No Joke: Poland is our best friend in Europe

The Weekly Standard ^ | 02/03/03 | Matthew Kaminski

[justa-hairyape]

America loves to Polish joke with derission because they make good targets

From the Polish point of view, its a whole lot better being on the recieving end of mindless jokes in America then it is being on the recieving end of a tyrants sword in Europe. As far as needing a champion, you seem to forget that one of Polands Nobleman sacrificed his wealth and his life being a champion for our country in its time of need. Look up Casimir Pulaski, the 'Father of the American Cavalry'. We Poles can wait for you to 'catch on'.

[dfwgator]

Don't forget Kosciuszko. And thanks to King Jan Sobieski, Europe isn't Muslim, and thanks to Sikorski, Europe isn't Bolshevik.

[txzman]

The Poles have a VERY long history of fighting for freedom in Europe, America and other countries around the globe.

As far as I am concerned, they are a very welcome group of friends.

[justa-hairyape]

And on a slightly humurous note, you can actually thank a Pole for that great tasting creation, the Bagel.

"...The first bagel rolled into the world in 1699 when a baker wanted to pay tribute to Jan Sobieski, the King of Poland. King Jan had just saved the people of Austria from an onslaught of Turkish invaders. The King was a great horseman, and the baker decided to shape the yeast dough into an uneven circle, resembling a stirrup. The Austrian word for "stirrup" is beugel.

So there it is. It all makes sense now. Not only is the bagel a wonderfully delicious "stirrup" of fresh baked dough, it is also an icon of freedom. King Jan's courage and strength speak volumes, and the hand rolled bagel is a noble way to capture that spirit.....enjoy your hand rolled bagel at Bagel Guys.

[singletrack]

No Polish blood in me, but from years of living and working with Poles,you're the best.Pretty girls, good cooks and Dyngis day makes St Patricks day look like a Morman wake.

[lorrainer]

Pokey--Thanks for posting this--I'm verklempt...

PROUD TO BE POLISH BUMP

A great thread...

[Ichabod Walrus]

Don't forget the Bosnian Muslims and the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Good allies to have in the war on terrorism, too.

[Paradox]

The Poles have a VERY long history of fighting for freedom in Europe, America and other countries around the globe.

This goes WAY back to the revolutionary days.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko

His statue is in Washington DC, in front of the White House.

The Poles are our friends.

[College Repub]

They helped the nazis identify all the Jews in Poland better than any other country. 90% of the Jews in Poland were killed in the holocaust. That's a higher percentage than any other European country.

[ccmay]

America loves to Polish joke with derission because they make good targets, gentle (for the most part) and forebearing (often characterized here as "dumb").

Polish jokes exist because there were vast numbers of Polish immigrants who arrived here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of them spoke not a word of English, and stupid, ignorant nativists assumed this was because the Poles were stupid or ignorant.

Polish jokes are practically unknown in Europe, and a source of mystery to Europeans who associate Poland with Chopin, Madame Curie, gutsy Lech Walensa, lovely old cities like Krakow, and brave, doomed cavalry charges against the Nazi tanks.

Even in this country you don't hear Polish jokes all that often any more. My school-aged kids have never heard one.

-ccm

[Pyro7480]

There were Nazi collaborators in all countries that were invaded by Germany in Europe. It doesn't give special notice to the Poles. The Vichy government in France did the same thing.

[Pyro7480]

If I remember correctly, there are squares in Warsaw named after George Washington and Woodrow Wilson, and they were trying to name another after Ronald Reagan, but I don't remember if that went through.

[ccmay]

They helped the nazis identify all the Jews in Poland better than any other country.

That is to the everlasting shame of those individuals who collaborated. It detracts nothing from the majestic history of Poland, nor from their friendship and support for America at our own times of need, in the Revolution and now.

Don't forget that they also had one of the largest, least-assimilated, and most conspicuously traditional Jewish populations going into the war, and that they were occupied longer than any other country during the war. And as I mentioned, great numbers of them fought side by side with us, especially in the Royal Air Force.

-ccm

[Slyfox]

How astonishing it must be for someone from India or Zimbabwe or Haiti to read about Americans so fat they are having stomach operations to lose weight.

Well, all I can say is that it is very nice to have the choice.

We feed the world, don't forget.

[Campion]

From the Polish point of view, its a whole lot better being on the recieving end of mindless jokes in America then it is being on the recieving end of a tyrants sword in Europe.

I think the Polish joke died as a genre when Archie Bunker left the airwaves and was replaced by Lech Walesa and Karol Wojtyla. Men who stood against the might of the Soviet empire armed only with a flag, a slogan, and their faith aren't good humor material, they're heroes.

[Campion]

90% of the Jews in Poland were killed in the holocaust.

Along with a whole lot of Polish Christians.

[rbmillerjr]

The Poles are with us.

The French and the Germans are not.

[Spirited]

Sorry the holocaust there cannot only be applied to Jews. They holocausted hoardes of Ukranians but no one mentions that.
The Germans so mistreated the Poles that the horrifying occupation of the Russians pales by comparison and Still the Jews are the only ones about whom it is PC to speak.

Who is going to cry out for the German or Dutch Christians who were "offed"? Most of those spoke out to try to save the Jews but the Jews have almost nothing to say about them.

[RightWhale]

The Poles have a VERY long history of fighting for freedom in Europe

Lifting the siege of Vienna is one notable moment.