02 October 2012

People Who Are Polish: A Video And Why We Share

I found this video on youtube and wanted to share it.

It's a slide show of people who are Polish or have Polish roots and who are famous.  Perhaps you might recognize a few?








I also want to explain why I share information about famous Poles and people who have Polish roots, or ancestry. 

It's not about thinking Poland or Polish peoples are better than America or American people.  Neither is better than the other, America and Poland are both amazing in their own ways.  

My children may one day feel inspired to not be ashamed of being Polish American.  I want them to be proud and not bow to Polack jokes or sneers by others. 

I don't want them to feel superior, it's not about that.  It's about celebrating who you are, whatever or whoever you are.  Whether it be Polish, Cherokee, Ethiopian, Indian, or whatever culture your family comes from.

I also want them to understand what it means to be Polish American.  That it is a culture, that we have certain foods, songs, traditions, a language, roots in a far away land where some of our family still lives and who we still have contact with because distance has nothing to do with love and family

It's about growing their souls as little people, making the world more understandable, helping them to become compassionate towards others, giving them the idea that the world is open to them and that they are a part of it.

I want them to also see that America is a land filled with stories like this, full of people who's ancestral ties are with countries around the world, and how wonderful that is, how unique.

I want them to grow, to be, to become, to feel inspired, to truly dream, to be kind, to know.

So, while I get a hard time by some for sharing stories about my heritage, my children's heritage, I just want to say that if you still don't understand why I share, that's not my or my children's concern.

We are here, we are living, we are celebrating who we are while respecting and celebrating who everyone else as well.

As it should be.

Na razie...


4 comments:

Ania said...

I love it that you write from your heart. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Everyone should be as proud of their heritage as you are. Your daughter's will really appreciate the contribution towards the family history and learning the language. Keep sharing the stories as I'm not the only one who enjoys them. Judy from Canada

Stacy said...

I love being Polish! I love that my great grandparents didn't speak English. While it is only a part of my heritage, I celebrate it by continuing Polish traditions in my family and think everyone should do this with their own heritage. We should never forget where we come from!

Kasia Bedus said...

Hi, My name is Kasia too and sometimes I feel tempted to introduce myself as Kathy or Katie but I always go back to Kasia because that's my name. At work I started writing Kasha because people can't pronouce it otherwise. I think that it is really important to remember who you are and where you come from. Even though it would probably help me with my career to get rid of my Polish name but I'm decided to stick with it. I'm happy that you did it too. I found your blog very interesting, I've been in the US for 7 years now and I find the experiance very enriching.