Difference between revisions of "Poland"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Poland has been invaded by Germany, Russia, [[Sweden]] and every other country that could get there, which has resulted in abnormally high concentrations of badassery in the surviving populace. Even Shakespeare has [[Denmark]] at war with Poland in ''Hamlet''. Poland was the location of several [[concentration camp]]s under [[Nazi]] occupation, of which Auschwitz and Treblinka are perhaps the most notorious. Since [[World War II]], however, Poland has been at peace. Apart from those anti-government protests and riots in the fifties. And in the seventies. And the eighties. Eventually the [[Communism|Communists]], after holding power for 40 years, saw sense and agreed to share power with other parties in 1989. Lech Walesa, leader of the [[trade union]] Solidarity, became President and won the [[Nobel Prize]] for peace. He once boasted that he had never read a book. | Poland has been invaded by Germany, Russia, [[Sweden]] and every other country that could get there, which has resulted in abnormally high concentrations of badassery in the surviving populace. Even Shakespeare has [[Denmark]] at war with Poland in ''Hamlet''. Poland was the location of several [[concentration camp]]s under [[Nazi]] occupation, of which Auschwitz and Treblinka are perhaps the most notorious. Since [[World War II]], however, Poland has been at peace. Apart from those anti-government protests and riots in the fifties. And in the seventies. And the eighties. Eventually the [[Communism|Communists]], after holding power for 40 years, saw sense and agreed to share power with other parties in 1989. Lech Walesa, leader of the [[trade union]] Solidarity, became President and won the [[Nobel Prize]] for peace. He once boasted that he had never read a book. | ||
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==The Kaczynski brothers. Seeing double?== | ==The Kaczynski brothers. Seeing double?== | ||
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*The Battle of Wizna, which inspired [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epeQwq-aYV0 this song.] | *The Battle of Wizna, which inspired [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epeQwq-aYV0 this song.] | ||
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==Uncool Polish stuff== | ==Uncool Polish stuff== | ||
Saying you don't believe in the [[Bible]] can get you two years in prison.<ref>[http://www.palibandaily.com/2010/05/08/polish-pop-star-faces-two-years-prison-for-blasphemy/ Polish pop star faces two years’ prison for blasphemy]</ref> | Saying you don't believe in the [[Bible]] can get you two years in prison.<ref>[http://www.palibandaily.com/2010/05/08/polish-pop-star-faces-two-years-prison-for-blasphemy/ Polish pop star faces two years’ prison for blasphemy]</ref> |
Revision as of 02:11, 28 September 2010
Poland is a country in central Europe, east of Germany. Poland's territory, and even existence, has been highly variable throughout history, from being a mere backwater of the German and Russian empires to the stable, democratic republic we see today. The majority of Poles would indentify themselves as being Roman Catholic (whether practicing or by cultural background), and the late Pope John Paul II was himself Polish.
History
Poland has been invaded by Germany, Russia, Sweden and every other country that could get there, which has resulted in abnormally high concentrations of badassery in the surviving populace. Even Shakespeare has Denmark at war with Poland in Hamlet. Poland was the location of several concentration camps under Nazi occupation, of which Auschwitz and Treblinka are perhaps the most notorious. Since World War II, however, Poland has been at peace. Apart from those anti-government protests and riots in the fifties. And in the seventies. And the eighties. Eventually the Communists, after holding power for 40 years, saw sense and agreed to share power with other parties in 1989. Lech Walesa, leader of the trade union Solidarity, became President and won the Nobel Prize for peace. He once boasted that he had never read a book.
The Kaczynski brothers. Seeing double?
In 2005-2007 Poland was one of the few countries in which the head of state and prime minister were not only brothers, but identical twins. The Kaczynski brothers, occupying the top-two slots in government have raised some questions, specifically, how does one know who is who?
Since 2007 Jarosław Kaczyński is no longer Poland's prime minister.
Cool Polish stuff
- Sauerkraut. Dunno about you lot, but I love it.
- Stanislaw Lem
- Madame Curie
- Chopin
- Nicolaus Copernicus
- The Cinema of Poland
- Movie posters -- literally, unlike anything you'd see in the US or the rest of Europe.
- The Three Colours film trilogy.
- Dekalog
- Ashes and Diamonds
- Knife in the Water -- Roman Polanski's first film.
- The Battle of Wizna, which inspired this song.
Uncool Polish stuff
Saying you don't believe in the Bible can get you two years in prison.[1]
Plane crash of 10 April 2010
On 10 April 2010 a plane carrying the President and some 90 other top Polish officials crashed at an airport near Smolensk (Russia) while going to the 70th anniversary commemoration of the Katyn Massacre, killing all on board.[2]
Despite claims of conspiracies this seems to have been an accident caused by a combination of fog/bad weather and human error.