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Briefing Room Polls (Guests Welcome!) => The Briefingroom Polls => Topic started by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 12:59:22 am

Title: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 12:59:22 am
Those of Polish heritage have done many great things for humanity.  There are many, many more than those listed, so if you choose "Other", please post your choice's name.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:02:04 am
Witold Pilecki

(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2010/09/18/pilecki_custom-f5c567f85e246b36f12479e8324186dae663636b-s700-c85.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:04:04 am
Irena Sendler  - Who was beaten out for the Nobel Peace Prize by Algore.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Wingnut on August 26, 2018, 01:07:07 am
Hands down it is Thaddeus Kosciuszko.


Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 01:07:18 am
Quote from: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:02:04 am
Witold Pilecki

(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2010/09/18/pilecki_custom-f5c567f85e246b36f12479e8324186dae663636b-s700-c85.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki

EXCELLENT CHOICE!
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:12:53 am
Quote from: The Ghost on August 26, 2018, 01:07:07 am
Hands down it is Thaddeus Kosciuszko.

And the men of the 303rd RAF Kosciuszko Squadron

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXf1bhEEXd0#)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 01:13:43 am
While he's probably not on the same level as others here, I'm saddened by the thought of good men like Stanisław Skalski fighting hard for Poland during WWII, only to become enemies of the State under Stalinism.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 01:15:01 am
Quote from: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:02:04 am
Witold Pilecki

(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2010/09/18/pilecki_custom-f5c567f85e246b36f12479e8324186dae663636b-s700-c85.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki
Agree completely
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:17:51 am
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Jozef_Pilsudski1.jpg/220px-Jozef_Pilsudski1.jpg)

Jozef Piłsudski - Hero of the "Miracle on the Vistula" (1920)




Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Sanguine on August 26, 2018, 02:46:08 am
Lech Wałęsa followed by Chopin.

Some very admirable men on that list.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 02:56:36 am
Quote from: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:12:53 am
And the men of the 303rd RAF Kosciuszko Squadron

If you're interested in the 303rd, you might be interested in its predecessor, the Polish 7th Air Escadrille -- aka, "the KoÅ›ciuszko Squadron" -- during the Polish–Soviet War.  This was a squadron of American volunteers who fought for Poland.  The 303rd used the same honor badge design as the original KoÅ›ciuszko Squadron.

The Polish 7th Air Escadrille was founded by an American admirer of Tadeusz Kościuszko named Merian C. Cooper, a WWI pilot who later was the producer of King Kong (and many other Hollywood roles).

When WWII came, Cooper was back into service with the U.S. Army Air Forces as a colonel, eventually being promoted to brigadier general.

Here's a page I found with info on him...
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/extraordinary-life-merian-c-cooper.html (https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/extraordinary-life-merian-c-cooper.html)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 03:03:01 am
I encourage everyone to follow that link to wiki about witold pilecki. What can you say about a war hero who agrees to get captured to go into auschwitz to gather intel then manages to escape to get the intel out. In doing so, saves the lives of many who then go on to have him killed when they become part of the polish communist regime.  He was also the leader of the warsaw ghetto uprising.

And if you happen to like heavy metal, the Swedish band Sabaton told his story beautifully:

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvDg7UftJw8&feature=youtu.be#)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: RoosGirl on August 26, 2018, 03:15:59 am
(https://media.giphy.com/media/OiBTf36kjDHZm/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: SZonian on August 26, 2018, 03:27:46 am
Quote from: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 01:02:04 am
Witold Pilecki

(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2010/09/18/pilecki_custom-f5c567f85e246b36f12479e8324186dae663636b-s700-c85.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witold_Pilecki
@dfwgator  Bruh, you win.  Outstanding choice...A true war hero against Fascism and Communism.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 04:02:12 am
Quote from: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 03:03:01 am
And if you happen to like heavy metal, the Swedish band Sabaton told his story beautifully:

Sabaton has some really great topics.  I particularly like how they told the story of John III Sobieski's Winged Hussars in the victory over the Turks at the Battle of Vienna.

Hmmm... I should have listed John III Sobieski, even though he was born in what is now Ukraine.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75zmIj_4LFQ#)


And (also from Austria, not Poland), they tell the story of "The Last Battle"...where a few days after Hitler committed suicide, Wehrmacht Heer soldiers fought alongside American GIs highly outnumbered against a company of Waffen-SS.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whFJGCyeRzI#)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 07:25:31 pm
I love how 95% of their stuff are little mini history lessons.

To Hell and Back
The price of a mile
No bullets fly
Sparta
Resist and bite (probably my favorite)
Lost battalion


So many good songs, so many good stories
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 07:34:25 pm
Quote from: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 07:25:31 pm
I love how 95% of their stuff are little mini history lessons.

