Why Poland loves America

BBC ^ | 5/31/03 | Nick Thorpe

[VOA]

The Poles remember with extreme affection what Ronald Reagan did for them in
the 1980s. They were both freedom fighters.

The Poles seem to be better judges of the character of American Presidents than about
half the voters in the USA are.
But I guess that comes from centuries of enduring and overcoming a bunch of
@$$holes for neighbors (and a few internal Quislings).

Aside from (IIRC) a park in honor of Reagan at Gdansk, there's a link to the Reagan Found.

http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/honors/default.asp?ItemID=13

[WFTR]

Somewhere, I still have my old "Solidarity" button. The Cold War was won because Ronald Reagan had the courage to fight for a win, but a big part of that victory came because the Polish people began the revolution against tyranny. For your freedom and ours!

WFTR
Bill

[martin_fierro]

<|:)~

[lilylangtree]

Ping

[isthisnickcool]

I emailed them that I wanted to buy some shirts and also wanted to know if they have any US dealers.

I used to race motocross. Rode CZ's, Mako's, Bultacos, etc. The Europeans make some nice stuff.

[martin_fierro]

The Junak looks an awful lot like a Honda Shadow Sabre.

[pankot]

Jeszcze Polski!

[WaterDragon]

Historically, Poland's military has been of the highest excellence both in bravery and skills. What has always weakened her was the lack of unity and wisdom in the ruling elites of the past who continually made duplicitous secret alliances with Poland's enemies in order to hang onto their wealth and power over the peasants..

The Nazis and the USSR surely have been a profound lesson for Poland. But she will always be vulnerable to powerful neighbors whose only interest in her is to exploit her.

Germany's response that no portion of their military will EVER serve under Poles is particularly nasty. It underlines the deep contempt the Germans have always had for Poland.

Other European states have always feared Poland's tendency to prefer more democratic government; Poland had a rudimentary democratic government in the Middle Ages when the rest of Europe chose despotic, totalitarian monarchies. Those despots feared that the plague of Polish liberties would spread to their own countries.

The history is there. The Poles haven't forgotten, nor has the rest of Europe.

[WaterDragon]

It is absurd to say Poland and Turkey are alike. As for old Communists still in power in Poland, some of them were very happy to see the USSR fall.

Poland has many problems but is struggling hard to get her feet on the ground. How does it help to heap undeserved scorn on that nation that has been an excellent ally (unlike the Turks)?

[WaterDragon]

The Cold War was won because Ronald Reagan had the courage to fight for a win, but a big part of that victory came because the Polish people began the revolution against tyranny. For your freedom and ours!

Exactly!!!!!

[jwh_Denver]

Andrzej Tyszkiewicz

Reminds me of living in Chicago and names like this were common among the the many Poles there. A whole lot of consonants with a pinch of vowels.

[ntnychik]

ping!

[b4its2late]

We love Poland too!

[IYAAYAS]

Thanks for that link. Some of those slat lamps are VERY cool. Do you know where I can buy some of the stuff on that page? Doesn't seem to say.

My sister in law just bought a new Land Rover and put a pink and purple "POLISH PRINCESS" plate on the front. My brother refuses to drive it...smart girl.

[IYAAYAS]

slat=salt

[NormsRevenge]

LOL.. Thanks. Nice bikes.. All we need are some chicks!

[Tennessean4Bush]

I propose we gradually move all our bases out of Germany and into Poland and some of the other Eastern European countries who could really benefit and appreciate our presence.

[LibKill]

Bravo Poland!

We won't forget.

[GretchenEE]

German anger
But Poland's alliance with the US on Iraq is already having a profound affect on relations between the new and old members of the European Union.
When Poland accepted the mission, its leaders expected that an existing international battalion - including German soldiers - would form the core.
But the Germans said No.

Well well. How one's actions / words define the condition of the heart! It appears Germany's WWII defeat yet would hide its views of superiority toward Poland and "Sudentenland," and that America has yet raked for it, exposing such loathing and superior beliefs in Germany's heart.

Surprise, Germany (my relatives of whom I am exceedingly ashamed): you are going down if you keep this up. Poland is very close to God's heart for all her sufferings; He is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Polish).

[enuu]

It is true that governments and leaders make decisions for practical and strategic reasons. However, there is something else going on, an appreciation and connection among the average-man-on-the-street in countries that feel supportive of one another's values. Right now I believe there is genuine good feeling among the regular folks of Poland, Australia, Britain and the USA.