[Spirited]

"For now, the biggest question mark is whether Poland can get its domestic house in order."

America loves to Polish joke with derission because they make good targets, gentle (for the most part) and forebearing (often characterized here as "dumb"). Poland is only the best friend for the moment in which it is willing to do whatever Uncle Sam wants.

The statement above is a case in point. Poland has needs, we are dangling carrots. How many other countries have had to get any domestic house in order to qualify for the millions we drop in laps. Did Iraq? Did Foxey Mexico? Russia? India? etc. etc.

If it is true that the meek will inherit the earth this is one group of people who qualify by nature. Only God can protect them because they have had no other champion for many centuries and they love the U.S. too much.

[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'.

[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

[Petronski]

We would all do well to remember that when the German Enigma code was broken in Britain in 1940, it was done on the back of some mathematical work done by Poles and smuggled out of Poland by those same mathematicians in September 1939.

Anyone telling Polish jokes should be asked to sit down with slide rule and pencil and break the Enigma code.