General News Thread

[2Bad]

I'm glad brexit was about economics and definitely not racism

[SeiKeo]

burn out btfo!!

[Elthanes]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7929561.html

The Poles are really hoping they can get the EU to strangle them.

I don't think they'll ever get tired of warming that up without actually going through with it. Mostlikely because deep down they know that they don't have a chance but it's useful as an internal stabilizer

This is true of most of the East bloc satellites, but Poland is easily the worst about it, what was its desire to be an authoritarian, theocratic ethnostate and all.

Did you forget Hungary?

[2Bad]

Did you forget Hungary?

No. It's a very close 2nd place.

[Snow]

You know I find it immensely amusing how you're calling Poland, out of everyone, an 'East bloc satellite'.

[2Bad]

You know I find it immensely amusing how you're calling Poland, out of everyone, an 'East bloc satellite'.

...Because it objectively was one? Poland, the GDR, Hungary, etc? The old East Bloc satellites. What argument are you trying to make?

e: unless you thought I was suggesting they are STILL satellites, instead of simply using a blanket designation for the group

[Five_X]

East bloc is outdated, we have the CISterhood now.

[2Bad]

East bloc is outdated, we have the CISterhood now.

Well that's a matter of the former REPUBLICS, which is a different issue altogether (mind, it doesn't even encompass all of those but again, different issue).

[Snow]

...Because it objectively was one? Poland, the GDR, Hungary, etc? The old East Bloc satellites. What argument are you trying to make?

e: unless you thought I was suggesting they are STILL satellites, instead of simply using a blanket designation for the group

Both Poland and Hungary were, as you're aware I'm sure, quite powerful players on european soil for literal centuries before the Eastern bloc, or the concept of Eastern Europe for that matter, were even a thing.

The point I'm trying to make is that orientalizing eastern European countries in Year of Our Lord 2017, when the USA is more a Russian vassal than any European country, comes off as ignorant.

[Mattias]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...-eu-immigrants

Smart, v smart moves all around

Maybe this will solve the issue with Poland at the same time. A million suddenly displaced Poles probably wouldn't be too keen on voting for the same groups that got them deported.

[2Bad]

Both Poland and Hungary were, as you're aware I'm sure, quite powerful players on european soil for literal centuries before the Eastern bloc, or the concept of Eastern Europe for that matter, were even a thing.

The point I'm trying to make is that orientalizing eastern European countries in Year of Our Lord 2017, when the USA is more a Russian vassal than any European country, comes off as ignorant.

These points are nonsense though. We're talking about their modern economic and political situations. Those are DEFINED by their past as Soviet vassals and their touch-and-go relations with the West post-1989, not any long lost cultural memories of the commonwealth or the empire. The idiot in Washington has no relevance to Western-Former Satellite relations and is an irrelevant point.

E: In fact in Poland's case in particular much of the nationalist constructed identity exists as an explicit rejection of the Polish past as a power player, because the notion of the Poles as victims is so central to it.

[Five_X]

E: In fact in Poland's case in particular much of the national identity exists as an explicit rejection of the Polish past as a power player, because the notion of the Poles as victims is so central to it.

I haven't heard anything resembling this from any Polish person I've ever known. Or even in Poland, for that matter.

[2Bad]

I haven't heard anything resembling this from any Polish person I've ever known. Or even in Poland, for that matter.

A rephrasing: it's the byline of Polish NATIONALISTS. Which is relevant, because that's what the government currently is.

[mAc Chaos]

So America's national identity is Trump now?

[LJ3]

It can be?

like it or not, our country's reputation is a big part contingent on current administration policies let alone persona

[rxrx]

Which is maybe why N. Korea is suddenly so bold. They must have think America is a joke now since they pick a clown as their president.

[Snow]

These points are nonsense though. We're talking about their modern economic and political situations. Those are DEFINED by their past as Soviet vassals and their touch-and-go relations with the West post-1989, not any long lost cultural memories of the commonwealth or the empire. The idiot in Washington has no relevance to Western-Former Satellite relations and is an irrelevant point.

E: In fact in Poland's case in particular much of the nationalist constructed identity exists as an explicit rejection of the Polish past as a power player, because the notion of the Poles as victims is so central to it.

Among former soviet ruled nations you will find, if you look past often very bellitling and condescending coverage they get in western media of course, a WIDE variety of political, economical, and social situations. Using eastern bloc as a relevant blanket term serves no purpose but to perpetuate the same condescending rethoric in this case, it doesn't mean or explain anything else. I'd call that a nonsense personally.

Polish past as a power player is a historical fact. Poland getting the short stick in the 20th century is a historical fact. The latter happens to be more recent so of course it would resonate with people more.

[I3uster]

we do understand that this call for reparations is purely to rouse a nationalist anti-EU sentiment though right

like we didnt just forget that and leave that somewhere

[Snow]

Calling out the fact that certain countries are often thrown into the same bag based on criteria with no root in current reality =/= supporting nationalism in Poland.

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I would not say I fully support but I fully understand the anti-EU sentiment at least.

[I3uster]

sure sure i just dont want to let it go under in your reasonable fiscussion about reasonable things that these people are in fact insane