Poles are not racist

It's often older people who are racist in many countries. Japan, China, America, Britain, u name it. Poles are no exceptions here. Xenophobia is not new here

Of course there is an element of racism in all of us, be it white black or yellow. A white woman married to a black man has been known to yell racist obscenities in the heat of an arguement and a black man married to a white woman has been known to do the same etc.

The fact remains that we all all racist in our own ways but what differentiates us (British) from most of other countries is that we have learnt to keep quiet and keep our emotions under wraps and we have also perfected the act of stabbing you in the back while still smiling at you..

And in time the Polish will understand that discretion is a better part of valour.

Didn't know Moscow was in Poland, it's news to me... :/

Don't be so sad, everything ahead of us!

It is strange that a lot of Poles confess to being racist, of their own admission. As I said b4, it stems from the older generation.

although i usually don't side with grzegorz on most discussions, i can't help but think what sound advice it is that if someone expects to have a problem somewhere then it is their responsibility to stay away from that place.

However blazilla may be speaking about his experiences in U.K. only.

I don't think that Poles are racist. However, I believe that Poles are a bit Xenophobic and Nationalistic. Everyone thinks their country/customs are best and make fun of other cultures. It happens all over. I lived in Denmark for a few years and traveled to clients all over the EU. Actually, it was a really interesting experience to see the hangups that everyone had.

Danes thought they were the best and every other culture was backwards. They hated Swedes and Germans. If you were drunk, they called you Swedish. They called Germans what translates into "sausage Germans", but no respectable Dane walked down a pedestrian zone without a hot dog in their hands. I thought that was funny. But those biases go back 400 years to when they were making war with each other. The Danes hated the Swedes because the Swedes declare dindependence in the 1600's, came across the water, beat the Danes and stole their crowned jewels. The Danes hate the GErmans because the Germans defeated them in the 1860's when the King of Denmark abdicated his throne and went to war with Prussia as the Prince of Schleswig Holstein.

The Spanish hate the Portuguese.

Germans don't like the Dutch.

The French don't like anyone.

Northern Italians hate the southern Italians.

Greeks hate Turks.

It goes on and on.

Unfortunately, we do not have that problem in America because we all know that everyone here is from somewhere else. I would prefer Xenophobia to what we actually have here. America truly has racism problem because every country and culture is represented here. There are more problems with the color of your skin than with the culture. Actually Ameicans like discovering other cultures (at least in my section of the country).

I am originally from the Bronx, NY. I can remember walking up the stairs in my apartment around dinnertime and the smells coming from the hallway. I used to smell tomato sauce from the Italian apartments, sauerkraut from the Germans/Ukrainians/Poles, curry from the Indians etc, peanut oil from the Chinese, etc. As a kid, we would eat in everyone's apartment and I loved the exposure to the various cultures.

Anyway, that was a bit long winded and rambling. Sorry about that.

I know I'm starting in on an already well winded subject...... but I'm am both new to this forum and new to this thread.

Also for background.....

I am African American and 27 y/o.... my grandmother is Polish (thus the interest in Poland). I've visited Poland long ago..... 93 and 94 and was only the @ the age of 13 and 14......and remember it too be much different?

and I came to this forum to learn more about Poland before meeting an friend on vacation... and to learn more before I arrive.

I'm somewhat naive about the current perception of poles and blacks (ie African American such as myself visiting) and other people have told me that the current perception of Polish people isn't the same as the statements given on this forum and that I shouldn't perceive Poland this way. And also that I've been spending too much time on this forum? maybe I should just go and see for myself hmmmm.....

But I hate to say this I'm starting to think otherwise.....

In America you can see and know someone who is prejudice but you can also get along with them .... be friends with them even. In Poland I'm starting to perceive that it would be otherwise?

Is this due to a disgruntled polish national perception due to lack of jobs or and lower income in Poland and the thought that African or other people will come and "bottom feed" on already unavailable jobs due to people considering this a gateway to the EU?

forgive my being naive just trying to understand these current perceptions......???

as youve already noticed, different people will give you different answers to your questions and the bottomline is that you can probably answer them through your own commonsense without anyone elses input...

go to poland - experience what it has to offer and then tell us about your experiences which i imagine will be both good and bad

I've not experienced racism in Krakow but then I've not been here long.

