Posted on 10/09/2008 2:13:09 PM PDT by lizol
Your opinions on Poland
(CNN) -- As part of its Eye on Poland coverage, CNN is asking its viewers -- including Poles living in Poland and abroad -- about what defines the nation today.
Your opinions on Poland
We are asking:
1. As the country pushes towards the future, what from Poland's past must not be forgotten?
2. What do you think most defines Poland's reputation around the world?
3. Since Poland joined the European Union in 2004, what "new" cultures is the country embracing?
4. Who are Poland's most influential people?
5. What do you think is unique or distinctive about the Poles?
E-mail your answers to poland@cnn.com, send photos and video to iReport.com and we will include the best responses in our coverage.
Here is a selection of your responses:
My families emigrated from Poland in 1896, but both have kept contact via mail since then...even through Nazis and Aparaczeks. In order to understand Poland and its history, you MUST interview a wide selection of the eldest (who remember Nazi occupation; the 80 year olds), middle generation (50ish), 30-somethings and youngest. There is an enormous chasm of differing experiences between even the early 30 year olds and the 20s. The young ones know only the prosperity, not the suffering and sacrifice that caused it, and are NOT being taught any truth of their history in their schools. Many of the Polish teachers served under the Communists and swore allegiance to them and even though the country is free, they refuse to teach the reality of Russian tanks rolling down the streets either from the historically precedented fear Russia will reassert itself or the new desire to put aside all unpleasantness of the past and focus on the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
LOL, those silly folks at CNN. Why don't they ask the question that's on their minds? "Since Poland joined the European Union in 2004, how do you feel about its stance on homosexuality?"
3. Answer is the E.U. doesn’t deserve a great country like Poland.
That’s a perfect answer, and it fits whatever question CNN wants to ask.
Thank you for that, I agree. Just watched the amature youtube presentation “Polish Army”, pretty impressive, gets you to thinking how stalwart this country is. They seemed to have stood with us through some tough times during this WOT (not to mention WW2) and paid some high prices.
Besides, we sure have a strong Polish thread running through our country, bears remembering—and honoring.
I was born and raised in a town northeast of Detroit, Michigan. Many Poles in my neighborhood and town. Great people, strong Catholics, strong families, many were highly-skilled tool & die makers and machinists and mechanical engineers. They kept their houses and yards impeccable. Their delis and food...forget about it!
I’m a Texan but that’s the kind of folks I remember in the Navy. Traveling around the NE with my buddies, I learned that “southern hospitality” wasn’t necessarily always “southern”, the Italian RR workers (families of buddies) around New Castle, PA and the Poles I served with that brought me into their families and made this lonely sailor part of their family, I wouldn’t take for that. Ever.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.