I came to Canada from Poland country 15 years ,and I travel often to Europe,USA all over.I also still have some Polish friends ,and noticed strange thing about mentallity changes of Poles and other E.Europen people in North America.
What I have in mind is dramatic shift to the extreme right even worst than your standard Republican party views.
In my case about 80% of Poles become so xenophobic ,racist,anti gay and cheap,while attending every sunday mass, they think of them selfs as more saintly than Pope himself.As I experienced recently whatever GWBush saiys about Iraq and whole war, to most Poles is holy and beyond questioning.
Their whole view on life changes very dramatically in pursuit of dollars, that often I’m ashamed to be from Poland.
Some of you might remember “great” workers Solidarity movement lead by L.Walesa in 1980 -s,great might only be applied to selling out on a vast scale for a few dollars best factories and throwing millions out of work.
I think most Western European nations have found the Eastern Europeans for the most part are, shall we say, less then liberal and open-minded when it comes to minorities. In Berlin, it is the Russians/Poles/Rumanians who are most often the major perpetrators of hate-crimes. Cite? Well, all I can say is that is the general consensus of everyone I personally know in Berlin - so call it a general perception of the local citizenry. I am sure there are some liberal Eastern European immigrants, but perhaps they choose to remove themselves from the larger masses. One theory might be that those who were oppressed under military regimes for long periods of time tend to oppress others when given the chance - and nothing feels better than kicking the minority when you want to feel superior.
I have to admit ,even I was racist first few years here in Canada but now no more and never will be .some of my friends did not change and older immigrants just stay in their own little world .Old folks are the worst ones.In my case I think Poles and Russians are the worst bunch ,simply viscious people and my advice don’t cross their path.
Hey! -I would understand this hate and discrimination if not for their religiousnes, literally you won’t find one pole who does not go to church and plays saint in front of others.Remember Pope John Paul2 is Polish.
One thing I find hopefull is that young Poles educated in West are very liberal and simply OK.
Yeah, that pretty much squares with the few Poles I know. They generally believe that Ronald Reagan single handedly led them to freedom-- and see GWB II as his heir.
I immigrated to the US from Poland in 1990. I’ve spent a lot of time since then in a Polish neighborhood, and, while I’ve got only one (very, very Americanized) Polish friend, I’ve spent a lot of time around the people.
On the one hand, I’m offended by this topic. I’m not like that. My family’s not like that, and neither are many Polish people I know. Even folks I’ve met living in Poland are pretty decent. I feel like there’s an unfair generalization being made, and it’s insulting to my family and their friends.
I do understand where you’re coming from, though. I see plenty of what is described in the OP, and it frustrates me that the people who I know are good and intelligent and forward-thinking are getting this sort of representation.
I really don’t know. I can’t disagree with you. There are lots of obnoxious, self-serving holier-than-thou Catholics who really couldn’t care less about anyone else. But my grandparents go to Church regularly, and often, too often, drain their bank account in order to help out a friend whose kid needs an operation, a guy they sort of know who needs to get back to Poland, etc. Poland is plagued by racism, I don’t deny it. But when I took my Korean husband over to see the country, we got nothing worse than curious stares, even when walking late at night, and most people who met him were very friendly and open to finding out all about his culture. You’re probably right saying that there are tons of Poles who think Bush is their savior, but all the rap music I listen to says otherwise.
I guess I have nothing more to add. Maybe I’m out of touch with my culture, thinking it’s got some redeeming qualities. All I know is, now I’m really, really sad. 
In Buffalo, a city with a very large concentration of Polish-Americans, Poles tend to be politically liberal – solidly Democratic Party members – but socially very conservative. Old school, pre-Vatian II beliefs reign supreme, and they have a reutation as being prejudiced against other ethnic groups, especially blacks. Not all Polish-Americans, mind you, but there are a lot of conflicts now that middle-class blacks are moving into Cheektowaga, a primarily Polish suburb with a reputation as being VERY racist. Animosity between Poles and blacks dates back to the early 1900s, when Polish immigrants viewed blacks as cheap competition for factory jobs.
You’ve pretty much described my wife’s parents; they’re 2nd generation Polish Catholic dairy farmers in rural Wisconsin. Her dad makes Archie Bunker look like a flaming liberal.
One of the many reasons we don’t associate with her side of the family much…
My husband is from Romania, and tends to be very conservative. He is not very religious, and does not attend Church regularly. I don’t really know his views on American politics… he tends to ignore politics in general unless they affect his INS paperwork or Romania. He is very predjudiced against the Roma (gypsies) and Muslims, mostly because of experiences he had in Romania. He tends to judge other people very quickly based on the way they dress or talk - he can’t stand all the redneck cowboys out here.
Does this apply to all Romanians? Certainly not, just the one that I know.
In Buffalo, a city with a very large concentration of Polish-Americans, Poles tend to be politically liberal – solidly Democratic Party members – but socially very conservative. Old school, pre-Vatian II beliefs reign supreme, and they have a reutation as being prejudiced against other ethnic groups, especially blacks. Not all Polish-Americans, mind you, but there are a lot of conflicts now that middle-class blacks are moving into Cheektowaga, a primarily Polish suburb with a reputation as being VERY racist. Animosity between Poles and blacks dates back to the early 1900s, when Polish immigrants viewed blacks as cheap competition for factory jobs.
I think you just won the award for “Most Time Between Double Posts” 
My parents are Jewish Hungarians who immigrated to the US in 1958. I would describe their current political leanings as moderate Democrat.
Of course the fact that they
- are Jewish and
- came here long before most of the people described in this thread
could make their experiences not relevant for you.