I'm Chinese Vietnamese brought up in London and I do get stared at in Krakow but that's normal.

If you don't look Chinese and you go to rural China, you'd get stared at and people would want to touch your hairy arms and legs (talking about men) or stroke your blond hair. You'd get treated special like a national monument. But then there are those who feel down trodden and limited in their lives and disapproves of anyone and everyone who are different.

- And I experienced racism from both Chinese and Vietnamese when I lived in North America. You guys are racist big time e.g. towards White people, including us, Polish folks.

i heard that white people smell funny

Only when they eat certain foods.

what... like mac donalds...?

- From a Chinese or Vietnamese...?

I smelled really funny after the gym last night.. a fine mix of armpit combined with sweaty balls kind of smell.. attractive I know.

polish people are so racist !! what do you guys think your parents would say if you brought a black woman, or a black man home to meet the family !! ya im sure that would go over well.

- And the above statement proves it's you who are racist - towards Polish people. Perhaps because you are from Canada, where Polonophobia and generally racism hidden under the veneer of the hypocrisy called (incorrectly) 'political correctness' is the worst of all the tens of countries I have been to. As for bringing home 'a black woman, or a black man' (sic), is it an obligatory thing to do? If you don't do it, or refuse to do it, then you are a bad guy? Why? And does it follow that any Black woman and Black man must necessarily bring in home White folks and love them, otherwise they are villains?
:)

I wouldn't say that generally poles are racist, but it does disturb me sometimes walking round the streets in the towns and cities seeing this sign.

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hmm that whole Canadian thing is probably true.. am I racist, not really , sometimes, I have black friends, good friends, I deal with colored people all day during work hours, you’re right bringing a black woman home might not be that bad, but trust me your parents are not loving it, regardless if they say anything or not.

I think that’s just the way it is with most European people, older people for sure.

i wonder if this ability to totally turn round a question in such a way to avoid acknowledgement of the point being made is one of the reason poles feel so persecuted?

- You wonder - but are you really keen on answering the question that underlies your wonder? So you suggest the Poles are actually racist but feel being persecuted without any reason, just in order to evade the alleged truth they are racist?

Hmmm, maybe it's you who are racist towards the Poles? Some of your posts - including the one I'm replying to - seem to constitute evidence in this respect. You are really prejudiced against us, in spite of the fact you've been living in our country for - as I understand - quite a while now.



- Not that I'd like to defend the stupid graffiti, but there exists also Jewish racism towards Poles, especially in North America, and the racism is just horrific. It has greatly influenced the general American perception of the Poles and from America has spread to many other countries. Have you ever heard about it...? Do skinheads represent all the Poles? Do British skinheads represent all British?

lol - where did i say this?



am i prejudice against you or is it a need you have to perceive critisism against you in what i have written?

am i persecuting you or am i persecuting your nationality, am i persecuting you without reason or do i have a reason and is this just in your imagination or is it happening?

Negros are racist.

Amen !! to a whole other level, they don’t just verbally abuse you they just flat out put a cap in your ass

- No, I don't believe you're prejudiced against me, Puzzler, on national grounds. I also think you're only playing a hypocrite but are honest by nature.
:)

im actually naughty by nature but try to hide it... doesnt always work tho ;-)

- The type of thinking often encountered in North America: I have 'black friends,' therefore I'm not racist.

Well, but you're racist towards e.g. the Poles....

Who cares, they don't really count, right?
:)



- :)))))))))

Bubby, thou art a gentle innocent lamb!!!!

Here is the answer to your question in a nut shell. Thank you Gregorz and the others for making the things clear to us :) Just in case, if anyone thought that Polish are not racist...
BTW, I think that gregorz is an different kind of racist. He is an educated young man and not your typical toothless white trash redneck, such us you could find them in Canada or US. That in my opinion makes the Polish racist way more sinister and dangerous then in the rest of the world.

No I haven't.

*Edit* Sorry yes of course I have, didn't read it correctly thought you wrote north Africa (its been a long day) :O(


No of course not and I would never make such a generalisation :O)

Is that really true???