Working the Poles and the polls

Visiting Poland to get the Polish-American votes?  Nice touch Mitt Romney.  Last week, invited by world-famous Solidarity leader and former Polish President Lech Walesa, presidential candidate Mitt Romney, his wife Ann, and son Josh, traveled to Gdansk and Warsaw.  Romney met with Lech Walesa, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Bronislaw Komorowski, and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. 

By the way, most Poles don't realize that the last name of their president means an elephant's tooth.  That would explain his stabbing political agenda.

In general, the reception was very positive and warm.  Poles greeting Romney on the streets felt important and hopeful again after unfulfilled promises of President Obama.  Besides United Kingdom, Poland is the most loyal and steady ally of the United States in Europe.  

As for the political views, Poles still remember the influence and pressure on the Soviet Union from Ronald Reagan to end the communism in Eastern Europe.  Although the Polish transformation to a free market economy after 1989 was somehow rocky, overall, people are much better off then under the communist rule. 

We all know the visit was directed to Polish-American voters back at the States.  Large Polish diaspora cannot be ignored.  But it's a two way highway - Poles back at the States must mobilize and show up at the polls in great numbers, regardless of their political views.  Why bother to vote?  

Voter turnout is on the rise and out of about 60% voters, a slight majority of 31% or 1/3, will actually make a decision for the rest of the country.  Voter IDs laws and other ways to curb voter fraud will most likely have an impact on this election.

So how can you work the Poles at the polls?  What's important to an average Polish citizen?

1. Remove tourist visa requirements for Poland already - don't worry they won't flood US with mad carpentry skills and smuggle tons of vodka 

2. Polish forces are/were involved in Afghanistan and Iraq - promises of construction and supply contracts were never fulfilled - Poland needs some solid gestures

3. Install the missile defence system - Bush giveth, Obama taketh - well almost giveth, but Poles are convinced that EU/NATO alone won't be able to defend Poland from a sudden attack

What reception President Obama would receive?  I'm sure positive as well.  So all comes down to who can work the Poles at the polls the best.

Polish medals count at the 2012 Summer Olympics

The official website for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London provides great county profile for each of the participating counties.  You can learn about the athletes, competitions, and number won medals. 

Photos by Ambrozjo at SXC

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Poland was able to win 10 medals, 3 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze.  

So far, London has been difficult for Poles.  Can the athletes squeeze out more medals this year?

One most positive accent of the Olympics is the mass turnout of Polish fans, both from Poland and living in the Great Britain.  Some estimate the number of recent Polish migrants at around 1 million.  No wonder London turns white and red around the Olympic venues when Poles compete. 

                              Total medals: 10

Athletics: Men's Shot Put - 1 Gold - Tomasz Majewski

Athletics: Women's Hammer Throw - Anita Wlodarczyk

Canoe Sprint: Women's Kayak Double (K2) 500m - 1 Bronze - Karolina Naja and Beata Mikolajczyk

Rowing: Women's Double Sculls - 1 Bronze - Julia Michalska and Magdalena Fularczyk  

Sailing: Men's RS-X - 1 Bronze - Zofia Noceti-Klepacka

Sailing: Women's RS-X - 1 Bronze - Przemyslaw Miarczynski

Shooting: Women's 10m Air Rifle - 1 Silver - Sylwia Bogacka
 
Weightlifting: Men's 85kg - 1 Gold - Adrian Edward Zielinski

Weightlifting: Men's 105kg - 1 Bronze - Bartlomiej Wojciech Bonk
 
Wrestling: Men's 84kg Greco-Roman - 1 Bronze - Damian Janikowski

Go Poland!  The whole country is watching and hoping for more medals!

I was always fascinated with shot put athletes.  Wikipedia defines shot put as "a track and field event involving "throwing"/"putting" (throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy metal ball - the shot - as far as possible".  For me, it's simply a poor man's cannon from the Medieval era.  Besides, Poles are great with their balls.

