Every time I drive trough Helensburgh I see the sign at the city limits saying „Welcome to Helensburgh – Birthplace of John Logie Baird, inventor of television”. I wonder how it is, that the world follows Anglo-American version of events. Yes, the British once ruled half of the world and their version was taught in […]
Europe
Je suis Voltaire
Recent atrocities in Charlie Hebdo yet again shaked our sense of security and provoked discussions: some call for revisions of our relations with Islam, other – including French president François Hollande – argue, that the attackers had nothing to do with Islam. It is important that while discussing the fanaticism, one does not loose his […]
Is Czech T-mobile ad just a innocent joke, or part of bigger anti-Polish campaign?
Poles cannot laugh at themselves, so the others have to do it for us – says a popular joke. Yet, the amount of Polish jokes could be annoying, especially that most of them just expolit unjust stereotypes. Perhaps this is why Poles seem to be a bit oversensitive and the reaction of Polish embassy to […]
Once upon the time there was an Empire…
Once upon the time, there was an Empire. An Empire that over the years was increasing its sphere of influence – not only conquering the lands of neighboring countries but also by building a network of dependant territories all over the word. This Empire has committed many sins – for example it allowed the population […]
Is Eastern Europe a „place to live” yet?
Translated by Craig Proctor Although at the beginning of his government Polish prime minister Donald Tusk claimed thanks to his polices, soon Poles would be returning home from Ireland and UK en mass. So far this has not happened. Donald Tusk himself lowered the tone and no longer mentions the subject. Yet a growing number […]
Milan Kundera and the West
Milan Kundera is a writer who sits astride between the West and Eastern Europe. Being born in Brno he spent his first half of life in Czechoslovakia. Since 1975 he has been living in France. His work life can be divided into two parts, demarcating two different periods – before and after immigration. This unique […]
Lithuania’s challenges in it’s transition from a Soviet Republic to a free European state.
Although the three Baltic States are often treated as they follow the same path, in fact differences between them are very significant. Especially Lithuania deserves some closer look as, unlike the other two, Lithuanians have long history of being recognized as a distinct ethnic group and separate state – first time this nation is mentioned in chronicles in 10091 […]