[Little Ray]

The Japanese are doing this, too. Why don't we do this here?

I'd love to see the NEA hacks puking over this...

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Don't know a whole lot about Poland, except that it is a poor country. They seem to need something to pull the country together and a patriotic education seems good...

[68skylark]

He compared with the United States, "where even immigrants have to learn the national anthem and the American constitution".

Unfortunately, it may be more correct to say that, "only immigrants have to learn the national anthem and the American constitution." They need this information to pass the citizenship exam.

People who are citizens by birth get only a small amount of this in school. Most patriotism comes from daily living outside of school.

While kids are in school, many teachers want to deliver the opposite of patriotism -- they want to talk about why American is so awful.

[weegee]

The last week has also seen several large demonstrations, where young people have demanded the rapid demise of the controversial minister.

Sounds like PC doublespeak to cover them demanding that he "die now".

[lizol]

Eastern European ping list

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[MadIvan]

The Polish national anthem is pretty rousing -

POLISH LYRICS

Jeszcze Polska nie zginela,
Kiedy my zyjemy.
Co nam obca przemoc wziela,
Szabla odbierzemy.

CHORUS:
Marsz, marsz, Dabrowski,
Z ziemi wloskiej do Polski,
Za twoim przewodem
Zlaczym sie z narodem.

Przejdziem Wisle, przejdziem Warte,
Bedziem Polakami,
Dal nam przyklad Bonaparte,
Jak zwyciezac mamy.

CHORUS

Jak Czarniecki do Poznania
Po szwedzkim zaborze,
Dla ojczyzny ratowania
Wracal sie przez morze.

CHORUS

Juz tam ojciec do swej Basi
mowi zaplakany:
"Sluchaj jeno, pono nasi
bija w tarabany!"

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Poland has not yet succumbed.
As long as we remain,
What the foe by force has seized,
Sword in hand we'll gain.

CHORUS:
March! March, Dabrowski!
March from Italy to Poland!
Under your command
We shall reach our land.

Cross the Vistula and Warta
And Poles we shall be;
We've been shown by Bonaparte
Ways to victory.

CHORUS

As Czarniecki Poznan town regains,
Fighting with the Swede,
To free our fatherland from chains,
We shall return by sea.

CHORUS

Father, in tears,
says to his Basia:
"Just listen, it seems that our people
are beating the drums."

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I'd love it if our national anthem was as rousing and martial.

Regards, Ivan