To Hell and Back
The price of a mile
No bullets fly
Sparta
Resist and bite (probably my favorite)
Lost battalion


So many good songs, so many good stories

 :beer:
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 07:35:56 pm
Quote from: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 07:25:31 pm
I love how 95% of their stuff are little mini history lessons.

To Hell and Back
The price of a mile
No bullets fly
Sparta
Resist and bite (probably my favorite)
Lost battalion


So many good songs, so many good stories

My personal favorite

Talvisota (about the Winter War)
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-FIFcNwBM#)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: bigheadfred on August 26, 2018, 07:45:59 pm
Jan Sobieski

Some good youtube videos out there.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Gefn on August 26, 2018, 07:57:12 pm
The guy who invented the bagel, the pierogi, etc....

Seriously, some good choices here.  I could have voted for three actually.

Michael Stivic?  :beer:
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 09:02:06 pm
Quote from: Freya on August 26, 2018, 07:57:12 pm
Seriously, some good choices here.  I could have voted for three actually.

I originally had it set to allow three, but that contradicted my request for the favorite.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: dfwgator on August 26, 2018, 09:12:55 pm
Czesław Niemen

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjLZwpmufw#)  (Strange is this world)

This song caused quite a stir in 1967 when he first performed it.   Niemen is considered as the Beatles and Dylan of Polish music.

 
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: roamer_1 on August 26, 2018, 09:13:05 pm
(http://www.use.com/images/s_3/Dance_Stripper_Pole_86c2104885637680e2e5.jpg)

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/23/44/e5/2344e577f2822c623fc41a9b1e5df273.jpg)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Machiavelli on August 26, 2018, 09:21:33 pm
Copernicus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus)

Szymanowski (shim-an-OFF-skee) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karol_Szymanowski)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 09:34:59 pm
Quote from: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 09:02:06 pm
I originally had it set to allow three, but that contradicted my request for the favorite.
@Suppressed
Personally, I think you need to add pilecki as a choice
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Machiavelli on August 26, 2018, 09:41:34 pm
It has been said that humor, in order to be funny, must contain some truth.  Well, I don't find any truth in these jokes but they do make me laugh.  Yes, I'm aware that Slavs were portrayed as subhuman in Nazi propaganda.  However, regarding Poland: It would indeed be difficult to persuade a sane person that a culture that produced Chopin, Paderewski, Pope John Paul II, Copernicus, Walesa, Szymanowski, and many others, is one of "inferior" people.  Moreover, both my late wife and I are 1/4 Polish (in the case of my wife, make that Polish-Jewish) and most likely lost relatives in the Camps.


Have you heard of Alexander Graham Grabowski?
He was the first Telephone Pole.

How can you tell if a Polak has been in your back yard?
Your garbage can is empty and your dog is pregnant.

Why wasn't Jesus born in Poland?
God couldn't find three wise men or a virgin there.

The Polish kid walks into the kitchen where his mom is baking a cake.  He asks, "Mom, can I lick the bowl?"
She yells, "No!  Flush it like everyone else!"

A Polak walks into a doctor's office with a parrot on his head.  The doctor asks the Polak, "What can I do for you?"
The parrot speaks up, "Could you please remove this growth from my feet?"

Did you hear about the Polish coyote?
He chewed 3 legs off and was still caught in the trap.

How many pall bearers at a Polish funeral?
Well, how many handles does a garbage can have, anyway?

When a Polak dies, don't look for the announcement in the obituary section.  Look for it in the improvement section.

In 1969, after the US successfully landed men on the moon, a group of Polish scientists convened to determine how to outdo the Americans.  After considerable discussion and argument, one of the scientists finally yelled, "I've got a great idea!  We'll send a man to the Sun!"
Another scientist yelled back, "The Sun?  Are you crazy?  He'll burn up!"
"No!  No!" responded the first scientist.  "He'll go at night!"

What's the difference between a Polak and a bucket of sh!t?
A bucket has a handle.

Who are the three most dangerous people in the world?
Short books:
How about that team of Polish surgeons!  They just performed the first appendix transplant!

Did you hear about the Polak girl who said she'd do anything for a fur coat?
Now she can't button it.

Did you hear about the Polish prostitute who didn't vote?
She didn't care who got in.

The socialite wants twenty Marines as escorts for her debutante ball so she calls the local Marine base and speaks to one of the sergeants.  She gives him the particulars - time, place, etc.  Then she says, "...and Sergeant?  One more thing!  Don't send any Polaks!"
The sergeant replies, "I'll take care of it, ma'am."
The day and time for the ball arrives.  The doorbell to the mansion rings.  The socialite opens the door and outside stand twenty of the blackest Marines you ever saw!
She sputters, "Th-th-there must be some mistake!"
"No, ma'am." replies one of the black Marines.  "Sergeant Dubrowski never makes a mistake!"

