explaining Polish issues to foreigners

08.08.10, 20:39
Due to the devastating impact that the politics of the unfortunate
JarK government and the late president L. K. had on the image of
Poland abroad , I´d like to call upon all of you working in any
language with people abroad to explain to foreigners at least the
basic issues:

- Polish political culture and democracy cannot be automatically
compared with western standards, not even with the Czeck republic or
Slovenia bcuze the process of creating of political elites and
middle-class during the independence was tragically interrupted by
the war
- in the WW2 a further annihilation of Polish elites took place by
the hands of the nazis and to a lesser estent the soviets
- Also the budding of elites in the communist period was stopped but
not replaced by any decent alternative in 1989
- after 1989 a great many pple emigrated, it´s a fair assumption
that there were among them many educated and upwardly mobile pple -
another blood letting of presumptive movers and shakers of the
political life

All this may explain the recent commotion with the strange behaviour
of Mr J.K. its consequences on some segments of Polish society that
is completely unpenetrable for an international observer
e.g. "the cross controversy"
    • roo72 Re: explaining Polish issues to foreigners 13.08.10, 08:43
      Just give up - it doesn't work. Every country's politics is set in its
      history and culture, unless one is a native or a very keen student of
      the given country, one will never be able to understand all nuances of
      what is happening. It's pretty much the same for every country, Poland
      being not different.

      --
      Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
      • altavitae Re: explaining Polish issues to foreigners 27.08.10, 03:20
        roo72 napisał:

        > Just give up - it doesn't work. Every country's politics is set in its
        > history and culture, unless one is a native or a very keen student of
        > the given country, one will never be able to understand all nuances of
        > what is happening. It's pretty much the same for every country, Poland
        > being not different.
        >
        > --
        > Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

        *********************************************************************
        Exactly right.
        Why would I even volunteer any explanation.
        Do I owe to anybody in the West to mediate domestic politics of my country ?
        Surely not!
        In case anybody is interested AT ALL......I would briefly mention ..that CC in
        Poland is(among other things ) spreading political venom ..and the nation has
        enough of it already.
      • klara2010 Re: explaining Polish issues to foreigners 28.10.10, 06:02
        Hello.
        This is a very interesting comment, in the way very sad. I agree with you, but I agree also with a previous commentator. I know that it is difficult to explain to foreigners our situation, our background, but it never should mean, that we should neglect to talk about our country, propagate our history, culture, present situation. We, Poles, we are the ambassadors of our beautiful, great country. If not we, then who? And if not now, then when? Besides who will do it better than us? I wish, the world will know about us much more.... from us and our perspective, not from stranger and his “visitor” perspective only. Although, I really appreciate every “good interest” about my homeland by anybody from the world, and I fell sincerely grateful when I see that, I still believe that is our responsibility to spread around the news about our country.
        Sincerely:
        klara
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