Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:43:50 -0600
From: rudnicki@gmail.com
Subject: Zarty Senatora Spectera

 

Witam,
Dzisiaj wlasnie dostalem wiadomosc o Polish Jokes, w wykonaniu Senatora Arlena Spectera.  Otoz na spotkaniu w Commonwealth Club na Manhatanie, znany Senator zapytal: "Czy sa tutaj Polacy"?  Pokazalo sie okolo 10 rak sposrod setek obecnych.  Senator opowiedzial wiec kilka "Polish jokes" w tym jeden o facecie, ktory mial jakoby przerwac Mu powiastki, mowiac,  "hej, careful. I'am Polish".  Na co Senator: "That's OK. I will tell it more slowly" (cyt. za http://www.nypost.com/seven/12132008/gossip/pagesix/specters_strange_humor_143925.htm )
Niby nic, a jakze wiele... Wielu z nas slyszy rozne stare "Polish Jokes".  Chociaz niektore z nich maja swoje kulturowe uwarunkowania, to jednak w zdecydowanej wiekszosci bylyby niedopuszczalne, gdyby zamiast "Polacks" znalazly sie okreslenia innej narodowosci lub religii.  Stad tez nadszedl czas, abysmy zareagowali na te pozbawione smaku zarty.  US Senator nie powinien byc ich zrodlem.  
W zalaczeniu przedstawiam propozycje listu, ktory wyslalem na adres Senatora, wraz z odpisami do polskich i amerykanskich wladz i instytucji, Czlonkow Komisji Etyki Senatu US oraz wielu osob, ktore moga byc zainteresowane problemem.  Mysle, ze nadszedl czas, aby w sposob zdecydowany powiedziec, ze niektore zarty nie sa dowodem dobrego smaku.
Jezeli uznajecie Panstwo Protest za sluszny, prosze o wysylanie faxem listu do Senatora. Zalaczony list jest jedynie propozycja dla Panstwa uznania.  List wyslany emailem na adres Senatora wrocil, jako nienadany z Pennsylvanii (Okreg Wyborczy Senatora Spectera).. Jezeli ktos zna realny adres emailowy Senatora, prosze o wiadomosc.
Tel/.fax do Biura Senatora ponizej, adres Biura w Washington, DC jest zawarty w tresci listu. 
Tel: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229
Lacze Zyczenia Swiateczne i Noworoczne,
Marek Rudnicki.
 
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Marek Rudnicki, MD, PHD, FACS
195 N. Harbor Dr. # 5002
Chicago, IL 60601
rudnicki@gmail.com

                                           December 14, 2008

The Honorable Arlen Specter

The United States Senator

711 Hart Building
Washington , DC 20510

 

Dear Senator Specter,

I am writing to express my strongest objections against the tasteless jokes that were told at the Annual Commonwealth Club Meeting last Friday, as reported by several newspapers (http://www.nypost.com/seven/12132008/gossip/pagesix/specters_strange_humor_143925.htm ). Your humor is insulting not only to the large group of Polish Americans but also to any person of Polish origin. In addition, as evidenced by the New York Post article, it is also considered tasteless by people of other religious, ethnic or cultural roots including the main stream media. It is time that jokes felt offensive and degrading by any nationalities, whether Irish, Italian, Japanese, Jewish, Polish, African American or any other ethnic, religious or cultural group, should be eradicated from public discourse. I would have expected that seasoned politicians with years of experience like yourself could lead that effort and provide the best example.

As one of the 10 million of Polish Americans, I expect that a full apology addressing the insensitive “Polish jokes” will appear in New York and Pennsylvania media outlets (including New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer). In addition, I implore you to meet with a group of Polish American leaders either in New York City, Philadelphia or Chicago to address Polish contributions to build the American Statehood during the last 400 years of Polish presence in the United States.

Sincerely,

Marek Rudnicki, MD, PhD, FACS

 

cc. President, Republic of Poland

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rep. of Poland

Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Washington

Polish Consulates New York, Chicago, Los Angeles

Members of the US Senate Select Committee on Ethics

Hon. Barbara Boxer, Chairwoman

Hon. John Cornyn, Vce Chairman

Hon. Mark Pryor, Member

Hon. Ken Salazar, Member

Hon. Pat Roberts, Member

Hon. Johnny Isakson, Member

Robert L. Walker, Chief Counsel & Staff Director, US Select Committee on Ethics

Robert Gleasom, Jr. Chairman, Republican Party of Pennsylvania

Polish American Congress

Kosciuszko Foundation

New York Times, New York Post, Philadelphia Inquirer

American & Polish Mass Media, Organizations

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