Post by polskiadwokat on Nov 4, 2008 11:41:10 GMT -7
Today, I received an email that Senator McCain had reached out to Polish Americans over the weekend via a last minute conference call with a McCain Coordinator. With the election on our doorstep, I was suprised the Senator took so long to take an interest in Polish Americans. For me, it was too little, too late.
To be honest, I was a little offended.
Today, over ten million Americans claim Polish heritage. Poles were among the very first settlers at Jamestown over 400 years ago. Polish generals assisted our young nation in its quest to gain independence and helped preserve it during our Civil War. Poland's Solidarnosc movement and the efforts of the Polish-born Pope were instrumental in bringing the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Polish soldiers die alongside their American counterparts in Iraq. Despite this, my Wujek Andrej still can't seem to get a tourist visa to visit the United States. What happened to our political voice?
Earlier this year, the Polish American Congress sent out questionnaires to John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama regarding visa waivers and other issues affecting Polish Americans. Only Mr. Obama felt it was worthwhile to respond. As a result, I find him the only worthwhile candidate to vote for.
Barack Obama's answers to the PAC questionnaire reflect similar statements he made a year ago upon welcoming Polish President Lech Kaczynski to the United States. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Obama noted Poland's many contributions to our nation. He acknowledged the contributions of Ignacy Paderewski, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, and Casmir Pulaski in the cause of freedom. He praised Pope John Paul II as a man who "kept the faith when faith was forbidden." Obama's words demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the historical importance of Polish contributions to the United States. Of course actions speak louder than words. How do they help Polonia today?
Well, plenty. His support of waiving visa requirements for Poles is a good start. I always found it ironic that Polish citizens needed a visa to visit the United States while the citizens of former WWII axis powers Italy, Germany and Japan did not. Mr. Obama also stated that education is the ally of democracy. Part of his belief includes devoting greater resources to support higher education in nations like Poland. This includes financing studies and exchanges of Polish and American students as well as educating a new generation of Americans to know and understand Poland and the challenges before it. It is important that younger Americans are exposed to Polish culture. How many of our students realize that Copernicus, Madame Curie and Chopin were Poles? Do they learn about Thaddeus Kosciuszko's efforts in the Revolutionary War?
If you review Mr. Obama's agenda, you will see that it includes real issues affecting the everyday lives of Polish Americans. His platform includes cracking down on mortgage fraud, increasing our nation's energy independence, creating affordable healthcare, reforming immigration, cutting the income tax for working families, and investing in US manufacturing jobs. These are the issues that affect all Americans.
Our nation desperately needs to move in a new direction. We have lost our moral voice abroad. We are losing are brightest young men in a drawn out war. Americans are losing homes in record numbers. Euros are now being accepted in New York City as the dollar weakens. We need real solutions to problems, not short term repairs. We must come to a point where the status quo can no longer be acceptable.
As a Polish American, I think that Senator Obama is more in tune with the needs of Polish Americans. As a state senator from Illinois, I can only assume he has experience dealing with the Polish community. He is well liked throughout the world and seems to express the ideal that the United States is the land of opportunity.
I feel he is the stronger candidate. In my humble opinion, Polonia has a strong voice. That that voice should be for Barack Obama.
Adrian Mark Baron, Esq.
To be honest, I was a little offended.
Today, over ten million Americans claim Polish heritage. Poles were among the very first settlers at Jamestown over 400 years ago. Polish generals assisted our young nation in its quest to gain independence and helped preserve it during our Civil War. Poland's Solidarnosc movement and the efforts of the Polish-born Pope were instrumental in bringing the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Polish soldiers die alongside their American counterparts in Iraq. Despite this, my Wujek Andrej still can't seem to get a tourist visa to visit the United States. What happened to our political voice?
Earlier this year, the Polish American Congress sent out questionnaires to John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama regarding visa waivers and other issues affecting Polish Americans. Only Mr. Obama felt it was worthwhile to respond. As a result, I find him the only worthwhile candidate to vote for.
Barack Obama's answers to the PAC questionnaire reflect similar statements he made a year ago upon welcoming Polish President Lech Kaczynski to the United States. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Obama noted Poland's many contributions to our nation. He acknowledged the contributions of Ignacy Paderewski, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, and Casmir Pulaski in the cause of freedom. He praised Pope John Paul II as a man who "kept the faith when faith was forbidden." Obama's words demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the historical importance of Polish contributions to the United States. Of course actions speak louder than words. How do they help Polonia today?
Well, plenty. His support of waiving visa requirements for Poles is a good start. I always found it ironic that Polish citizens needed a visa to visit the United States while the citizens of former WWII axis powers Italy, Germany and Japan did not. Mr. Obama also stated that education is the ally of democracy. Part of his belief includes devoting greater resources to support higher education in nations like Poland. This includes financing studies and exchanges of Polish and American students as well as educating a new generation of Americans to know and understand Poland and the challenges before it. It is important that younger Americans are exposed to Polish culture. How many of our students realize that Copernicus, Madame Curie and Chopin were Poles? Do they learn about Thaddeus Kosciuszko's efforts in the Revolutionary War?
If you review Mr. Obama's agenda, you will see that it includes real issues affecting the everyday lives of Polish Americans. His platform includes cracking down on mortgage fraud, increasing our nation's energy independence, creating affordable healthcare, reforming immigration, cutting the income tax for working families, and investing in US manufacturing jobs. These are the issues that affect all Americans.
Our nation desperately needs to move in a new direction. We have lost our moral voice abroad. We are losing are brightest young men in a drawn out war. Americans are losing homes in record numbers. Euros are now being accepted in New York City as the dollar weakens. We need real solutions to problems, not short term repairs. We must come to a point where the status quo can no longer be acceptable.
As a Polish American, I think that Senator Obama is more in tune with the needs of Polish Americans. As a state senator from Illinois, I can only assume he has experience dealing with the Polish community. He is well liked throughout the world and seems to express the ideal that the United States is the land of opportunity.
I feel he is the stronger candidate. In my humble opinion, Polonia has a strong voice. That that voice should be for Barack Obama.
Adrian Mark Baron, Esq.