The foreign owned mass media in Poland, especially the popular web portals, continue the misinformation campaign directed toward the Polish immigrants. The issue is not new but the level of the subtle negativity is growing.
Whoever is controlling the misinformation, is trying to influence the view of the so-called “Polonia” (Polish immigrants) presented to the Poles in the home country.
For the most part, the online articles are shallow and misguiding. The latest example comes again from the onet.pl portal. In the photo journal story titled “Jackowo i Polakowo. Zobacz, jak żyją nasi rodacy w USA“, a dozen random pictures from New York City Brooklyn’s “Little Poland” and Chicago’s “Polish Village” summarize the life of Poles. The commentaries point out what you can expect to find in those Polish enclaves using the term “Polish ghetto”.
One must wonder why certain elements in Poland really despise Polish immigrants in the U.S. Is it because they had a chance for a better life? Perhaps the negative campaign is design to discredit the well established Polish organizations overseas that disagree with the current Polish political leaders with questionable agenda?
You cannot generalize the life of an immigrant. Yes, a lot of older Poles don’t speak English but that fact doesn’t prevent them from working or establishing businesses. Yes, their own businesses, ran with limited English! That’s the beauty of the America. If you want to succeed, the doors are open. Is that what rubs you the wrong way? The ability to come to America and become a successful individual?
The traditional inner-city Polish neighborhoods are changing all over U.S. Slow but constant migration to the suburbs in search of better schools, safer streets, and larger housing is a new reality for all immigrants. Someone said that America is not a melting pot of cultures but rather a jar of marbles; all different but coexisting and working together. Poles have a long way to go when learning to coexist with other cultures but surprisingly, they do very well in America.
Is it all pretty and bubbly? Of course not. Like with any other social group, Poles have their share of misconduct and black sheep. But it’s not a national failure but rather an individual choice of people that just took a wrong turn in life. Coexistence and respect is a two-way highway. Americans don’t force their culture on anyone but if you don’t diversify your experiences and refuse to discover new ways of interacting with people, you will be stuck in the past.
Polish immigrants and Polish-Americans are a well respected group. Americans value our cultures and admire the will to push forward. It’s a stubborn handyman “Polack” that will lay your roof, fix your car, and take care of your kids while cleaning your house. Yes, immigrants must start somewhere but you have no right to put them down with some one-sided articles. You have no idea how it is to start a new life in a new country leaving all that you knew behind. No idea.
And if you think you have an idea because you spent 6 months in Germany or Ireland working some construction jobs, wait about 5 years and then revisit your thoughts. I guarantee, you will look at your life very differently.
So, my message to every Pole behind the nasty comments below every anti-American or anti-Polonia article on the who-the-hell-knows-who-controls-and-pays-to-get-us-fighting-with-each-other website is this: Stop being a tool!
