"Warsaw Hearts New York" But Does America Heart Warsaw?

I really have never read an article before and decided to write about it until today.  Actually, the article itself I had no issues with.  It was short, informative, and accurate.  Decent reporting.  I am referring to the article by Fox News (shared by a friend) called Warsaw Hearts New York; Poles Hope for Visa Waiver to Shop Fifth Avenue.

What was called to my attention and which frankly disturbed me was the comments.  Such as:

chunkyscratch 16 hours ago

Stay in Poland...the U S has enough forigners here that dont belong and who drain the system...do it LEGALLY or stay home.Heres an idea,build your own 5th Ave.!

OK, there is just so much wrong in this statement and I am going to conclude that it stems from a lack of education and an upbringing filled with racism and NO interest in facts.  But, I'll try to tackle it with class.

First, the US was founded on "foreigners".  You, sir, are a Xenophobe.

Second, they don't all drain the system.  They keep the system going.  Again, country founded on  "foreigners".

Third, maybe there are some that do.  I won't argue that.  But most don't.  My father worked over 80 hour work weeks when I was young just to barely feed us and we never went for assistance.  I would say, perhaps the issue of the system being abused should be taken up with the crackheads, drug addicts, parents who don't care for their children, gang members and criminals.  Now, I've never met a "foreigner" who was any of those things.  Just saying.

Fourth, the Polish tourists and others coming here to visit are doing it legally.  Perhaps you have an issue with another group of "foreigners" who you feel are coming over illegally.  But what you are unaware of, is that people from Poland must take a plane to fly over to the USA and without doing it legally, they can't do that.  There's no sneaking over.  It's called the Airport.  You know, TSA and Customs and Border Protection. 

Fifth, your grammar and spelling are atrocious. 

I am going to sum this one up with "Apparently, VERY apparently, you have never travelled anywhere on a plane before and certainly never to another country.  Enjoy your trip to Walmart."  Yes, I went there.  I am very repulsed right now.

pictish 15 hours ago in reply to desertdry

Then they are probably breaking the law import taxes are the reason things are more expensive in Europe and Im not sure where you are getting your rates from the pound is stronger against the dollar than the zloty and so is the euro which pretty much covers most of europe

pictish 13 hours ago in reply to pictish

I am very much aware of what VAT is as well as the fact that if you bring back goods to the  EU over a certain total value you are required not only to pay VAT but also duty on them as well and you  are required by law to declare them when you enter the country, there are strict limits on alcohol, tobacco as well as pretty much everything else, the maximum you are allowed to take in as a traveller is around $450 of goods that dont come under alcohol and tobacco allowances. Thats not exactly high end shopping.

I can't even tackle this one without spending all day explaining tourism, VAT, duty, global economy, a breakdown of economic growth by country, and so on.  I will just say, go get an actual education.  I see you know how to use the Internet a little bit to get some facts (hence why you had to comment twice, the second time with a bit of facts), but you still have no clue.  And, again, I notice the grammar and spelling really could use some working on.

nasibal 16 hours ago

It is good to have allies as long as we don't have to look for those staying here without a Visa and enjoying all the American benefits. And who is going to monitor those coming in without Visa's? Oh a new Department?

Apparently nasibal does not grasp that there are other countries who's citizens come over to the USA all the time without Visas and there is not "Special" or "New" department monitoring them.  It's called Department of Homeland Security.

Also, so it's good to have allies as long as they don't have to touch your precious American soil while your immigrant grandfather, great grandmother, or whoever came over here and did, right?  OK.

I'm really surprised at some of the comments on this story.  Before you comment, please know your facts.  The Euro is destined to fail without the "Former Eastern Bloc" countries finally taking up that currency, in fact, that is a huge controversy in Europe right now.  Those who know want Poland and other countries to finally start using the Euro. 

Also, we former Easter Bloc country citizens are not communists.  Again, know your history.  After our populations were devastated by the Nazis in WWII and also by the Soviets during their "liberation" (but it's not considered a war crime because the treaty signed by good ol' Uncle Sam and England with Russia), we were handed over as consolation prizes to the USSR to with what they pleased.  And they did exactly that.  25 years later, Poland's economy was the LEAST affected by the world economic crisis and in fact had positive growth.

I find it shameful that while I live in the US (coming over LEGALLY, thank you very much) on my wedding day, none of my family from Poland could be here.  Not one.  Because they couldn't afford to pay for the visas and wait the long period to see if maybe MAYBE nice America would let them come to see me be married.

Poland is the strongest support of America with Afghanistan and Iraqi conflicts.  There is a lot going on mutually between the two countries which BENEFIT the USA.

Poland and her people are NOT your issues with illegal immigrants.  Trust me.  You have an open border just south of you and are not able to monitor it and if you find someone who is here illegally from you-know-where it is discrimination.  Open your eyes.

Since Poland is not a threat but rather an ally of the USA, there is no reason for the Visas.  Trust me, my family in Poland does NOT want to come here to live.  It's too expensive and there is nothing to do but work and come home and sit around the house or spend money.  The lifestyle over there is much easier for travel, entertainment, family, etc.  They just want to come over and pump their money into our economy by being tourists. 

Trust me, they DON'T want to live here.  Poland has a really good thing going on right now.  So, take your racism and narrow mindedness and go yell at a tree for being a tree instead.  Or hey, I have an idea, get educated and learn who is taking advantage of your welfare programs here or who is staying illegally and get rid of them instead.  You know, the people you actually have a problem with but you can't figure out who to blame because of your racism.

But then, why should I be surprised at some bigoted comments?  After all, I have heard it all my life.  Even from my own in-laws, who are grandchildren of immigrants and making comments about how "foreigners" are ruining this country.  No, the thing that will ruin this country will be racism and a lack of proper education and global perspective.

If this doesn't make things clearer, I suggest listening to a country song by Brad Paisley called "American Saturday Night".  It's about as American as you can get.

My last comment on this is that I love this country.  I mean, I live here.  So, let me share with you what the Statue of Liberty reads:

"...Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Happy Memorial Day to you and may God Bless America and the other countries of the world.  Because America is the commingling of all the countries and cultures of the world.

Writers Edit:  I found this article after writing the above and find it very interesting.  The Polish Tiger  "With its newfound economic and political clout, Poland is increasingly leaving the United States out in the cold."