I’m staying in Poland: Y’all Come on Over
After the nasty attacks on the “Polish plumber” by French anti-EU campaigners (the ones who voted against the new constitution for the wrong reasons, that is), the Polish National Tourism Office has come up with a really brilliant advertising response. (And an excellent poster for freedom of movement, the laissez passer part of the slogan.)
GIVE ME CHOPIN, FRANKIE YANKOVIC, AND DA CRUSHER.
French trades unionists apparently raised the spectre of outsourcing plumbing …
There was exactly one reference to the “Polish plumber” by a politician during the French campaign, by the very right-wing Euro-skeptic (and friend of English Europhobes) Philippe de Villiers. It then took on a life of its own in the media. Other politicians made reference to it only to attack those who seemed to fear Polish plumbers.
Arun Kapil
St-Maur-des-Foss��?���©s, France
Arun,
It doesn’t matter, the French will always — and I mean ALWAYS — be wrong about everything.
How does one say “assholes” in French?
With more than 33% of the French registered as communists, no wonder they are so screwed up about everything. For those who think it is wonderful to migrate and live there, have at it.
Edible is right. Anybody stupid and vicious enough to want to migrate to France, deserves to.
Polish Plumbers Get Plug
The spectre of the ‘Polish plumber’ was frequently raised by the ‘No’ Campaign in France. The response from the Polish Tourist Board in France is…
Polish Plumbers Get Plug
The spectre of the ‘Polish plumber’ was frequently raised by the ‘No’ Campaign in France. The response from the Polish Tourist Board in France is…
Polish Plumbers Get Plug
The spectre of the ‘Polish plumber’ was frequently raised by the ‘No’ Campaign in France. The response from the Polish Tourist Board in France is…
Arun maybe right that only one stupid rightwing politician attacked Polish plumbers, but it did became an issue in the French vote campaign. And not only in France; in Germany it’s more like the “Polish repairman” or “Polish construction worker” who makes so many people afraid. What is there to fear? People willing to work to make things for you? Why is it wrong to want to work? How is the making of more repairs or buildings a bad thing? I hope for a Europe with borders, but without people at the borders stopping people from coming and going to work.
Arun,
George W. Bush used the word “crusade” exactly once a few days after 9/11 and within two days had apologized for using such an impolitic word, even though it was obvious to any fair-thinking person he was not invoking the ghost of Pope Urban at the Council of Cleremont but was merely using a common word in a common way. Nonetheless, ever since then anti-US comentators have pointed to that single usage as “proof” that GWB is just as much of a religious fanatic as Osama bin Laden. Are the endless Polish Plumber references unfair? Probably. Get used to it.
Now, now. Edible and Bleepless are just jealous of France’s excellent healthcare.
I have experienced “France’s excellent healthcare.” It’s better than the health care in Nigeria, but I prefer the health care in the USA. You can get much better and there is more innovation in health care services. Also much more opportunity for high tech treatments that work.
Actually Arun, in my eyes Bush’s unforgivable sin is that thanks to him the world thinks the French were right.
It is good to see that my Polish compadres have an excellent sense of humor. No need to dwell on who said what, when, how often and for what reason. The fact remains that Poland, a lovely place to visit, has gotten a world of free publicity. Kongratuluje Was!
This ad is a very funny answer to – I agree with you – a pathetic comment of a french politician, reflecting an actual fear of a large part of the west-european people (because of xenophoby, fear of the concurrence…). You are right, that comment was awful and completely against the vision of a strong, united, European Union.
But I cannot understand how this can provoque such negative – and badly informed – generalizations about France. And you, in the US, are you ready to completely open your border with Mexico and welcome hard-working mexicans ?
Best regards
p-s : sorry for my english, it’s not my native language
“I have experienced “France’s excellent healthcare.” It’s better than the health care in Nigeria, but I prefer the health care in the USA. You can get much better and there is more innovation in health care services. Also much more opportunity for high tech treatments that work.”
Really?? Do everyone in US and A have access to healthcare system? Maybe US spends more money on R&D, but how many have access to everything??OK, %wise, you are better than Burkino Faso 😉
I find it very funny that “Polish Plumber” responded with such brilliance. There is another story like that. Many years back then Polish president Ignacy Paderewski attended a diplomatic dinner in Paris. He was offered a wine, but he declined responding “thank you, I don’t drink.” The servant asked: how come you don’t drink? In France we say “drunk like a Pole.” Well, responded Paderewski, in Poland we say “gentelman like a Frenchman.” So what does it prove?
pokowuneneyuvecn
nice post