poems and essays, listening to Chopin's polonaises and mazurkas and rejoicing being immersed in a unique Latin/Slavic culture and civilization. It means speaking the beautiful Polish language, our beloved mowa polska which is "groźniejsza niż burza i od słowików miększa" as Władysław Broniewski once said. It means praying on a Rosary, honouring the Saint Virgin Mary - the Queen of Poland and Her Son - Jesus Christ Our Lord. It means to cultivate the memory of fallen heroes and our great ancestors who created this great nation. Being Polish means attaching a very high value to the traditional family and patriotic values, it means standing for something... How much I like this what Torq said. It's often hard to find people who share similar view at being Polish. Especially among the youngest Polish generations.

derek trotterThreads: 12 Posts: 252 Joined: Apr 10, 09	Oct 29, 09, 19:24 / #
Torq: It means praying on a Rosary, honoring the Saint Virgin Mary - the Queen of Poland and Her Son - Jesus Christ Our Lord. That means Jesus Christ is Duke of Poland? Every time you learn something.

TorqThreads: 65 Posts: 4,024 Joined: Apr 10, 09 MEMBER	Oct 29, 09, 19:31 / #
noreenb: How much I like this what Torq said. It's often hard to find people who share similar view at being Polish. Especially among the youngest Polish generations. Thank you for your kind words, Noreenb. Poland has not yet perished ;)

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09	Oct 30, 09, 16:57 / #
Polonius3: Being Polish means driving a German car with the radio playing US pop hits to the French-owned supermarket to buy plastic jack-o-lanterns and Halloween masks for the kids' Halloween party at school as well as hot dogs, frozen pizza, popcorn, Bulagrian wine and Hungarian salami to have something to munch on while sitting on Swedish furniture in front of the Korean TV set to watch American-licenced TV game shows and sitcoms. Comments, clarifications, additional examples??? Globalization.....get used to it. Also The Bulgarian and French are mere probability. Almost every country in Europe makes wine and anyone can own a supermarket. Also there aren't that many French in Poland. :-p

hancockThreads: 1 Posts: 118 Joined: Oct 18, 07	Edited by: hancock Nov 2, 09, 13:58 / #
Thank you for your kind words, Noreenb. Poland has not yet perished ;) But where is that Torq? Trully in the song? In the worlds true place? Or in our hearts?