Polska Chata

[rdywenur]

A fairly new Polish Deli in my neighborhood. They recently moved into a new locaton (just across the street but larger and nicer) Also a small restaurant that has a limited menu but all the important things we love.





Warning !!!!!!Enter at your own risk. For a look around will leave you wishing and wanting all..........
www.polskachata.us/galleries/72157601245666131

[Jaga]

I wish I lived closer and was able to visit it! The assortment looks very delicious.

[nathanael]

The neighborhood is nice but the Polish flag hanging below the American flag rattles me even though I am American! I do not know where the law stands on this, but I have never seen in Europe or elsewhere anything similar. In all European countries, all EU flags are of equal size and fly on equal level. In Cracow, wherever there is a international language school on Karmelicka and Dunajewskiego Streets, all the participating nations have their flags not below each other, but on equal level. In Rome, the same thing. Why can't the same respect be afforded to Poland in the U.S.? Is not this attitude of "submission" what gave birth to the raise of the "Polish jokes"? It boils down to a basic mutual respect that nations owe each other!

[rdywenur]

Nathaniel.........beacause they are sharing the same flag pole that is the law....so when in the US you would not be flying the Polish flag above the American flag. That is the law. You say you are an American. That surprises me as all your posts have always given me the impression you are a Pole living abroad.

When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States (the viewer's left). When the flag is half-masted, both flags are half-masted, with the US flag at the mid-point and the other flag below.

[nathanael]

First of all, being a U.S. citizen and an English scholar, I can tell the difference between a "halyard" and a "pole"! The law you cite does not say that the U.S. flag must be higher because of the pole, but only because there is a single halyard! When there is a single halyard, then this is understandable: a halyard can not be shared! But a dignified solution can easily be found: you mount two separate halyards on a single pole! I have seen this done all over the world, and it works! And please don't get me wrong: I am not advocating that the Polish flag be hoisted above the U.S. flag (Rdywenur's words). This indeed would have been an insult. All I am saying is that the Polish people have equal dignity and need not play a second fiddle to anyone! That is how Polish flag is treated in other countries: equally! I don't believe that America is different!

[hollister]

I think the best thing to do would be to contact the store directly and express your concerns to them.

[nathanael]

Hollister, perhaps it would. But it doesn't hurt that we vent these "grey area" national pride disagreements in public. Remember what the New York Philharmonic did recently in North Korea when the Koreans tried to pull the exact same thing on the U.S. delegation, lowering the U.S. flag a notch with respect to the Korean flag? The Americans said, no way, it won't happen on our watch! Then they meticulously put the American flag on the same footing as the Korean, even at some personal risk! If Americans know what is national pride, it's time that also we! And don't forget that this applies equally to the "Polish jokes"! Because Poles have been negligent in fighting this worldwide scourge, people abroad began to think that using Polish jokes is O.K. ... with Poles! Not me! I have been writing for years to my legislators to enact a prohibition of Polish jokes. Contacting directly those engaging in this offense of our ethnicity may help, but it certainly isn't enough! Incidently, I did write to "Polska Chata" also.

[jimpres]

Nathanael,

It has always been the procedure for the American flag to fly higher then any other. I think it is only on American soil.

[rdywenur]

Here is an example of two flags (these right in my backyard that I just noticed for the 1st time). It looks like an American flag and the flag of NY State. I'll need to check when I drive by for a closer look. Not sure why the two flags are there in the first place. I think it is only an ambulance business there.

[polskachata]

Hello Everyone,
My name is Melissa and I am the owners daughter. I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to compliment our store, it really does mean a lot to see the publics opinion on something that we truly do put a lot of hard work into. In regards to the flag...I dont know exactly where it says we have to fly our flag below the American flag but it does somewhere. It is against the law to fly another countries flag above the American flag and since we had to get approval to put that huge flag pole in front of the deli the Town of Irondequoit made sure that we followed the law in this matter. Also we were told that we could not just fly the Polish flag the American flag had to be there too because we are in America.

Come and check us out we renovated the place and now serve a delicious fish fry on Fridays.

[dbkaczor]

hi melissa,
i think its wonderful that your family has given the rochester community the polish store. we have a small store here in haverhill, ma called wally's. it sells polish foods and items from poland. when i am not making my own pierogi or golumki i get my quick fix there. i am thankful for a store like that 5 miles from where i live. i am sure you meant no harm with the flags and wanted to display your polish one out of pride. we do what we have to do, no?

[Jaga]

Hi Melissa,

how wonderful that you visited our forum! I wish I lived closer and could visit you sometimes.

Do you have any internet website or do you sell products also online for people who do not live in your neighborhood?