Absurdities in Poland again

Thanks to one of my Facebook contacts I found out about another court story in Poland. As the links I give can only be read by Polish speakers, I decided to do a short summary this time. Apparently one of Poland’s prominent politicians, one which is actually known and recognised abroad, I would even say, one which is liked abroad, said an unfunny joke in the presence of the wrong audience.

The joke was, according to me, just not amusing, maybe a little juvenile and, probably to most, politically incorrect. It supposedly begun with a question: Do you know that Obama has Polish roots?  The offensive, to some, reply was: his grandfather ate a Polish missionary.

Everyone has their level of sensitivity and their specific sense of humour, so whether you find it hilarious or not depends on so many factors such as age, nationality, upbringing, probably your political orientation, your knowledge of African and Polish history and most likely a few more. Nevertheless to any educated person, I am guessing, this joke comes across as not politically correct, bearing in mind the public figure who said it and the public figure it was about. I don’t see it as racist though. Which is what the Polish Minister is accused of. And I certainly don’t see it  as grounds for taking to court. Which is what certain politicans wish to see happen to the Minister. Poland are you bored???

Poland is regressing/Polska się cofa/Polonia se retrasa

Nagie piersi? Nieobyczajne!

I really believe best is to leave this with no comment

please stop saying Obama is black

1. Of course he is black. But what is the big deal?

2. Yes, he is the first President to be not white. But was this all these elections were about? a choice between black and white? Or were there other differences between the candidates?

3. Everywhere I turn today all I hear is that America has chosen a black men for the White House. Was he not black before he won? Why is everyone making such a big thing out of ethnicity n o w? If being black was so spectacular why wasn’t it the only thing people talked about during the race?

[via donate.barackobama.com]

4. Plus, I feel that emphasizing his colour so much not only takes away attention from the values and programmes he won for, it completely diminishes their importance. Sincerely, looking from the sidelines at the hype about a black President gives the feeling that he would not have won, had it not been for his colour. Which of course is not true. He did not choose to be black or to be born in a period when societies still make a fuss out of a black man’s success. Why point out his colour in his position?  Who are you praising? him for his success or yourself for having evolved enough to look through skin colour?

5. As a bystander, I am astonished at the importance attributed to race. He is black, so what? There are so many other more important qualities to discuss about this man. If all you point to is his colour, is it all you see? Did you pick your head of state for the next for years primarily on his skin tone? If not primarily, why am I under the impression, this is the primary news today? Was all this about “the next step on the moon”? Would you have chosen Oprah for president had she presented herself, to obtain a symbol,  just to achieve that Berlin Wall feeling?

6. Further on, would you have voted for him had he not been black?

7. Had he been white would you have voted for McCain?

8. Lastly, was this vote about America proving to itself that racism is in the past? Would you feel guilty for having voted for McCain, because you’d think not giving your vote to a black candidate means you’re expressing a racial point of view?

If you think the above questions are insulting, a twisting of reality or simply have nothing to do with you, please stop saying Obama is black.