Polish volleyball team 1st in the World!

Courtesy of pzps.pl

The good times just keep rolling in!  Just today, another success of Polish athletes: 2012 Volleyball FIVB World League Finals championship title after beating United States during the tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.  They are taking home a grand prize: $1,000,000.  That kind of money can buy a lot of volleyballs.

You can read more on the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball website:

“I am very happy, it is a historical moment for all of us,” Poland captain Marcin Mozdzonek said. “We won against one of the best team in the world, USA. I hope we will continue playing this way.”
The 2012 World League is Poland’s first international title since the 1976 Olympics, which adds to their 1974 World Championship crown. Since coach Andrea Anastasi came on board after a 13th place finish at the 2010 World Championships, Poland recorded their previous best ever World League result at last year’s edition finishing third, before claiming bronze at the European Championships and silver at the 2011 World Cup. Anastasi has now won five World League titles – two as a player for Italy (1990, 1991), two as a coach of Italy (1999, 2000) and now one with Poland.  

Some remarks from Polish team captain, Marcin Możdżonek, after the Semifinals win with Bulgaria.

It seems that the Polish Volleyball Federation or Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej (PZPS) is doing much better job with the Polish team than the Polish Football Union (PZPN) during EURO 2012.

The one drawback about this tournament is the inability to watch the games on TV in the US.  One would think that ESPN or one of the major TV networks would have a live coverage of the Volleyball World League.  Especially, when the US team is playing.  We all know that beach volleyball rules but please, some compassion.  Well, once again, thank you Internet, thank you Al Gore!

Could anyone watch that tournament on TV in US?  
As for the Polish team: keep slamming that ball!

EURO 2012 - Go Poland!

During the first and inaugural game on Friday, June 8th, Poland had a great chance to win the match with Greece.  The great UEFA website tracks all the scores, dates, and venues.

The first half was awesome!  Poles were masters of the pitch, like energizer bunnies.  Robert Lewandowski with an assist from Jakub Błaszczykowski, both playing for Borussia Dortmund, scored a goal, and the game became dramatic.  Sokratis Papastathopoulis got a red card and Greeks where left with 10 players.  

Things changed during the 2nd half.  Greeks had nothing to loose and they attacked strongly with Dimitris Salpingidis scoring an equalizer at 50th minute.  

But wait!  The game got even more twisted in the 69th minute when Polish goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczęsny got a red card for a foul on Salpingidis in front of the goal.  Out for Szczęsny, in for Przemysław Tytoń, penalty kick for Greece.

And the miracles do happen!  Tytoń denied the penalty kick by Giorgos Karagounis.  Instant hero.

The final sore remained 1-1.  Poles could win this match but just couldn't get it together during the 2nd half.  I hope they learn from this performance and get ready for Russians on Tuesday.  

For the football lovers or soccer lovers in US, you can get a great Adidas Euro2012 Repliq Ball White/black Size 5.

EURO 2012 starts today!

EURO 2012 aka UEFA European Championship is starting today, in Poland and Ukraine, with an inauguration ceremony at the National Stadium (Stadion Narodowy) in Warsaw (Warszawa).  The ceremony will be followed by the first Group A match: Poland vs. Greece.  


Go Poland!  My score prediction is 2:1 for Poland.  Will see.


If you have an AT&T service, or whatever other service listed on the site, you can watch live feeds on the ESPN website.  This is a great way to follow this third largest sporting event in the world, right after the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.  


16 European teams in 4 groups will compete for the 2012 European Championship.  


Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic
Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal
Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia
Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England


Poland and Ukraine completed an astonishing number of projects despite the worldwide recession and Euro financial troubles.  Even though Ukraine is not a member of EU, the country led to EURO 2012 to be organized together with Poland.  


Thank you for that Ukraine, Poles know about your commitment.


