By Chantal Lapicola
BYU history professor Doug Tobler displaced rumors about the Polish people Wednesday, Oct. 15 as part of the International Forum Series sponsored by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies.
There is a big discrepancy between what Poland is and who Poles are, Tobler said.
'I hope I never hear another Polack joke again,' he said. 'They tell a lot more about the people that tell them.'
The Polish people are warm, friendly and faithful friends, Tobler said.
Tobler served as the mission president of the Poland Warsaw mission for from 1998 until 2001.
Tobler said he did not know anything about Poland until he was called there.
According to Tobler, knowing the history of Poland helps people understand the county''s current situation.
'History is meaningful for democratic societies,' Tobler said. 'History shows that everything that is happening now has happened in the past.'
Tobler explained the situation in Poland prior to World War II. In 1936, Poland signed a treaty with Great Britain and France stating that France and Great Britain would protect Poland from a Nazi invasion. Neither France nor Great Britain did what they said they would do, so the Poland people developed distrust of both countries.
The Poles feel that if you want real security you need to be on the good side of the United States, Tobler said.
When the United States went to Bosnia and Kosovo, no one thought it was a big deal, but it meant something to the Poles.
'In the past few months, Poland has been a supporter of the United States in Iraq, and has sent troops there,' Tobler said.
In May 2004, Poland plans to become a member of the European Union.
'Poland is becoming a member of the Union so it can be inside of the Union and turn their backs on horrific nationalism that caused problems in the past,' Tobler said.
Poland also looks forward to greater posterity and a greater degree of association with more progressive parts of Europe, Tobler said.
'We consider it a privilege to showcase the research of BYU faculty who have an interest in contemporary global issues,' said Jeff Ringer, Kennedy Center director.