The Polak calls the travel agent and asks how long a flight from LA to NYC will take.  The agent says, "just a moment", so the Polak hangs up.

Why did the Polak climb onto the roof of the saloon?
He heard drinks were on the house.

Did you hear about the blind Polish prostitute?
You really had to hand it to her.

What is gross ignorance?
144 Polaks.

Did you hear about the Polish couple who got married in a bathtub?
It was a double ring ceremony.

How do you recognize the groom at a Polish wedding?
He's the one wearing the clean white t-shirt.

How do you recognize the bride at a Polish wedding?
She's the one with the braided armpits.

A Polak and a Mexican get married and have a son.  They decide to give the son a name that reflects both their heritages, so they call him Retardo.

A Polak and a Greek get married and have a son.  They decide to give the son a name that reflects both their heritages, so they call him Zorba the Dumbsh!t.


Of course, this is all in fun, folks. I don't believe any of this. If you want me to remove it, I will.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: bigheadfred on August 26, 2018, 10:24:27 pm
@Machiavelli

I had a coworker who told me he was half Polish and half Irish. I said that officially makes you the stupidest SOB here. He got really angry at me. (true story)

A Polac goes into buy a chainsaw. Salesperson says this one will easily cut 5-6 cords of wood a day. A few days later the guy brings the chainsaw back. Says it is a piece of junk, there was something wrong with it, and all he could cut was one cord a day. The salesperson takes it, starts it up. The Polac says "what's that noise?"
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Machiavelli on August 26, 2018, 10:29:14 pm
Quote from: Sanguine on August 26, 2018, 02:46:08 am
Lech Wałęsa ...

Gratitude!

Click the pic:

(https://i.imgur.com/baVmItS.jpg) (http://web.archive.org/web/20080511054212/http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005204)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Machiavelli on August 26, 2018, 10:31:00 pm
Quote from: bigheadfred on August 26, 2018, 10:24:27 pm
@Machiavelli

I had a coworker who told me he was half Polish and half Irish. I said that officially makes you the stupidest SOB here. He got really angry at me. (true story)

A Polac goes into buy a chainsaw. Salesperson says this one will easily cut 5-6 cords of wood a day. A few days later the guy brings the chainsaw back. Says it is a piece of junk, there was something wrong with it, and all he could cut was one cord a day. The salesperson takes it, starts it up. The Polac says "what's that noise?"
@bigheadfred
I've heard that!  :rolling:
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 26, 2018, 10:35:10 pm
Quote from: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 09:34:59 pm
@Suppressed
Personally, I think you need to add pilecki as a choice
@Axeslinger

Done.

Added Copernicus, too.  And it allows people to change their vote.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: bigheadfred on August 26, 2018, 10:41:00 pm
I don't know if any of you have been following their immigration policy, but The EU and the USA could learn something there.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Axeslinger on August 26, 2018, 11:15:45 pm


@dfwgator @SZonian

See suppressed’s post two above
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: RoosGirl on August 27, 2018, 01:36:53 am
Quote from: roamer_1 on August 26, 2018, 09:13:05 pm
(http://www.use.com/images/s_3/Dance_Stripper_Pole_86c2104885637680e2e5.jpg)

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/23/44/e5/2344e577f2822c623fc41a9b1e5df273.jpg)

 888high58888
Finally a kindred spirit.
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Wingnut on August 27, 2018, 02:07:20 am
(https://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/half-burnt-telephone-pole-hanging-off-wires.jpg?w=792&h=528)

Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: thackney on August 27, 2018, 12:15:36 pm
(https://res.cloudinary.com/teepublic/image/private/s--8VfoXRo4--/t_Preview/b_rgb:191919,c_limit,f_jpg,h_630,q_90,w_630/v1487075815/production/designs/1220689_1.jpg)

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV30oN2NBHc#)
Title: Re: The Best Pole
Post by: Suppressed on August 27, 2018, 04:24:31 pm
Quote from: Machiavelli on August 26, 2018, 09:41:34 pm
It has been said that humor, in order to be funny, must contain some truth.  Well, I don't find any truth in these jokes but they do make me laugh. 

Every Friday night, I get together with a couple of buddies whose names end in "ski".  They're the first to tell the best Polish jokes.

Throughout history, many Poles have risen above adversity and have been courageous, hard-working, and intelligent...and I put this poll up as a tribute to them.  I'm glad to see so much participation in the discussion.