Posted on 12/04/2005 10:34:44 AM PST by lizol
Conservative Poland Roils European Union
International Herald Tribune Published: December 4, 2005 By GRAHAM BOWLEY
BRUSSELS - When Polish members of the European Parliament placed an anti-abortion display in a parliamentary corridor in Strasbourg, France, recently, Ana Gomes, a Socialist legislator from Portugal, felt compelled to act, she said.
The display showed children in a concentration camp, linking abortion and Nazi crimes. "We found this deeply offensive," Ms. Gomes said. "We tried to remove it." A loud scuffle ensued as she and the Poles traded insults before the display was bundled away by Parliament guards.
But the matter does not end there. It was the latest skirmish in what some here see as an incipient culture war in the heart of Europe, a clash of values that has intensified since countries from Central and Eastern Europe that are experiencing an increase in the influence of the Roman Catholic Church joined the European Union last year.
In the 732-seat European Parliament, and more widely in the European Union, the clash extends beyond abortion to issues like women's rights and homosexuality.
"New groups have come in from Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Catholicism is certainly becoming a very angry voice against what it sees as a liberal E.U.," said Michael Cashman, 54, a European Parliament member from Britain who has campaigned for gay rights. "On women's rights and gay equality, we are fighting battles that we thought we had won years ago."
With a population of 40 million, Poland is the biggest of the 10 states that joined the European Union last year. It is still uncertain, 19 months later, how Poland, a formerly Communist and overwhelmingly Catholic nation, will fit in with the other members on issues from foreign policy to economic management.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Hey, hey, when did you last buy wodka? Half a litre of Chopin costs about 43-45 zlotys, so a litre of it is about 26$. Not such a big difference. Besides, a Pole who would want to buy Chopin must have something wrong with his brain.
Idealna vodka (Lublin's finest) is best, and about 1/100 the price of Chopin.
And we are thinking of a trip to Poland next summer. I have always wanted to go there and I want to support them in any way we can.
Are there Polish FReepers?
If so, I would be interested to converse with you.
"Eeeeeeeeeexcellent!"
"Fly or not, never LOT"
or in Polish: "Polec LOTem, nie wrocisz z powrotem" - I came by those slogans honestly - over a bottle of Belvedere shared w. some LOT pilots.
I agree though, Poland is a great place to visit - the spirit of the people, their openness, hospitality, wit, creativity, make it a very special experience.
Wysmienity!
Wysmienity....Ok what does it mean? Something nice I hope.
What does it mean according to you? Something not nice I guess. What did you have in mind, explain please?
Wysmienity means excellent.
Thanks and thanks to the excellent Polish products.
I can feel a bit of sarcasm in your post. Am I wrong?
What does it mean according to you? Something not nice I guess. What did you have in mind, explain please?
tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Amazing isn't it how we misinterpret others' comments. I have posted nothing but positive things about Poland and Polish products on this thread and what do I get? Accusations of sarcasm. I simpy asked what the word meant. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. Why do you think I am doing so?
See posts 21 and 21. Is there a problem with ham? In fact Krakus Ham is one of the biggest moneymakers for Poland. I thougt that by posting the websites for the company I was helping to promote it since it's the best.
Kala Xristouyenna!
Sorry, sorry, and sorry once again. I apologize for my paranoia.
Here's another:
Cute... and sad...I think.
I really love Poland...and Russia.
Alisia, Marina, Elena, Ekaterina, Meggie. Polish brides, indeed. If you need a Polish bride don't order her from this website. You'd get a Russian or a Thai or most probably you'd get ripped-off.
Isn't it a bit hard to reconcile? Most guys in Western Europe and US who love Russia honestly hate Poland. There must be something in Polish and Russian culture that makes them almost contradictory. Am I paranoid again?
it means "superb"
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