Despite some unfair reports from BBC and other Western media, Poland is ready for the challenge.  New roads, hotels, train stations, and above all, friendly Poles welcome all the teams and their fans with open arms.  Polish traditional bread and salt welcome was a huge hit and a surprise to many foreign teams.  Italian team was greeted at the Krakow airport, Irish team had a welcome ceremony in Sopot (near Gdansk). 


But the best welcome, not surprisingly since he was born in Poland, went to Lukas Podolski who plays for German team.  On June 4th, Podolski turned 27 so during the practice in Gdansk, 11,000 Polish fans sang the traditional Happy Birthday "100 lat" (live a hundred years).  Check out the video from the event.

If you are the lucky ticket holder, enjoy your time.  Thanks for visiting Poland!

President Obama appologizes for "death camp" blunder

After a worldwide outrage over President Obama's "Polish death camp" remarks during the Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony posthumously recognizing Jan Karski, Polish resistance fighter who made the West aware of the German Nazi death camps, the official apology letter from Barack Obama was finally delivered to the office of Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski.

As reported on my previous post, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor, tried to control the damage issuing a video statement to assure the world that President Obama simply misspoke during the ceremony.  However, in his letter to Obama, Polish President asked for an official statement of apology from President Obama.

The letter from May 31st, 2012, was posted on the Polish President's website.  Copy of the actual letter is included below.

Thank you for your letter of May 30.  I was proud to honor Jan Karski with the Medal of Freedom, our nation's highest civilian honor. My decision to do so was a reflection of the high esteem in which the American people hold not only a great Polish patriot, but the extraordinary sacrifices of the Polish people during the Nazi occupation of the Second World War.

In referring to "a Polish death camp" rather than " a Nazi death camp in German-occupied Poland," I inadvertently used the phrase that has caused many Poles anguish over the years and that Poland has rightly campaigned to eliminate from public discourse around the world. I regret the error and agree that this moment is an opportunity to ensure that this and future generations know the truth.

A we all know, the Polish people suffered terribly under the brutal Nazi occupation during World War II. In pursuit of their goals of destroying the Polish nation and Polish culture and exterminating European Jewry, the Nazis killed some six million Polish citizens, including three million Polish Jews during the Holocaust. The bravery of Poles in the underground resistance is one of history's great stories of heroism and courage.

Moreover, there simply were no "Polish death camps." The killing centers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Treblinka, and elsewhere in occupied Poland were built and operated by the Nazi regime. In contrast, many Poles risked their lives - and gave their lives - to save Jews from the Holocaust.

That is why I paid tribute to Polish victims of the Holocaust during my visit to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in April. It is why I was honored to pay my respect at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier and the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto during my visit to Warsaw last year. An it is why, during the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 201, I commended the government and people of Poland for preserving a place of such pain in order to promote remembrance and learning for the world.

I know well the bonds of friendship between our two countries. I was proud to welcome you to the NATO Summit in my home town of Chicago, which is home to the largest Polish community in the world outside Warsaw. As President, I have worked with you to strengthen the enduring ties between our nations so that our alliance is stronger than it has ever been.

Poland is one of America's strongest and closest allies. We stand united in facing the challenges of the 21st century in Europe and around the world, and I am confident that, working together, we can ensure that the unbreakable bonds of friendship and solidarity between us will only grow stronger in the days and years ahead.

Part 1

Part 2

For years, Polish government and Polish diaspora organizations around the world, pursue the historic truth and stomp out any attempts of World Word II revisionism shifting the blame for the Holocaust, killing millions of non-Jewish citizens, death camps, concentration camps, and work camps from Nazi Germany to then-occupied Poland.  

1939-1945 was a very painful period of Polish history, hopefully, this well publicized mistake will spread awareness throughout the world.

The nation that doesn't preserve it's true history, it's on mercy of its adversaries.

