Polish joke: Missile defense shield in eastern Europe

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday June 08, 2007 · 6:36 AM PDT

2007/06/08 · 06:36

Growing up with my grandfather's Polish last name in America in the 1970s had its stresses. Those of you who were around back then might remember that Polish jokes were very much in vogue. I can't say they offended me, but I never really thought of them as funny.

That said, I've just come up with a Polish joke of my own, so please bear with me:

Two Poles are sitting in a bar, discussing world events. "You know," Tadeusz says, "President Bush wants to build a missile-defense shield in Poland."

"That's a good idea," says Wladislaw. "Russia is right there. This shield will protect us."

"Yes," says Tadeusz. "I think it's a good idea, too."

HAHAHAHAHA! Get it? Those Polacks are so stupid! HAHAHAHA!

Actually, two thirds of Poles aren't that stupid, and oppose this pointless base that would only serve to protect against Russian missiles—suggesting that Russian missiles are something to worry about. Acting as though Russia is something to worry about is a sure way to tell the Russians that we don't trust them, that we won't work with them, and turn them into something to worry about. While I don't have the greatest of confidence in modern Russia proving itself as an arbiter of progressive ideas and ideology, this missile-defense plan is worthy of 1980s Cold War paranoia and won't serve us (much less Poland) at all.

Bush proposes missile defense shield in Poland

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.