posted
I do not know whether you've heard anything about that problem. For the last few months Polish relations with both Russia and Belarus are... appaling. For thos who don't know- Poland, Belarus and Russia are middle/east european countries. Our language and culture have always been very similar, virtually tha same. But after 1989, when Poland broke the Iron Curtain and joined the democratic West (joined as far as system is concerned, 'cause economicaly she's not gonna catch up for a long time), Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and so on, fought and won their freedom too. In spite of appearing on a map, Ukraine and Belarus were still under russian rule. Only last year Ukraine, with great polish prop, became democratic and independent (from Russia). Belarus is the last totalitarian (strong word, but I forgot the one - authoritarian?) state in Europe. After losing Ukraine Russia, with Putin as her president, stopped to like poland anymore. So did Belarus. Strange thing began to happen- children of Russian embassy employees were attacked on Warsaw (capital of Poland) street and finished in hospital. After sometime polish embassy workers in Moscow were found lying on a street, unconcious. And again, and again. Russia is, and always has been, a very powerful country, Poland only once, in XVI century, when Poles managed actually to enter Moscow and occupy this city for over two years. Russia announced that the day of getting rid of Poles from Moscow is now a national holiday. Now, in 2005, after 400 years... There are millions Poles in Belarus, but they are being dicriminated, arrested and so on. In yesterday news thay said that thay have been given new weapons (from russia), and are beginning to "build defence". I, needless to say, am a Pole. And I, needless to say, am beginning to be a little scared. Putin is going to change Russian law, only to become a president for next cadency. Nice isnt it? It looks as though soviet union isnt dead yet.
(Putin was KGB colonel in USSR)
Posts: 723 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
It sounds like all the nations there have commited some type of crime against the other. I guess no one just wants to apologize?
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Well, think of it this way: It took 400years for the Russian government to gain the courage and honesty to admit that Russia was once occupied by Poland. A little courage, a little honesty has a tendency of leading to true democracy. And a truly democratic Russia is in Poland's best interests.
It's almost 200years since Canada kicked US butt, and most Americans still think that the US won.
I'm thinking our government is not really doing anything other than talking. There are Polish people suffering in Belarus? Well either grant them the full rights, which would enable them to come to Poland if they wanted, or honestly tell them you don't care. Do something.
Then again, I'm not sure I understand what Szymon is afraid of.
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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It's almost 200years since Canada kicked US butt, and most Americans still think that the US won.
Its not that Americans thought they won against Canada, its most of us not knowing we even fought Canada. (Not that the distinction is much better.)
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I have an idea: How about we continue to send our politicians to Washington DC, and every couple of years Canada comes and burns it down for us? It's win-win!
posted
I'm afraid of their thirst for power, both of them, Lukaszenko and Putin. But then, I've heard we are US best pals, so I shouldnt be afraid. And we are in NATO..
I havent seen you for long, Kama, stesknilem sie;)
Posts: 723 | Registered: Dec 2004
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