Polish May 3rd Constitution Day Parade - Chicago

They did it again! Today, the Polish Constitution Day Parade, in celebration of signing of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, marched on South Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago. It's a great celebration of this important document (second such Constitution in the world after US) and a way to remind Americans that Poles are a huge part of the Chicagoland and the United States. Check out my slide show with some parade pictures. 

What really impressed me was the abundance of Polish language schools, represented by students, teacher's, and parents. Polish schools from all over Chicago and surrounding counties showed up in great number. Considering the cold temperature - thank you for your commitment.  It's a great feeling knowing that the second and third generation of Poles are learning the language and, most of all, the Polish culture. Knowing from a personal experience, the kids sometimes don't see the benefit in learning any of the above, but later in life they look back and cherish their memories and the time spent in Polish schools. 

Is Polish language irrelevant in the world? Far from it. There are 38 million Poles living in Poland with 21 million of immigrants and their descents living abroad. With the business opportunities in democratic Poland, tourism, and rich culture, Polish language is very handy. Not to mention the European Union integration, immigration, and business.  Besides, if a person learns one language, learning another is quite easy.

Happy Constitution Day! Maybe I see you next year in downtown Chicago.

Poland is ready for EURO CUP 2012

After years of preparation, construction, and political bickering, Poland and Ukraine are ready for EURO 2012 European Football Championship.  And by football, I mean soccer - just to be clear with US readers.  The tournament kick-off begins on June 8th in Warsaw with the final on July 1st in Kyiv.  UEFA president Michel Platini, is still unhappy with the state of new venues in both countries and hotel room prices in Ukraine.  I presume, bitching is his job.

Poles and Ukrainians, on the other hand, are ecstatic.  Poland gained four great stadiums, new roads, and new highways that will serve for years to come.  All of the host cities completed all the construction projects for supporting infrastructure: train stations, new bus lines, new hotels, parking lots, and metric ton more - yes I used metric system to make a point.  Some claim, Poland escaped recession with all that money spent everywhere.  For the Eastern European countries to accomplish project of such proportions - is a success. 

Will regular folks enjoy some profits and stack of zlotych (Polish currency) serving the tourists?  They sure will.  Since the hotel room are gone long time ago, there are plenty of private rooms and apartments for rent for the tournament.  Some accommodations are tight but who would complain about the room having a blast with kielbasa and high octane beverage enjoying Polish hospitality?

Check out the fast motion videos from the construction site of the National Stadium (Stadion Narodowy) in Warsaw.   

Host cities in Poland: Warszawa, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan
Host cities in Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Donetsk, Kharkiv

Foreigners speak out about Poland

If you ever wanted to get an independent and fresh opinion about Poland, now is your chance.

Check out those great videos from virtual Poland website called Polandia where foreign exchange students and recent immigrants share their stories about the Polish experience.  You can also watch it on YouTube.  Search word: Polandia 

Here's Roco Spencer from the US.  Surprise, surprise: he loves Polish girls.  He even married one.  Would you consider visiting Poland after watching those vids?

 

                                            Video: youtube.com

Polish anti-Catholicism or anti-clericalism?

Photo by dimitri_c on SXC

Recently, in overwhelmingly Catholic Poland, more and more voices question the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.  Latest debacle with Telewizja Trwam (Catholic religious TV station) and blatant exclusion from acquiring digital spectrum for the HD conversion in Poland, is just a cherry on the top of the angry mob rants.
While going through some of the Polish-language blogs, for the moment I felt like being at some anti-Catholic convention.  Plenty of the posts are merciless (yes, pun intended) and vicious.  Are Polish Catholics really that disappointed with the Church or they are just plain anti-clerical?

The theme is similar: priests make too much money, their cars are too expensive, fees for sacraments are too high, parishes ask for funds to repair churches, blah blah blah.

And of course, if you can't stand the Church, leave.  There are plenty of other religions available to make your mind spin.  But don't think they print money, oh no, you will pay.